35 Under 35 2019: 35 - 27 revealed!

The Accountancy Age 35 Under 35 rankings seek to highlight the rising stars of the accountancy profession, featuring those who have made great professional contributions to the field and their individual firms.

Each day this week, we will be releasing the next batch of 35 Under 35 winners, culminating in the top five being announced on 20 December, 2019.

Today, we present the first round of noteworthy professionals who made the Accountancy Age 35 Under 35 rankings.

35. Peter Sawrij, Director, Thomas Coombs

Within his role at Thomas Coombs, Sawrij has played a pivotal role in the firm’s expansion and technological advancements.

After beginning his accounting career right out of college, Sawrij entered the workforce in a non-traditional route and worked his way up the ranks with hard work and dedication. At Thomas Coombs, he has worked hard to innovate the firm’s marketing strategy, becoming a key spokesperson for the practice and searching out new paths forward for the company. He has also worked to modernise the company’s online accounting services and capitalise on the firm’s new talent.

34. Guy Armitage-Norton, Director, Milsted Langdon

Joining onto Milsted Langdon from a stint at EY, Armitage-Norton has quickly levelled up the firm, creating a large portfolio in the process. In addition to his consistent commitment to clients, he also branched out and helped the practice merge with another Bristol firm in 2018, helping his office double in size and offer more opportunities to the local community.

Additionally, Armitage-Norton is future-focused, ready to help his firm expand and offer global service to both new and existing clients.

33. Zoe Johnston, Manager – Accounting and Outsourcing, Mazars

Starting her accountancy career as a school leaver in 2012, Johnston came aboard Mazars at its Milton Keynes office. In 2019, she moved to London to manage the firm’s new Financial Services and Large and Listed Financial Outsourcing team, growing the department’s revenue to $750k in just nine months.

Along the way, she has committed to training up her team members and supporting the company’s efforts. For the second year running, she organised the National AOS event, pulling together the firm’s national team to strategize and inspire, and has worked hard to develop the firm’s RPA offerings.

32. Hinesh Shah, Senior Associate Forensic Accountant, Pinsent Masons

Shah has become a formative part of the firm’s forensic accounting team, identifying areas of growth and paying attention to the market’s changes. In his role at Pinsent Masons, he helps lead the firm’s investigative offerings, identifying and sourcing data analytics and AI possibilities to enhance available services.

Within a year of joining the company, Shah was also elected to the firm’s inaugural Spark Board, where he will collaborate across the firm’s international footprint to strategize and advise.

31. Matthew Watkins, Associate Director – Tax Dispute Resolution, BDO LLP

Since graduating in 2008, Watkins has displayed a consistent commitment to the accountancy profession, starting his career with Grant Thornton and Moore Stephens before settling in at BDO in early 2019.

Watkins received a glowing nomination from a first-time BDO client who praised his dedication, quick response time, and professionality. Despite the client bringing a complicated, international situation to Watkins, the client said that he “mastered this excellently” in spite of his age.

30. Andrew Padgett, Associate Director, Watson Buckle

After joining Watson Buckle in 2015, Padgett built a strong reputation with SME clients across a wide range of sectors, delivering service and advice on audit, advisory, strategic planning and accounts. In 2019, he was able to save a client’s shareholders £450k in taxes by minimising their liabilities and has prepared various models to illustrate different exit strategies for clients.

Within the firm, Padgett led the creation of the firm’s Cloud Accounting team, helping clients with MTD-compliant software and integrating cloud applications within the firm. In early 2020, he will be promoted to director, solidifying his commitment to the firm.

29. Mike Stocks, Partner, Smailes Goldie Group

Having joined the firm as a trainee in 2009, Stocks has made quite a few career moves at Smailes Goldie Group, progressing to partner at the age of 26 and retaining this role for the past three years. As a general practitioner, he advises a diverse group of clients across many sectors, while specialising in transactional and restructuring projects.

Within the firm, he leads a GDPR compliance programme and is in charge of implementing the documentation both internally and externally. Outside of work, he acts as a trustee for a local charity for aspiring businesspeople, providing them with advice and working with the charity to offer subsidised working spaces.

28. Jack Deal, Associate Director, RSM

After joining RSM in 2007 as a school leaver, Deal moved his way up the ranks to train as a chartered tax advisor and deliver services to a large portfolio of privately-owned businesses. In 2019, RSM has worked to transform its offerings in the East of England, which Deal helped to champion both internally and externally.

Additionally, Deal has helped identify areas of growth for the firm within its newly-opened Cambridge office, working with colleagues to innovate how the firm’s clients are serviced. Outside of work, Deal is involved in numerous volunteer opportunities within his local community.

27. Jake Pearlman, Senior Manager, Haysmacintyre LLP

After joining Haysmacintyre LLP in 2013, Pearlman was quickly promoted to senior manager and, in 2019, appointed to lead the firm’s property sector. Using a leadership style that has been described as ‘dynamic’, Pearlman has led new initiatives which help to diversify the firm’s expertise, including PropTech and construction.

He also regularly contributes to external publications and presents on technical content, such as reporting standards, to various associations. An active member of Young Entrepreneurs in Property, Pearlman also acts as a mentor to several graduates within the firm as they prepare for the future.

View our 2018 rankings here.