A round-up of the latest news, executive moves and acquisitions from the world of practice during September 2014.
EY appoints UK & Ireland head of tax
09 September - Jason Lester has been named as the new UK and Ireland managing partner for tax at EY.
During a 20-year career with the Big Four firm, Lester has worked across many areas of the firm’s tax practice in London, the Midlands and New York.
He was previously the tax markets leader for the UK and Ireland, with overall responsibility for the tax markets agenda, including client service and business development. He has also led the business tax services team and worked extensively in the area of international tax, advising a broad range of clients.
Steve Varley, EY chairman in the UK, said: “Having worked in both our London and regional markets, Jason brings a broad perspective to the role which will be critical in driving our growth plans. He has made his name as one of our strongest partners in the market and, having worked with EY outside of the UK, has developed a strong appreciation of the strength of our global firm."
Lester added: “Key to our growth plans will be continuing to adapt to the evolving needs of our clients. Most of our clients continue to expand globally and we are developing many new client relationships as the attractiveness of the UK tax regime increases the level of investment into the UK.”
* * *
Irwin Mitchell makes senior tax disputes hire
08 September - National law firm Irwin Mitchell has appointed former Haines Watts partner and tax investigations specialist, Gary Clarkson.
Joining the firm as a senior manager, Clarkson is one of the leading specialists in his field within the north of England and in addition to a 20-year career with HMRC, he has worked as a director at Deloitte and a tax investigations manager at PwC.
Clarkson assists both personal clients and corporates ranging from SMEs to FTSE 500 companies in relation to HMRC enquiries and tax risk assessments.
In his new role, he will be based in the firm’s Leeds office and will operate in other Irwin Mitchell offices across the north of England and in the Midlands. He will work closely with the firm’s national head of contentious tax, Phil Berwick, who joined the firm’s London office from Pinsent Masons in January.
Clarkson said: “HMRC continues to take an increasingly tougher stance on avoidance as well as evasion, and it is clear that there is demand amongst corporate as well as individuals for specialist advice.”
* * *
UHY Hacker Young appoints Chester office partner
08 September - Chester accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young has appointed Alex Makinson as partner.
Makinson was previously an associate partner at the firm, having originally joined UHY Hacker Young from Welsh accountancy firm Williams Denton in 2002.
During his 12 years with the firm, he has built strong relationships with clients in Chester, particularly among owner-managed businesses, for whom he specialises in tax planning for directors and shareholders, and the residential and commercial property sectors.
Makinson said: “Chester’s economy is recovering well, and that bodes well for the future of the firm, especially as our client base has grown steadily even through the recession. It’s an exciting time for UHY Hacker Young in Chester, and I’m eager to play my part in it.”
* * *
Baker Tilly appoints new head of audit
03 September - Baker Tilly has appointed Jonathan Ericson as its head of audit.
Ericson will oversee the firm’s national audit strategy and continue as an active audit partner, servicing a portfolio which includes listed companies, large owner managed businesses and international groups, as well as clients in the further education sector.
He has been a regional audit managing partner and a member of the Audit Management team at Baker Tilly since 2011. He first joined Baker Tilly in 1996 before becoming a partner in 2000.
Ericson said: “Over the past three years, our Audit Management Team has focused on building and driving an ethos of quality, client service and people development.
“Our merger with RSM Tenon has not only increased our client base but has provided us with an enlarged audit team with new skills and sector expertise. Both firms shared a common goal to deliver quality audits through efficient working practice and continual improvement.”
* * *
KPMG appoints 52 new partners
01 September - KPMG has announced the appointment of 52 partners, of which 29 have been promoted from within the firm over the last financial year.
The appointments are effective from 1 October, bringing the total number of partners in the Big Four firm to 613.
Simon Collins, UK chairman of KPMG, said: “This year’s new partner intake reflects our optimism for growth over the coming months and years ahead. Our new partners bring a wealth of experience, ranging from cyber security and talent management through to disruptive and innovative digital technologies.
Female partners make up a third of the promotions, but currently just 15% of their partners are female.
Collins added: “This is not where we want to be. However, I am pleased that we have seen more than double the number of successful female partner candidates this year compared with 2013.”
On the firm’s overall recruitment strategy, Collins said they were determined to ensure open access to the profession.
“We are hiring more graduates and school leavers than ever before – 1,000 students this year – and are striving to ensure we recruit from as diverse a pool as possible. We also have more targeted schemes, such as our ‘STARs programme’ which has already awarded nearly 100 school leavers from Tower Hamlets, Newham and Hackney apprenticeships at the firm,” he said.
