People Moves: Sackers, Cowgills, Duff & Phelps and more

Duff & Phelps hires managing director

Global advisor Duff & Phelps has strengthened its transaction advisory services practice by appointing Andrew Probert as its latest managing director.

Based in London, Probert will lead the firm’s global accounting structuring offering, bringing his 20 years of experience in corporate transactions to the role.

Probert was previously an associate partner at EY and spent an additional 14 years at PwC, having worked with senior client management, legal counsel, corporate lawyers and other advisors.

Paul Martin, managing director and UK transaction advisory services leader at Duff & Phelps, said: “We’re delighted to have Andrew join us in this exciting stage of growth at the firm and build on the expertise we have amassed in delivering integrated financial and operational advice to our clients.”

Sacker & Partners LLP appoints associate

Angela Stafford has joined the specialist law firm Sacker & Partners LLP (Sackers) as its newest associate on the firm’s Know-how team.

Stafford previously worked in the pensions team at Allen & Overy, advising on a range of pensions issues, and is a six-year qualified lawyer.

Claire Carey, partner at head of Know-how at Sackers, said: “Angela’s arrival means that we have a team of five highly experienced lawyers dedicated to keeping clients and the firm on top of developments.

“As we are poised for some fundamental changes in the pensions industry, we are really fortunate that someone of Angela’s calibre and experience has joined us.”

Cowgills expands Bolton and Manchester teams

Three new senior advisors have joined business advisory and accountancy firm Cowgills across its offices, bringing its tax advisory team to nineteen.

Emma Bowles, previously at Grant Thornton, will act as tax manager with Cowgills’ coporate finance and business recovery teams.

With a focus on advising high net worth individuals and partnerships, Lyndsey Hay, joining from Booth Ainsworth, will take on a personal tax manager role, and Abigail O’Neill has joined from EY to advise on complex tax matters as a VAT manager.

Lisa Wilson, partner and head of tax at Cowgills, said: “Despite the uncertain economic backdrop, the SME and owner-managed businesses we advise are thriving; as such, our business is continuing to grow and we have fifteen new starters across the company at our offices in Bolton and Manchester.

“We want to recruit the best talent to support that growth and build for the future, and we have continued this trend with these appointments.”

MHA Tait Walker expands corporate finance team

Accountancy and advisory firm MHA Tait Walker has appointed Lee Humble as its new associate partner, capitalising on his 15 years of experience in professional services.

Along with corporate finance partner Steve Plaskitt, Humble will work with the data insights team to help provide strategy, growth and funding solutions to businesses across the Northeast.

“I love the transactional environment of corporate finance and the varied experience that I have gained over the years plays well into this role,” Humble said. “I’ve always been an admirer of MHA Tait Walker and I’m really excited to tap into the experience they have here and the wider service offering across tax, accountancy and wealth management.”

Bureau strategy partner joins Paycircle

Cloud-based payroll provider Paycircle has welcomed Barry Matthews as its new bureau strategy partner.

Matthews brings experience from his time at IRIS Payroll Professional, formerly called Star Payroll, and his previous role at Cedilla Systems. At Paycircle, his focus will initially be to promote the company and assist with integration at the practical level.

Catherine Pinkney, co-founder of Payroll, said: “We were thrilled when someone as respected in the industry as Barry immediately bought into our vision of the future of payroll.

“We will soon be announcing some major client wins and Barry is helping us to further accelerate the growth in our market share.”

Alexander & Co appoints tax senior manager

Manchester-based accountancy and tax advisory firm Alexander & Co has welcomed Sharon Collier as its newest tax senior manager, growing the firm’s tax team.

Bringing 30 years of experience within the advisory sphere to the role, Collier will work alongside tax partner John McCaffery and the firm’s wider tax team across both UK and overseas tax and business advisory.

“In my new role, I hope to make a real difference to entrepreneurs and their businesses, assisting them to become more successful,” Collier said. “I am looking forward to utilising my experience of advising established businesses, from SMEs to multinationals, to deliver practical, commercial advice to help their flourish.”