Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.
AIA

Practice News: Littlejohn becomes PKF international UK member firm [April]

by
25th Apr 2013
Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

A round-up of significant executive moves, announcements and other developments from the world of practice during April 2013.

Littlejohn becomes PKF international UK member firm 

25 Apr - The firm will join as a UK member from 1 July. 

Littlejohn will continue to run as an independently owned firm within the PKF network, renaming to PKF Littlejohn later in 2013. 

The top 40 firm is currently a member of PrimeGlobal international association and will end its membership from 30 June. 

The firm is based in Canary Wharf, with nearly 200 staff and 32 partners. 

Paul Hopper, Littlejohn's Managing Partner, said: “We are delighted that we will be joining PKF International, which is a highly respected brand.

“Meeting the needs of our clients is at the heart of this decision.  They are increasingly trading and investing overseas, we are bringing more overseas companies to the UK markets and we are acting for international donor agencies.  Joining PKF International, with its strong network of member firms will enable us to provide better support for them around the world.”

* * *

Former RSM Tenon chief joins HW Fisher as non-exec 

25 Apr - Andy Reynor joins the firm as its first non-exec.

As chief of RSM Tenon, Raynor was with the firm during its restructuring and acquisitions of Vantis and Bentley Jennison.

He left the firm in January 2012 however after it issued a profit warning.

HW Fisher is a mid-tier top 25 accountancy firm, with 29 partners and 260 staff. 

* * *

Clive and Owen appoints new partner 

24 Apr - Simon Hook joined the firm 12 years ago as a graduate and has now been appointed as partner.

Hook works at the firm's Durham office and joined the firm in 2001, qualifying in 2004 to work his way up to become audit manager and subsequently director. 

His role has included assisting with development into specific sectors and he manages clients in the bus and transport sectors. 

Hook is now responsible for the audit department. 

Gary Ellis, partner at Clive Owen & Co in Durham, said: “Simon is an extremely valuable member of the team and it was important for us to recognise the work he has done and his contribution to the firm.  

* * *

Three new partners for MHA McIntyre Hudson 

19 Apr - The top 20 firm has made a trio of new appointments in its senior team. 

Sally Kirby is the latest addition to the London not for profit team, coming from Crowe Clark Whitehill. Kirby has experience in charitable and not for profit organisations and is also an accomplished speaker in the sector. 

She was one of the first charity advisers to achieve the ICAEW’s diploma in charity accounting.

The tax team expands with Tom Byng, coming from Deloitte. He is an R&D and patent box specialist and recently spent six months working at the Treasury as one of the founder members of the Office of Tax Simplification.

The North London office sees Neil Stern, who first joined the firm as a trainee in 2006, join them as partner. Stern is a lead member of the firm’s legal services group and business strategy group. 

Chairman of the firm Rakesh Shaunak said: “I’m delighted to welcome Sally and Tom to the firm; and Neil’s progression from trainee to partner in six years is outstanding. All are experts in their field and bring a wealth of knowledge to our clients and the firm as a whole”.

* * *

KPMG acquires equity advice firm 

19 Apr - The firm has created a new capital advisory group after buying international equity advice firm Makinson Cowell. 

The new group will be chaired by Tom Franks, KPMG’s global head of corporate finance.

It will also include the independent debt advisory team, which advises major corporates on all aspects of their debt financing.

KPMG partner Neill Thomas will continue to run the debt advisory side while Bob Cowell, co-founder of Makinson Cowell, and fellow MC partner Howard Coates will head up the equity advice team.

KPMG’s UK chairman Simon Collins said, “While today’s deal is a relatively small acquisition for the firm, it is an important transaction for KPMG.

“Makinson Cowell’s insights into the market views of the shareholder community will help provide independent and objective equity advice linking the boardroom and investors, which can only be to the benefit of all those involved in the capital markets.

* * * 

BDO adds PKF partners to top table

17 Apr - BDO has appointed two PKF partners to its board following the merger between the two firms earlier this month.

Changes to the leadership team will see Martin Goodchild, who was previously managing partner at PKF, as head of regions, while PKF finance partner Calum Stewart has been appointed finance partner.

The executive team will also feature Paul Eagland as head of audit and tax, Mark Sherfield as chief operating officer, and Gervase Macgregor as head of international advisory and risk and quality.

Jeff Jones is head of national advisory on the leadership team, which will continue to be chaired by non-executive director Lesley MacDonagh.

A second non-executive director will be appointed following Lord David Currie’s move to become chair to the Competition and Markets Authority.

Simon Michaels, who will continue as BDO managing partner, said: “The merger has transformed our national market presence overnight, but the hard work starts now. I know this team is the right mix to build on our ambitions still further and respond quickly to the domestic and international environment.”

* * *

New managing partner for Scott-Moncrieff 

15 Apr - Steward MacDonald succeeded Nick Bennett as managing partner of the firm as of 1 April.

Bennett will continue on the board, with Robert MacKenzie assuming the role of chairman. 

ICAS member MacDonald has been with the firm for 14 years and will split his time between Glasgow and Edinburgh as managing partner.

He trained with PKF and has previously worked for Coopers & Lybrand, House of Fraser and Ford, before joined Moores Rowland as manager in 1999, leaving to join Scott-Moncrieff.

Commenting on his new appointment MacDonald said: “We have maximised our offering as a leading adviser to small businesses, the leading adviser to the charity sector in Scotland and the public sector both in our home market and south of the border,” he said. “The focus will be on maintaining and enhancing our position in these markets.”

* * * 

Yorkshire expansion for Forrester Boyd 

15 Apr - The firm has expanded into East Yorkshire by merging with accountancy firm Robsons.

The firm will now trade under the name Forrester Boyd Robson and be based at Robson's existing offices in Beverely. 

It will be led by a three-man senior management team of Mike Beckett and two Robsons executives, Ian Robson and Roger Worthington. Forrester Boyd also opened an office at Hessle 18 months ago.

The move brings Forrester Boyd’s branch network to five and was, according to Forrester Boyd's East Yorkshire partner Mike Beckett, an opportunity they could not turn down. 

“We saw an opportunity to push our boundaries even further through the merger of our existing East Yorkshire office with the Robsons business and this gives us an opportunity to embark on a serious new business push over the coming years.

“Quite simply, this was an opportunity we could not turn down – joining forces with such a solid, well known organisation in an area with such potential for growth. It fits so well with Forrester Boyd’s long-term ambitions”.

* * *

Series of new Baker Tilly appointments 

5 Apr - The firm welcomed a number of new hires, including a new partner and head of audit.

Eric Solomons joined Baker Tilly as audit partner, having previously worked for BDO.

Solomons will be based at the firm's Leeds office and will help grow their client base in the mid and large corporate marketplace across the region. 

Jonathan Lowe will join Baker Tilly's Stoke office and North West practice as audit partner, coming from London. 

Mark Waddilove, partnership tax specialist and member of Baker Tilly's professional practices group, has been promoted to partner. 

Philip Olagunju joined the firm's corporate finance team in Milton Keynes as a M&A manager from BDO and Jason Stone was promoted to director in the M&A PLC advisory team. 

Stone has experience advising large corporates on non-core exits and has acted as monitoring trustee in both EC and UK competition authority cases. 

* * * 

Four directors and a new partner for Francis Clark

5 Apr - The firm has made a raft of appointments, including four new directors.

Truro based agricultural specialist Brian Harvey became a partner, advising on a range of financial accounting and taxation issues, including CGT and succession planning for rural businesses.

Four new directors include Lucinda Coleman in business recovery, Helen Lewis in tax technical, Bob Meier in energy  and renewables and Richard Staunton in VAT.

Commenting on the appointments, Francis Clark managing partner, Les Burnett, said: “These appointments reflect the depth of specialist expertise available at Francis Clark.  They are acknowledged leaders in their field and highly experienced practitioners who provide expert advice to clients associated with all our offices across the region.”

The firm is ranked 28th in the Accountancy Age Top 50 Chartered Accountancy practices and 25th in the Accountancy Live Top 60.

* * *

South West accountancy firms merge 

4 Apr - Monahans and Street-based Holland & Co are teaming up

Monahans, which has five offices across Wiltshire and Somerset, have taken on smaller firm Holland & Co's eight staff and owner David Holland. 

Holland & Co, operating since the 1970s, has now moved to Monahans' offices in Glastonbury.

Stephen Fry, partner at the Glastonbury office, said he was pleased with the move. 

“Both Monahans and Holland & Co are well established in the area but the merger of the two businesses will create an accountancy firm that is better able to provide the knowledge and expertise our clients demand in today’s environment," he said. 

* * * 

BDO and PKF complete merger

2 Apr - The two firms will now operate as BDO LLP. 

Under the deal, finalised in December 2012, the new firm will have 3,500 members of staff in the UK based in 24 offices, generating revenues of up to £400m. 

Simon Michaels, managing partner of BDO, said: “This is transformational, for our two firms but also the broader market. We’re delighted that two firms with similar cultures and a focus on client service will combine to create an even stronger entity. The merged business will have firm financial foundations and an ambition to grow.

* * *

First female partner for Haines Watts London 

2 Apr - Esther Wood, who joined the firm in 2011, will take up the position.

Wood specialises in audit and has previously spent three years with Baker Tilly as senior audit manager. 

She also held a role as audit manager with Sedley Richard Laurence Voulters and Ernst and Young for four years apiece.

"I'm delighted to have been recognised in this way, and I hope it can serve as an inspiration to other women in the industry that they too can reach partner level if they want to," Wood said.

* * * 

Tags:

Replies (3)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By Brinsley
03rd Apr 2013 13:27

BDO and PKF complete merger

Two points noted:

1. The merger finally agreed in December 2010 or should it be recorded as December 2012. The month referred to December 2010 seems very old.

2. Is GT in fiftieth or fifth position?

Thanks (0)
By Rachael White
03rd Apr 2013 13:56

Thanks for pointing those out - we don't know how those errors crept into the copy! Rectified now.

Thanks (0)
Replying to HMRCVictim:
avatar
By Brinsley
03rd Apr 2013 19:08

Welcome

Please also note that with expected income fees from BDO of $400m, it will still not be able to challenge GT which currently show reported fees of $417m.

Thanks (0)