Accountancy people moves: November 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 December, we unveil the wave of activity among some of the largest firms in the UK, with major appointments at EY, reappointments at KPMG, and a standing down at RSM International. Teams across mid-market firms have also been bolstering their talent pool, alongside a new president at ACCA.

Mid-tier

(November 1) BDO has promoted 30 partners and nearly 2,300 people across its business. The promotions are effective from November 1, 2023. These partner promotions follow the addition of 19 new external partners earlier in the year, bringing BDO’s partnership to over 450. The promotions span various teams, with over a third outside of London, and more than two fifths within the audit practice. Additionally, BDO has promoted over 1,200 people in audit, 560 in advisory, 330 in tax, and 164 in support functions.

(November 1) Grant Thornton  has appointed Ben Butterfield as associate director in its transformation team and Zeenat Patel as audit director in the North. Butterfield will work on transformational change for clients driven by growth opportunities, cost challenges, and more. Patel, who joined the firm in 2016, will continue to work with the North West team in Manchester, supporting listed and large privately owned businesses.

(November 1) Jean Stephens is set to step down from her role as CEO of RSM International next May, after holding the position for 17 years. Stephens will continue as CEO for the Network until May 2024, and then continue for a period of time at RSM in an advisory capacity with a focus on member matters and development, and to support an effective transition.

(November 3) Grant Thornton has appointed Andy Wood and Sophie Murton as partners in its Thames Valley and Southampton offices. Wood, who was previously the head of ethics and managing partner for Grant Thornton in Yorkshire and the North East, will focus on private capital investments. Murton, with over 20 years of experience, will provide insights and guidance to private equity-backed businesses while enhancing the firm’s growth in the region.

(November 3) City-based Wilson Wright has announced the appointment of Katherine Rose as the new partner in the firm’s audit and accounts team. She joins the team from Citroen Wells where she held the position of Technical Partner.

(November 6) Moore Kingston Smith has promoted Dave Coates to partner and appointed nine directors. Coates, a corporate and business tax specialist, brings expertise in mergers and acquisitions and tax due diligence services. Internal director promotions include Matt McRae in corporate finance and Puja Maini, Danna Lukic, and Callum Gritt in the general practice team. The firm has been expanding and investing, and these appointments reflect its growth and commitment to providing high-quality solutions for clients.

(November 15) UHY Hacker Young appoints Harriet Hodgson-Grove, Khiet Cheung, and Tracey Moore as partners. Moore, with a background in advising charities and not-for-profit organisations, is promoted to partner in Kent. Hodgson-Grove, based in London, becomes an Audit partner with expertise in hospitality, property, natural resources, and not-for-profit sectors. Cheung, appointed as a Technical and Training partner in London, plays a leading role in audit quality, contributing to UHY’s focus on enhancing systems and processes. The appointments recognize their significant contributions to the firm’s success.

(November 22) RSM has announced the appointment of Jill Kaur as partner in the firm’s national private client tax team. Kaur has over 25 years’ experience advising high and ultra-high net worth individuals, non-doms and owner managed businesses on complex tax matters including international tax affairs and multi-generational wealth. She joins RSM’s Birmingham office from tier one tax dispute law firm Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP and has previous experience across the Big Four and mid-tier accountancy firms.

(November 23) Baker Tilly Mooney Moore has appointed Rocel Asuncion and Tiarnan O’Brien to its audit and business services departments. Asuncion joins the firm as an Audit Senior, having recently moved to Northern Ireland from the Philippines.  She brings seven years of combined external audit experience with her to this role, having worked as an audit senior and audit supervisor with Big 4 and mid-tier firms.  O’Brien takes on the role of Accounts Senior in the Business Services Department. He has returned to Belfast from London, where he worked in accountancy for over five years, most recently with a mid-tier Mayfair practice.

(November 28) Evelyn Partners has bolstered its Cambridge office with the appointment of Mark Prince as an audit partner and Suzy Hawkey as Private Client Director. Prince  joins from KPMG where he was Audit Director. He has more than 28 years’ experience of working with a wide variety of companies and shareholders. Hawkey is an experienced Chartered Tax Adviser and Trust & Estates Practitioner who works with clients to address the unique challenges faced throughout the generations by individuals, trustees and family businesses. Joining from Deloitte, where she spent more than nine years, she has extensive experience working with individuals and their families to achieve their objectives.

(November 29) MHA Moore and Smalley has appointed experienced tax advisor Michael Spencer as a tax partner within its Liverpool office. Spencer joins from Grant Thornton where he spent over nine years, most recently as tax director. Before this, he worked in the tax team at EY’s Liverpool office.

Big Four

(November 1) KPMG UK has confirmed the reappointment of Bina Mehta as chair, following the firm’s partnership voting “overwhelmingly” in favour of of her continuation in role.  She was first appointed as non-executive UK Chair in February 2021, following the firm’s move to a new governance model separating the roles of its Chair and Chief Executive. In November that year, Mehta was then elected to continue in role until the end of February 2024.

(November 9) EY has appointed Martina Neary as its UK insurance leader, where she will oversee general insurance, life and pensions, and specialty insurance. Neary, who joined EY in 2016 and previously spent fifteen years with KPMG, will continue as the Financial Services Midlands leader and focus on her client portfolio. She succeeds Rodney Bonnard, who led the UK insurance business since 2015. Bonnard remains a core part of EY’s UK financial services leadership team.

(November 17) EY has announced Janet Truncale as the next EY global chair and CEO, effective from July 1, 2024. Currently serving as regional managing partner at EY Americas Financial Services Organization, Truncale will succeed Carmine Di Sibio. With over 30 years in the financial services industry, she has provided assurance and consulting services to Fortune 500 companies. Truncale is also recognized for her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, actively contributing to initiatives within EY. Di Sibio, who led transformative changes and sustainability commitments, praises Truncale’s leadership, expecting her to inspire EY’s global team.

(November 30) EY has named Laura Mair as the UK&I managing partner for Tax and Law, succeeding Jeff Soar. With over two decades of leadership at EY, Mair will lead a team of 2,500 professionals. Underlining EY’s tax growth, she aims to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and technology’s role. During Soar’s tenure, EY’s UK Tax and Law practice achieved two years of double-digit revenue growth.

(November 30) PwC has appointed Helen Ward as Midlands deals leader, succeeding Matthew Hammond. Ward, with a career at PwC since 1996, will focus on financial due diligence for corporate and private equity clients. She aims to build the deals practise in the region, supporting local businesses and national clients, emphasising talent development and diversity.

Trade bodies

(November 17) Ronnie Patton, a retired finance lecturer from Northern Ireland, has been elected president of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). He joined ACCA in 1981 and is a former president of ACCA Ireland. He was senior lecturer in Professional Accounting Practice at Ulster University, Belfast, from 2003 until this year.