BKL has appointed Paul Barham as head of personal taxes, strengthening the offering to high net worth and internationally mobile private clients. Barham brings over 25 years of expertise in international tax planning, wealth structuring and succession, advising high net worth individuals, their families and businesses on tax and associated matters with a focus not only on the technical picture but the broader family business context. He joins from Forvis Mazars LLP, where he was a partner and head of private client tax.

Scrutton Bland has promoted Leisyen Cox to partner and Elizabeth Nichols to chief operating officer. Cox is a key member of the risk & assurance team, and counter fraud specialist, and was previously associate partner. She brings more than 18 years of technical expertise, leadership and commitment to client service at the firm, part of the Sumer Group. Nichols previously served as partner and marketing director, and will be responsible for operational efficiencies, transformation and integration.

Jerroms has promoted Mansoor Ellahi to client director in the audit team in the Midlands, and he will also act as a Responsible Individual (RI) on a portfolio of audit clients. Ellahi originally joined Jerroms as a trainee, before qualifying as a chartered accountant, reflecting the strength of the firm’s training structure. He has more than 20 years’ experience in audit engagements, across a wide range of sectors, including large construction, manufacturing, telecom and retail, as well as owner-managed businesses and charities. His background includes leading multidisciplinary teams, maintaining audit quality standards, and mentoring and developing professional staff. Pictured (l-r): Steve McLoughlin, head of audit, with Mansoor Ellahi

Azets has appointed Jessica Lawrence as managing partner of the Leeds office, taking charge of a 130-strong team based in the private equity backed group’s brand new office in King Street. Audit partner Lawrence has been with the firm for 17 years, moving over with the Garbutt + Elliott acquisition. She is a chartered accountant, chartered tax advisor and charity accounting specialist, and succeeds Becky Maguire, who is head of tax for the Yorkshire region. Lawrence will focus on growing the business and supporting the various national service lines based out of Leeds. She is responsible for signing off ACA student training in the Leeds office and heads up its ‘Get Involved’ fundraising group. 

RSM has appointed Peter Hawkins as partner in the forensics team, specialising in financial crime prevention. Hawkins has more than 20 years’ experience in financial crime risk management and investigations for a wide range of financial services clients including banks, insurers, asset managers and public sector organisations, as well as for the financial regulator. In his new role he will build the firm’s financial crime offering and financial services capability. Previously he was at Deloitte, where he was a director and led the insurance forensic business, and also at the enforcement division of the FSA, now the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Sumer Northern Ireland has appointed Michael Pucci as practice workflow senior manager in the tax team and Dermot McElduff as senior manager in the innovation tax relief team. Pucci brings over 25 years’ experience in retail and business banking, with particular expertise in financial crime. He will be responsible for operations and workflow management of the tax department, including training and onboarding. He was previously managing principal consultant, financial crime, at First Derivative. McElduff has almost 25 years’ experience in the technology sector, working with start-ups and corporates, and will focus on technology and software related R&D tax relief advisory work. He joins from Allen & Overy where he was a legal tech systems specialist.

Acting Office has appointed Wendy Rowe as chief strategy and enterprise officer to support the cloud-based accountancy software company’s expansion drive. Rowe brings over 25 years of experience in product management in the tax and accounting software space at Wolters Kluwer in the UK and Europe. In her new role, Rowe will lead on strategy for large enterprise customers at board and partner level across governance, capability, and delivery strategy with a focus on innovation and AI strategy.

Interpath has appointed technology, data, and AI specialist Lisa Weaver-Lambert as a managing director in its strategy and value creation practice, providing support to investors and businesses with technology-enabled growth and transformation. Weaver-Lambert brings more than 20 years of experience, having started her career at Accenture. She currently has a number of board advisory roles with private equity-backed businesses as well as global infrastructure investors, advising on tech transformation and AI adoption. Previously she spent three years at Microsoft as capital markets data and AI lead, and was also data and digital operating partner at Montagu Private Equity.