Old Mill has promoted Stuart Coombe, David Jones and Phil Kirkpatrick to partner, bringing the total partnership to 22. Rural accountancy specialist Kirkpatrick first joined as a graduate in 2008, attracted to the firm by its rural specialism and support of the farming community. Financial planner Coombe is a rural specialist in the wealth management team and during his 17 years at the firm, has become chartered and worked his way up to director. Jones is an audit specialist in the corporate team and has been at the firm for nearly a decade, and has broad experience as both a financial controller and auditor.

S&W, formerly Evelyn Partners, has appointed Keith Wood and Gary Tamkin as audit partners in the firm’s London office. Wood joins the financial services audit team and has more than 15 years’ experience specialising in the asset management and real estate sectors, leading audits for a wide range of clients. Previously he was a partner at EY, and originally from the US, he has extensive international experience working in New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, and London. Tamkin brings nearly 25 years of experience in audit, advising clients ranging from large international groups and private equity backed businesses to start-ups. He joins from Azets where he was an audit partner, and has spent much of his career at EY and Deloitte.

AAB has appointed Paul Turner as corporate finance partner to lead the corporate finance team in Edinburgh. He brings over 15 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions and financial due diligence, having most recently been a director – deal advisory in the corporate finance team at Forvis Mazars. He has advised on a wide range of transactions including company sales, acquisitions, management buy-outs, and fundraises.

Forvis Mazars has appointed Hermione Bonthuys as an accountancy and outsourcing partner in its London office. She will focus on expanding accounting advisory services for mid-market firms, working closely with the accounting advisory services team, and leading on complex accounting compliance assignments. Bonthuys qualified in audit at Deloitte before moving to Inmarsat, then Pret Group as head of IFRS 16 implementation. She then set up her own IFRS/FRS technical advisory and training company, Getsmart Consulting and Financial Training, which she has been running for the last 16 years.

DSG Chartered Accountants has appointed Kate Taylor as audit partner, to expand services for owner-managed clients. Taylor is a leading accountant in the Liverpool region, with more than two decades of experience spanning a range of industries. She joins DSG from Sedulo where she was Liverpool managing partner and national head of compliance.

Claritas Tax has appointed Justine Stalker as tax partner and head of the firm’s new Leeds office. She brings more than 26 years of experience, specialising in corporate tax, with a focus on innovative and entrepreneurial companies, covering R&D, shareholder taxes, corporate reorganisations and M&A advisory. Previously she was a tax partner at Saffery, heading up the corporate tax team in Leeds as well as national head of R&D and patent box.

Prime Accountants Group has promoted associate director Paislei Godley to the board of directors, 24 years after she joined the firm straight from school as an ambitious office junior. The chartered tax adviser has more than 15 years’ experience and heads up the tax compliance department at Prime, as well as assisting with tax advisory work.

Duncan & Toplis has promoted Daniel Sharpe to business services director in the group’s agricultural team. With a keen focus on the agricultural sector and a strong background supporting farming businesses and families, chartered accountant Sharpe has extensive experience in both accounting and audit. He joined the firm as a school leaver in 2008 and has since gained ACA and AAT qualifications. Outside of work, he is a voluntary business adviser for young people at the King’s Trust.

Cooper Parry has appointed Johnny Clarke as business tax director to expand its tax offering in the Thames Valley. He brings over 15 years’ experience and specialises in corporation tax compliance, tax accounting and group reporting, working with international and private equity backed businesses. Previously he spent nine years at Deloitte as corporate tax associate director.

TheCityUK has appointed Robert Hughes-Penney, investment director at wealth and asset management firm Rathbones, as chair of its business council. He succeeds Alasdair Haynes, founder and CEO of Aquis Exchange, who is stepping down after four years. Hughes-Penney will chair the business council, which promotes the important role financial and related professional services play in driving economic growth. He has been with Rathbones for over 30 years, primarily managing risk-adjusted multi-asset portfolios, and spent several years on the board and executive committee. He is also chair of the audit & risk committee at the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and an alderman of the City of London.