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Practice news: Bishop Fleming hires fresh faces for Bath office

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27th Jan 2014
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A round-up of significant executive moves, announcements and other developments from the world of practice during January 2014.

Bishop Fleming hires fresh faces for Bath office

25 January - The firm has taken on five new recruits to their 40-person Bath office, including a personal tax specialist and graduates.

Mem Bradley and Joseph Hillman have joined Bishop Fleming's specialist payroll team to train as payroll administrators.

Rea George has joined to become a personal personal tax specialist.

Iain Parnell and Joshua Goode have been appointed as graduate trainees for a three-year chartered accountancy qualification.

Andrew Sandiford, partner at the Bath office, said the firm had hired young faces to shape the firm's future. 

"It's about getting the shape of the team right, not just for now but what it will look like in three or four years. One of the important things is growing the firm for the future and an important part of that is getting people and training them up rather than recruiting people at a more qualified level.

"We are prepared to make the investment, build the team we want and instil our values from the start," he said.

He added that the firm planned to hire more during the year - with a focus on graduates and school-leavers.

***

New head director for Gabelle 

25 January - The firm has hired Caroline Fleet as director and head of property tax. 

Fleet has 15 years' experience and worked at two of the Big Four firms prior to joining Gabelle.

For the last eight years, she has specialised in advising tax to clients within the real estate industry and has experience in advising on trading Vs investment considerations, permanent establishment and holding structures.

Managing Partner at Gabelle Paula Tallon welcomed the new director to the team: "This appointment illustrates our ongoing commitment to growing and improving our services to our clients. Caroline’s expertise in property tax will help us achieve these aims." 

***

New partner hire for Baldwins 

23 January - The firm has hired ex-RSM Tenon and Baker Tilly recruit Richard Clayton as partner. 

He will be focusing on accounting procedures and new business development at Baldwins and developing the firm's customer base across the region in a variety of industries.

Clayton was previously at RSM Tenon for seven years looking after clients in Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester and Milton Keynes.

He has also worked at Shoesmiths in Edgbaston and RSM Bentley Jennison in Telford.

The new partner has experience in working with engineering, manufacturing and construction businesses, professional services and media companies which are mainly owner-managed.

He said: “I will be helping Baldwins to grow and develop their business by providing business advice and helping with accountancy systems for their current client base as well as bringing in new customers." 

***

French Duncan appoints new corporate advisory partner

17 January - The firm has promoted Euan Ferries from director in its corporate advisory team to partner.

Ferris joined the firm as a director in 2005 and has been involved in a range of corporate finance related assignments, including business acquisitions and disposals, due diligence and business planning.

He has a specialism in securing public sector funding and grants. Over the last eight years, Ferries and his team have assisted clients in securing over £80m of grants, including Regional Selective Assistance (RSA), Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Grants (FPMC) and SMART awards.

***

Baker Tilly appoints NE corporate finance head

17 January - Baker Tilly has appointed ICAEW fellow and member of the Securities Institute Paul Johnson as head of corporate finance for the Yorkshire and North East region.

Johnson specialises in financial due diligence for private equity investors, banks and corporates, and has significant experience of cross border transactions.

The Northern Echo reports the move comes as part of a restructure of Baker Tilly’s Corporate Finance service line, which sees Rob Donaldson appointed as Baker Tilly’s head of corporate finance, and new regional heads of corporate finance appointed across six regions - Scotland, North-West, Yorkshire & North East, Midlands, London and the South.

Johnson said: “Now that we’re beginning to come out of the economic downturn, we are seeing businesses in the region placing increasing focus on growth. It’s therefore important that Baker Tilly further expands its  corporate finance service to support new and existing clients within the region, helping them to achieve their objectives in 2014.”

* * *

GT appoints new financial services partner

9 January - Grant Thornton has strengthened its financial services tax team, with the appointment of new partner Richard Milnes.

Milnes joins the firm with immediate effect, and will be focused on broadening GT’s tax advisory and transactional services to the banking sector.

Hi expertise covers corporate and financial structuring for financial services groups and advising on the tax implications of regulatory reform and emerging industry taxes, such as the UK bank levy.

Milnes joins from EY, having previously worked in international tax for Shell and as head of tax planning for Lloyds TSB before moving to a front office tax structuring and transactional role at Lloyds.

Dana Ward, head of financial services tax at GT, said: “Richard joins our team at an exciting time for us, as we continue to grow from strength to strength. His in-depth technical knowledge and commercial acumen will no doubt add significant weight to our tax offering in the financial services space.”

He will be based at GT’s Finsbury Square offices in London.

* * *

UHY Hacker Young hires former BDO tax partner

7 January - Simon Browning joins he firm as tax partner in its Nottingham office.

Browning was recognised as one of the country’s top ‘40 under 40’ tax professionals by Tolley’s Tax Journal in 2012/13, highlighting him as “one of the best young professionals working in tax today”. 

He said he came to the firm as it is "a traditional and trustworthy firm” with “all the benefits of a national forward-thinking organisation providing innovative solutions for its clients."

* * *

Burgis & Bullock acquires Kemp Taylor

7 January  The acquisition is part of the firm's expansion into the East Midlands.

B&B is a seven partner, 70 staff firm with a presence in the West Midlands and London.

Kemp Taylor, a two-partner firm based in Leicester, will now operate under the Burgis & Bullock name.

Burgis & Bullock's Sean Farnell said: "We are looking forward to the opportunity our joint venture brings to building new relationships and the potential to access new markets." 

* * *

Crowe Clark Whitehill hires corporate recovery expert 

7 January -The firm has hired James Martin, former regional chairman of R3, to run the Midlands arm of Crowe Clark Whitehill Recovery Solutions.

He will head a team specialising in administrations, company voluntary arrangements, individual voluntary arrangements, liquidations, bankruptcies and advising businesses facing financial difficulties.

Martin said: "I have spent most of my working life in the recovery world and still very much enjoy seeing a troubled company change and survive after working hard with the management team to turn it around. 

"The Black Country has a deserved reputation for its manufacturing prowess and I hope to be at the heart of helping it thrive."

* * *

KPMG expands tax team

7 January - The Big Four firm has scooped two former EY recruits for its Thames Valley tax team.

Steve Coombs is to head up the firm's international executive services team in Reading and Bristol.

He joins from EY and has 26 years' experience in helping businesses to set up and manage their operations both into and outside of the UK.

James Magrath joins the Reading office, also from EY. He has 20 years' corporate tax experience and formerly established the EY UK tax desk based in the US West Coast.

He will specialise in offering advice to US companies operating in the Thames Valley area.

David Ashworth, head of tax for KPMG in Thames Valley, said: "I am pleased to welcome Steve and James to the team. It's a priority for businesses in our region to achieve sustainable growth and for many these opportunities will lie overseas; we are already seeing increased demand for support in this area.

* * *

Menzies partner heads new business turnaround service

7 January - Colin Blessley will head up the service, mr3 turnaround, aimed at rescuing and restructuring companies. 

Blessley has 35 years of restructuring experience in Europe and Latin America and has recently led restructuring advisory projects on behalf of both lenders and companies in the media, automotive, manufacturing and consumer product sectors.

Simon Underwood, managing partner of Menzies Business Recovery said the firm set up the new service as the improving economy may lead to business needing restructuring services: “The current level of low interest rates has meant that many businesses are in very poor shape but soldier on, surviving nonetheless. As the economy starts to improve, many are unable to keep afloat and will need to restructure their operations." 

* * *

Law firm hires former Pinsent Masons partner 

7 January - Irwin Mitchell, has appointed Phil Berwick as tax dispute partner.

Berwick is a former tax inspector, having left the Revenue 18 years ago. He spent four years as head of tax investigations at Tenon and joined McGrigors, the law firm which subsequently merged with Pinsent Masons, in 2009, as head of their tax investigations team.  

He is the 19th new partner to be announced by Irwin Mitchell’s commercial practice this since the start of 2012.

Phil deals with a range of HMRC’s specialist units, but is principally involved in investigations instigated by HMRC's Specialist Investigations and Local Compliance Fraud teams. 

Commenting on his appointment, Berwick said: “Irwin Mitchell is a very attractive proposition and it presents me with an exciting opportunity to build a market-leading tax investigations and disputes team."

* * *

Trio of promotions for Henderson Loggie

7 January - The firm has promoted three within its audit and accounting and business solutions department. 

Fiona Morgan has been appointed as partner and is based in the firm's Aberdeen office since 2010. She has acted as an advisor to high-end SME companies across a range of sectors including oil and gas, manufacturing, retail, food and drink and leisure and tourism and also advises third sector organisations.

David Taylor becomes a director and is also appointed to head the firm’s Healthcare group and has been with the firm since 2004. He has experience of advising charities, professional practices, owner-managed businesses, student associations and grant claims.

Mark Hay is promoted to manager and joined Henderson Loggie in 2006. He works extensively with companies engaged in the oil and gas industry, in addition to advising owner-managed companies across a range of sectors in the North East. 

* * *

New business development director for Throgmorton

7 January - Denis Jackson joins the firm during its plans for expanding its service offering and client base. 

Jackson previously worked at Tibra Trading as regional general manager for Europe and the US, and was responsible for implementing strategy across its full range of operating departments.

Prior to this, Denis held a number of directorship positions for Salomon Brothers/Citigroup. These included head EMEA prime brokerage sales in London and head of finance in Hong Kong.

Trevor Brown, managing director at Throgmorton, said: "Denis is an extremely welcome addition to our team." 

* * *

East Anglian firms in merger

6 January - East Anglia chartered accountants Whiting & Partners has acquired Turner & Partners, which it will merge with on 1 February.

Both firms will then operate under the Whiting & Partners name.

Paul and Chris Morton of Whiting & Partners, said the acquisition was a "natural link up" as the firms had been working together for a number of years.

"Our over-riding aim is to strengthen our services to our respective clients and add innovative new lines of advisory services to the Fenland business community.”

* * *

Reading firm moves offices

6 January - Harrisons Business Recovery and Insolvency's move comes as the firm hires two junior staff. 

The firm will move into a larger premises into the heart of the town's business district.

It has recently also undergone a rebranding and plans to expand even further in 2014. 

Director and head of operations in Reading, David Clements, said the firm was delighted to move to larger offices: “The move is part of our long term strategy for continued expansion teamed with substantial investment in our team.”

* * *

Menzies tax expert makes partner

2 January - Menzies has promoted Andy England, one of its directors and corporate tax specialists, to the role of partner.

England, who has been with Menzies since 1997, has extensive expertise in tax planning in the areas of research and development and intellectual property for small and medium-size businesses.

His promotion comes in the wake of increased demand for tax planning work by companies investing in research and innovation.

Working out of the Leatherhead office, England will focus on further developing the firm’s range of tax services for innovative companies.

Richard Godmon, senior tax partner at Menzies, said: “Andy’s new responsibilities are an important part of our strategy to develop the specific areas of taxation that are most relevant to owners of SMEs.

* * *

Deloitte appoints new North West senior partner

2 January - Big Four firm Deloitte has appointed Richard Bell as the new practice senior partner for the North West.

Bell is an experienced corporate finance partner who has led the firm's transaction services business in the UK regions for the last decade.

He has represented all of corporate finance on the regional markets executive and has also played a key role in the growth of the North West business as part of the senior management team.

Bell said: “I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as the practice senior partner, leading Deloitte in the North West.

“I will be putting together a new management team with the express intention of ensuring we can continue to have a real impact on our markets, whilst maintaining our strong client relationships with many dynamic PLCs and large privately owned businesses.”

Replies (11)

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By Moonbeam
03rd Jan 2014 19:29

Significant? How So? And to Whom?

I won't bore you with the news I've just taken on a part time bookkeeper. Your news is, however on a par with that.

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By carnmores
04th Jan 2014 13:09

actually Moonbeam

yours is far more exciting , will they have their own Aweb account also?

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By Peter Bonetti
07th Jan 2014 08:39

Congrats to Andy

I worked with Andy while at Menzies and was, therefore, very pleased to read the news. That's not a comment on the previous comments here but just to say that Andy is an extremely competent and decent chap and thoroughly deserving of the promotion.

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By GuestXXX
17th Mar 2015 16:10

.

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By Moonbeam
28th Jan 2014 20:40

Paid for advertorial perhaps?

Such a shame to make me suspicious of the motives of the Powers that Be.

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By Rachael White
29th Jan 2014 10:07

Not advertorial.

Hello Moonbeam, 

I can confirm that this is not paid for advertorial - we don't do that on Aweb. If we did, we'd definitely make sure you knew what it was. 

We run a weekly practice news update so other practitioners of similar sizes can get a feel for what their contemporaries are doing in the way of recruitment, etc, around the country. We think it's important to report about what smaller firms are doing, as well as bigger ones. 

If you've got any feedback on how we can improve or what you'd like to see more/less of, that's always very welcome. Just PM me any comments or post them in the Aweb feedback group

Best wishes,

Rachael

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By Moonbeam
29th Jan 2014 10:37

Here's My Promise

I won't post anything on Aweb, or anywhere else about how big, powerful and important I am, use the words innovative, ongoing commitment, exceptional and highly prized, significant weight (unless I've overdone it at Xmas), clever, exciting opportunity etc. Apart from being yawn inducing, they tell us nothing about the people concerned and are corporate Bxxxxxx.

Most of my clients, even the intelligent academic ones, like plain English better. When did anyone use these appalling phrases in speech? Possibly even car salesmen don't use as much of this tosh as they used to. It just shows why the accountancy world is so awful on the marketing front.

I am not anti the larger firms. I am anti the meaningless drivel you've written that is only useful to the handful of people that know the individuals concerned and I bet those people ignore the corporate stuff you've written anyway.

Many of the firms you feature above may have an interesting story of their start up days, an interesting account of the particular sector they specialise in, or something else meaningful that we could read about. That information would need a bit of journalism to extract, but I would have thought that this should be no problem to Aweb, assuming there are still some journalists left in the world.

Given that Aweb is one of the only truly educational sites for accountants like me who need quite a lot of assistance think how you could grow the numbers even more by giving us useful information about these bigger practices.

Of course if you think you really do need to carry on with this sort of thing I shall make sure I don't crash into this area again. That way I will keep my blood pressure down.

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By Rachael White
29th Jan 2014 10:47

Thanks for your feedback!

Thank you for your feedback Moonbeam, the editorial team will take this into account when writing future practice news updates. 

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By DMGbus
29th Jan 2014 13:45

PR release

I suppose that the Bishop Fleming "news" came, quite reasonably, from a Press Release that they or their PR consultants issued.

Some of the content is of interest to a few members of Aweb (they might be former employees / partners of the firm, competitors of the firm or the individuals named might be former work colleagues of Aweb members).

So there is some validity as a news item.

As with nearly all modern day press releases there's a positive "spin" on it along the lines of "how great are we!"     No mention of the deposed staff members and what's happened to them (forced out the door or inward demotion or inward promotion or found a better job elsewhere or retirees early or not - we are not told so left to guess on this matter).    Not unique to Bishop Fleming, not unique to the accountancy profession.   It's the modern way of marketing whether we like it or not.   Getting a Press Release published is about gaining free publicity.   Some might describe it as slick marketing.   Getting an unknown (*) firm to a national audience.  In marketing terms "getting exposure".

(*) I'd never heard of them before, not being in the Bristol / Avon area.

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By mrme89
29th Jan 2014 16:53

I agree that there is some validity in these articles.

 

Moonbeam - you're not forced to read them. If you don't like them, don't read them. Simples!

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By GuestXXX
17th Mar 2015 16:10

.

 

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