New relationship manager for Yorkshire Bank

YORKSHIRE Bank has appointed a new relationship manager to work at its Business and Private Banking Centre in Birmingham.

Richard Williams, who has nearly 30 years’ experience in banking,  will be concentrating on developing relationships with a diverse customer base in Birmingham, Coventry, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire.

“I have nearly three decades of experience in commercial banking as well as people development and it is great to be joining Yorkshire Bank which has a fantastic reputation in Birmingham,” he said.

Brian Colquhoun, regional director at Yorkshire Bank who is based in Birmingham, said:  “Richard’s professional experience and personable nature will be an asset as we continue to create partnerships and connect people across the Midlands.

“His background in the industry will be an advantage in securing new business as well as maintaining and improving our relationships with existing customers across industry sectors.”

Inspired appointments at accountancy practice

MIDLAND-based accountancy practice, Inspired Accountants, has bolstered its ranks with the addition of four new members of staff.

The firm, which has offices in Lichfield and Leicester, has appointed Claire Wright as Senior Accountant. She is joined by Michelle Trickey as Accounts Clerk & Credit Controller, Caroline West as Practice Administrator and Piara Singh as Bookkeeper.
 
Ms Wright is a qualified ACCA and MAAT accountant and brings with her 15 years of accounting experience. As part of her role she will be responsible for the preparation of statutory accounts and be involved with audit and tax work.

Ms Trickey joins from a finance consultancy company, but before working as a bookkeeper she spent 10 years in the hospitality sector.

Ms West has worked in the city for 25 years, predominantly in payroll, office administration and reception, while Piara Singh has a degree in actuarial mathematics and statistics, and recently completed the Institute Of Certified Bookkeepers’ course. Before joining Inspired he worked for a firm of accountants in Handsworth.

Inspired Accountants’ Managing Director Paul Bulzacchelli said: “I am delighted to have four experienced and enthusiastic professionals join Inspired Accountants as we continue to focus on growth and creating exceptional value for our clients.  Their individual skills are a perfect fit and I know they will each play a pivotal role in the continued success of Inspired Accountants.”

Pictured from left are: Claire Wright, Caroline West, Paul Bulzacchelli, Piara Singh, Michelle Trickey.
 

Apprentices given their chance at Ormerod Rutter

DEDICATED apprentices at Worcestershire accountancy practice Ormerod Rutter have been rewarded with permanent contracts.

The five young people were taken on after impressing partners at the firm, which has offices in Droitwich Spa, Worcester and Bromsgrove.

HR manager Lorraine Smith said: “This was a new initiative for us and we’re delighted with the way that everyone is progressing. The apprentices are so bright, mature and professional that all of the managers want them in their team.”

Dan Stokes, Oliver Maiden, Amelia Roberts, Sam Batkin and Grace Humphreys are each spending three months in Ormerod Rutter’s tax, limited company, small business and audit departments.

From September each apprentice will work in a specific department to further develop their skills. As they work towards their Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification, they attend Kidderminster College one day a week.

If successful, they will then progress to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification, which takes four years to complete.

Sam Batkin said that the scheme had been “a fantastic opportunity”, allowing him to combine a high level of academic learning with valuable practical experience gained in the workplace.

The criteria and structure was devised by Ormerod Rutter accounts manager, Doug Marshall, whose career began as an apprentice 11 years ago.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming a new group of intelligent and enthusiastic young people to follow in our current apprentices’ footsteps,” he said.

“Our long-term objective is to create ‘home-grown’ accountants who will grow with the company.”

Pictured from left are: Dan Stokes, Sam Batkin, accounts manager Doug Marshall, Amelia Roberts, Grace Humphreys and Oliver Maiden.