Tax consultancy poaches senior staff from bigger rivals

Sophie Chamberlain and Simon Denye

A growth in demand from both private and commercial clients has led to expansion for one of a North West independent tax consultancy.

ETC Tax has announced that it has succeeded in poaching two senior managers from larger competitors after seeing revenue rise by 15% in the space of the past 12 months.

Sophie Chamberlain has been recruited from Deloitte, where she had been an associate director, while Simon Denye has switched from the role of partner at Dow Schofield Watts.

In addition, Robert Wilson, who moved to ETC Tax in August, has been promoted to the firm’s senior ranks.

Director Andy Wood has described how the personnel changes were key parts of a development plan which had also seen the firm move to larger offices in Altrincham late last year.

“The fact that we’re able to attract senior staff from larger rivals indicates how the nature and quality of the work which we do and the team which we have managed to pull together is an enticing mix for tax professionals elsewhere.

“We are in the process of moving into the next phase of the business’s development, so it is vital to have the right people in place.

“Sophie and Simon add great experience and capablity to our leadership team, and will lead our private client and corporate tax work, respectively.

“We also felt it was important to recognise the extremely positive contribution which Robert has made in the time that he’s been with us, successfully managing our growing client book and bringing in new work, too.”

Ms Chamberlain spent almost nine years working in Deloitte’s Manchester office, having joined straight after gaining an accounting and finance degree at Lancaster University.

Mr Denye, meanwhile, has spent more than two decades advising large businesses and SMEs in a career which has taken in spells with both Pricewaterhouse Coopers and KPMG prior to joining Dow Schofield Watts.

Their arrival means that ETC Tax now has 15 staff.

Last November, the firm moved its head office to Market Court in Altrincham, having outgrown a site in Lymm which had been its headquarters for the previous five years.

ETC Tax provides a broad range of tax advice for individuals and businesses based in the UK and internationally from its offices in Altrincham and central London.

Mr Wood said that although staff had been forced to work remotely since the current coronavirus lockdown was imposed, the firm had been “exceedingly busy” over the course of the past month.

“The restrictions have certainly not halted the activities of entrepreneurs across a number of different business sectors,” he said.

Close