Accountancy people moves: September 2023

Each month, Accountancy Age delivers a comprehensive update on the key people moves and promotions that have taken place among the UK accountancy market’s top-100 firms.

In October, we unveil the wave of activity in the industry’s mid-market as Mazars and RSM both unveil major updates.

Big Four

(September 4) EY has welcomed Prakash Hariharan, Lynette Gracias, and Venkatesh Subramoniam as Partners to its UK Managed Services team, which is part of EY’s broader Managed Services workforce across the EMEIA region.

Mid-tier   

(September 1) As a part of the ETL Global network, Harold Sharp Limited has advanced three senior managers to the role of Associate Director. The individuals appointed as associate directors are Rebecca Holloway, responsible for leading the property team; Yusuf Laher, from the accounts department; and Emma Saxon-Pipe, overseeing the accounts & outsourcing team.

(September 5) Francis Clark Financial Planning expands its team by bringing in Carl Tremlin as a senior financial planner. He joins the firm after serving as a chartered financial planner at Investec for two years, and he also has previous experience at Grant Thornton, where he concluded his tenure in 2016.

(September 10) Ben Collett has been named a partner at RSM UK to spearhead the performance improvement and turnaround practice within the consulting division. Collett holds an impressive 25-year career and joins the firm from Kroll, a financial advisory firm, and has previously served as the strategic projects director at IMI PLC and at KPMG.

(September 12) Hamid Ghafoor has been appointed as the new national head of social housing at BDO. With over 25 years of experience in the sector as an assurance and advisory partner, he succeeds Phil Cliftlands, who recently assumed the position of Regional Managing Partner at BDO in the South East.

(September 14) Armstrong Watson has welcomed 51 trainees and recent graduates. The group of newcomers includes 17 AAT students and two ATT students who are embarking on their apprenticeship journey to attain qualifications in accounting and tax compliance. Additionally, there are 28 ACA graduates who are on the path to achieving their Chartered Accountant designation.

(September 15) MHA has announced the appointment of Andrew Fairhurst, who was previously at EY. He will take up the role as the director and head of tax technology, stationed at the group’s London office.

(September 16) Grant Thornton’s national finance team has expanded with the promotion of Adam Hughes, who joins as a new director specialising in debt advisory. Hughes will be located at the firm’s Bristol office. Following an eight-year tenure at NatWest and RBS, Hughes transitioned to Grant Thornton, assuming the role of associate director in 2021.

(September 18) Baker Tilly Mooney Moore has welcomed Emma Scott and James Malee to its team. Malee is assuming the role of trainee accountant, while the position of payroll administrator is being taken up by Scott.

(September 18) PKF Francis Clark has bolstered its tax team through the addition of Jamie Preston, a highly experienced corporate tax director. Jamie, with over 25 years of expertise in corporate taxes, acquired during his tenure at EY and, most recently, Grant Thornton, will be based in Exeter.

(September 19) Mazars has revealed the appointed Elina Rytseva as an Audit Quality partner. She previously served as a partner and Head of Audit Quality at PwC. Before that, she held roles as an Audit Quality Review inspector at the FRC and an Audit Quality Director at BDO.

(September 19) UHY Hacker Young has hired Anthony Davies as a new corporate tax partner. Davies joins the firm from Carpenter Box and during his 20-year career has also spent periods at EY, RSM, and Grant Thornton.

(September 19) Bishop Fleming has announced John Mockridge as its new finance director. Mockridge has worked in several finance, audit, and M&A roles including a role at EY. He joins Bishop Fleming from law firm DAC Beachcroft where he held various finance leadership roles over the course of 11 years.

(September 20) Susan Chadwick has joined Kreston Reeves as a HR director. With over two decades of experience, Chadwick has held senior positions in HR within the accountancy sector. She began her career at Deloitte and, in recent years, was part of the HR team at Rawlinson & Hunter LLP most recently.

(September 25) Crowe has revealed the addition of Buki Obayiuwana as head of transformation in its risk team. She has a wealth of experience in the industry with roles previously at Baringa and Inastrum Consultants.

(September 26) RSM UK achieved a milestone by onboarding a record-breaking 769 new students nationwide. This figure represents a notable 6% increase over their previous record intake of 723 in 2022, showcasing the firm’s ongoing commitment to invest in and propel its long-term growth strategies.

Trade bodies/other organisations

(September 4) The ICAEW has announced the appointment of Peter Wyman CBE as its first externally appointed Chair of the Board. Wyman has a wealth of experience in the industry, spending over 40 years at PWC as its global leader in public policy.

(September 11) Ideal Schools, a family-owned business specialising in online and distance-learning bookkeeping and accounting tuition, recently marked its 40th anniversary. Elias van den Akker, the company’s founder, has announced his retirement, and Brian McVean will succeed him in this role.

If your firm has made any acquisitions or appointments that you think should feature in one of our updates, email [email protected]