Diane Petit-Laurent has joined Saffery Champness’ Manchester office as a corporate partner. Previously a director at Deloitte, Petit-Laurent brings expertise in providing solutions to owner-managed business clients with both a national and international presence, as well as private equity-backed entities. In her role at Saffery Champness, she will focus on entrepreneurial clients in several industries including technology, manufacturing and retail, working with the firm’s wider teams to deliver integrated advice throughout the enterprise lifecycle, from start-up to growth to exit.

Sarah Turgoose has joined RSM as a private client partner in its Southampton tax team. She joins RSM from Deloitte, bringing over 16 years’ experience working with private clients providing wide ranging tax advice to entrepreneurs, their families, businesses and family trusts. Leading the Southampton private client team, Turgoose will specialise in providing tax advice to private business owners to help them meet their personal and business objectives including cash extraction, ownership restructuring and succession planning. She will work closely with corporate finance teams, advising shareholders on transactions, tax issues during the sales process and those impacting high net worth individuals.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has announced new appointments to the actuarial and audit & assurance councils.

The new members of the Actuarial Council are:

• Dominic Lindley, an independent consultant specialising in financial services, consumer protection and conduct risk issues. He is a member of the financial services consumer panel and director of policy for New City Agenda.
• Naomi L'Estrange, is a trustee director and sits on boards for a wide variety of DB, DC and hybrid pension schemes.  She was previously director of legal and of strategy and policy at the Pension Protection Fund.
• Bob Scott, senior partner of the actuarial firm Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, a position he has held since 2011. From 1 June 2016 to 31 May 2018 Scott was the chair of the Association of Consulting Actuaries.

The new member of the Audit and Assurance Council is:

• Fiona Kordiak, director of audit services in Audit Scotland and a member of its management team.

PA Group, the news and information business and parent company of the Press Association, has appointed James Goode as Chief Financial Officer. Formerly Group (CFO) at Lonrho, a conglomerate focussed on Sub-Saharan Africa, Goode will play a key role in PA Group’s ongoing strategy to diversify its portfolio. He will have responsibility for the group’s finance & property functions and will join the PA Group board as an executive director. He spent five years at Lonrho, first as group head of corporate development and from 2015 as group CFO and executive director. Goode began his career with PwC and has also held a number of senior financial leadership and business development roles at BT Group, Logicalis Group and EY.

Chris Oxley has joined UHY Hacker Young as business advisory partner within their Manchester office. Oxley joins the firm from North West based accountancy practice Danbro where he spent 10 years working with independent professionals and owner managed businesses. He has a wealth of experience in the business advisory space and specialises in helping businesses to grow by providing tailored solutions and proactive advice.