A tax adviser supporting low income taxpayers, an HMRC investigator into offshore tax fraud and forensic accountant at SFO given honours by King
The King’s Birthday Honours list features a number of big names from the worlds of sport, the arts and celebrity with a long awaited knighthood for football great David Beckham, of England and Manchester United fame, given for services to sport and charity.
Other famous new knights on the list were Roger Daltry of The Who and Quadrophenia fame, and patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust, who was recognised for his charity work, as is actor Gary Oldman for services to drama, and damehoods for singer and actress Elaine Paige of Evita fame, for Penny Mordaunt, former leader of the House of Commons ex Conservative MP, most known as the valiant sword holder at the Coronation, for political and public service, and Debbie Crosbie, CEO of Nationwide Building Society, for services to the financial sector.
On the tax front, Meredith McCammond, technical officer at CIOT’s Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG), has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to vulnerable groups, giving a voice to those unable to pay for tax advice in the tax system. McCammond, a Chartered Tax Adviser, joined the LITRG team as a technical officer in 2013, after starting her career in tax at PwC.
Reacting to the award, McCammond said: ‘I’m totally surprised and honoured to receive the BEM - but in truth, this award reflects the work of the entire LITRG team. From all of the personal experiences we bring to LITRG, we know the chaos and disadvantage that can shape people’s lives. Add a tax issue into that mix—one that, without support, can spiral and stay with someone for years—and it becomes clear why LITRG’s work remains so vital.’
Azets partner Vasim ul-haq has been recognised with an MBE for his charitable work and services to the community in London. Vasim, an audit, tax, advisory and recruitment specialist based at the London Bridge office of the UK top 10 accountancy firm and business advisory group, was recognised for 40 years’ service to charitable boards, particularly Thames Reach, which supports people in London who are facing or experiencing homelessness.
Nick Stroud, head of forensic accountancy, at the Serious Fraud Office has been awarded an OBE. In a decades long career at the SFO since 1992, his achievements include pioneering new approaches on crypto as well as setting the benchmark for deferred prosecution agreement industry standards. These achievements are recognised alongside his contribution to breaking barriers as a blind professional.
Stroud said: ‘I feel intensely proud to accept this award which recognises the contribution of accountancy professionals to the SFO’s complex investigations.
‘Having initially found it difficult to accept my own disability I am pleased this award shows those with disabilities can make valuable contributions, demonstrating there should be no barrier to collaborative working.’
From HMRC, there are a handful of awards, with four names on this June’s list, including an OBE for Zoe Gascoyne, deputy director, offshore corporate and wealthy, in HMRC’s fraud investigation team, recognised for services to complex tax investigations.
On LinkedIn, Gascoyne wrote: ‘It’s all slightly surreal but I do feel genuinely privileged. I've tried to always do the right thing throughout my whole career.
‘Over the last seven or so years I have held positions either prosecuting or investigating serious economic crime and in both roles I have been a committed civil servant and one who genuinely always tries to make a difference.
‘I don’t do my job alone and I'm fortunate enough to have some really good people on my team and so I'll take this one for them.’
Also at HMRC, OBEs for public service go to Kelvin Shorte, deputy director, individual and small business compliance; Nicholas Down, head of payments; Rhys Deas, lead IT product manager; and Sybille Anne Graham, technical lead.
Shorte posted on LinkedIn: ‘It is with incredible delight, surprise and humbleness, I write to say I have been awarded an MBE. I am over the moon, but still very much in shock. It is a great honour. My family deserve recognition at this moment as my wife and children have supported me all the way. I am grateful to have been nominated and exceptionally happy to be recognised in this way.’
Neil Carberry, chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has been given an OBE – Order of the British Empire – for services to the economy and business. He has firmly established himself as a leading voice of the recruitment industry, spending endless hours on parliamentary committees arguing for balanced and measured changes to employment law.
Carberry said: ‘I am deeply honoured to be nominated for the OBE and would like to thank His Majesty the King. Any contribution I have made to this is dwarfed by the work of my fabulous colleagues at the REC, Acas, the Low Pay Commission and the CBI over the past two decades.’
An OBE also goes to Shevaun Haviland, director general, British Chambers of Commerce and Craig Beaumont, chief executive director, Federation of Small Businesses for services to businesses.
Beaumont said: ‘I’m still rather floored by this but am so grateful to be appointed an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Working for the small business movement in our country is a privilege, and every day I see entrepreneurs drive local growth and create jobs. Having supported them for a decade, this is the icing on the cake. Thank you to FSB’s volunteers and my colleagues.’
Meantime, Roisin Currie, CEO of Gregg’s, the high street baker chain, receives a CBE for services to hospitality, and the co-founder and chair of Specsavers, Douglas Perkins is awarded an OBE for services to business and trade.
A number of chief finance officers and finance directors also make the honours’ list, including Julie Stewart, CFO/COO of the National Oceanography Centre for services to ocean science, Matthew Thurstan, CFO and director general, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Umar Hussain, CFO of South Wales Police.