People: Armstrong Watson; H&H Land & Estates; Claritas Tax; Davis Blank Furniss; Irwin Mitchell

Cumbrian Accountancy firm Armstrong Watson has launched a new outsourcing service to help clients build virtual finance departments – saving them both time and costs. Guy Kerkvliet has been appointed as head of outsourcing and will lead the national department.

Armstrong Watson already provides outsourced VAT returns and bookkeeping as well as payroll, accounts management and finance director services but this new service will help larger businesses create a tailored virtual finance department.

Guy said: “The ‘Virtual Finance Department’ is an entirely cloud-based, tailored solution unique to each organisation’s needs, allowing business teams access from anywhere and at any time. With access to bespoke digital reports, we believe this will provide business leaders with crucial information to make strategic decisions, quicker and easier than ever before.”

Guy joins Armstrong Watson after three years at French Duncan, in Glasgow, where he was a senior manager in the outsourced services department focusing on hotel accounting.

He specialises in working on process standardisation, process improvement and automation for businesses and has eight years’ experience working with owner-managed businesses as well as large international companies.

Guy added: “I’m really excited about joining Armstrong Watson, as I’ll be working closely with various experts in their field to build a full service concept for our clients. Unhindered by legacy systems this allows us to build a proposition based on best practice and current technological solutions.”

Paul Dickson, chief executive and managing partner, said: “For many businesses, the pandemic has introduced new ways of working – including the need to make a move to automate some of their processes and outsource areas of their business such as their finance functions. This new service line will ensure our clients have a virtual finance department tailored to their needs, combining the latest technology with the support of experienced accountants, to keep their businesses moving forward and Guy’s experience makes him the perfect fit to lead the team in this area.”

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H&H Land & Estates has announced the appointment of Sue Jackson as branch manager at its Penrith office

With a wealth of experience in the property sector, having worked as an estate agent for more than 15 years, Sue brings a progressive and dynamic approach to the busy branch. Her passion for the area and knowledge of the market makes Sue the ideal candidate for nurturing existing, and new relationships, to help drive the business forward, the firm said.

She will also be responsible for overseeing day to day office activities and managing the team of professionals based at Penrith.

Sue Jackson

Previously, Sue began her career in the South West before moving to the Lakeland area. She has worked for several renowned property firms including Bridgford’s, Countrywide, Reeds Rains as well as Hunters. Professionally, Sue holds qualifications in sales and has additionally completed a City and Guilds accredited branch manager regulatory training course.

Sue said: “I am excited to be joining such a forward thinking agency in an area I love so much. The team at the Penrith office is well established and successful and I look forward to joining them and working with them as we strive to offer our clients, old and new, the best possible service we can.”

Kate Patrick, head of estate agency for H&H Land & Estates, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sue to the H&H team and are very much looking forward to working with her in our Penrith office. Sue brings with her an invaluable experience of the industry, and I know she will guide the team through the constantly evolving market so that we continue to be at the forefront as we head towards 2022.”

H&H Land & Estates has a well-established client base across offices in Carlisle, Cockermouth, Durham, Grange-over-Sands, Kendal, Keswick and Penrith.

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Claritas Tax continues to expand with the announcement of four further key recruits to its growing tax business.

These newest hires include Mat Worrall, joining as head of business development, who has been brought in to lead Claritas’s national growth strategy focused on providing tax consultancy services to general practice accountants.

Mat is joined by Kenneth Agbeko, providing support to Mat as business development executive.

Working across the corporate and valuations service lines, Alex Hall joins Claritas as a versatile and experienced senior manager, following an extensive career in a Top Six firm.

From left: Mat Worrall, Kenneth Agbeko, Alex Hall, Dave Whitfield

Further supporting the successful valuations business, as well as adding expertise into the busy innovations reliefs teams, the final joiner to finish 2021 is Dave Whitfield, who joins as an experienced cross-disciplinary manager.

Based in Manchester and Birmingham, the new signings follow an influx of recruitment for the business at all levels, as the independent multi-disciplinary tax practice continues its rapid growth plans.

Matt Hodgson, partner at Claritas Tax, said: “Adding these four further key staff brings us to 12 new recruits in 2021 and a total team across our offices of 40 tax professionals.

“Demand remains high across all our core service lines, reflecting the continuing need to bolster our resources. As our brand awareness grows, we are increasingly identified as a genuine alternative provider of tax services to the mid-market and an alternative career in tax.

“It’s our ambition to continue to raise recognition of the Claritas Tax brand and its association with the provision of high quality, high value work, thereby attracting the best talent in the market.”

Iain Wright, partner, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Mat, Kenneth, Alex and Dave, who are already making a significant difference to our business. We look forward to introducing them to clients and contacts over the coming months and to supporting them as they continue to build their careers with us.”

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Davis Blank Furniss, the Manchester and Glossop-based law firm, is further strengthening its residential conveyancing department following the announcement of a new residential conveyancer at its Manchester office.

Claire Birch

Claire Birch has more than 30 years’ experience working across the residential property sector and has previously worked at Clough & Willis and Temperley Taylor Solicitors.

Her new role includes handling the sales and purchases of both freehold and leasehold properties and advising clients on unregistered titles.

Richard Hamilton, head of property at Davis Blank Furniss, said: “We are delighted to welcome Claire to the team and I’m sure she will be a valuable addition to the department.”

Claire said: “I’m really excited to be joining Davis Blank Furniss and I’m now looking forward to helping further grow both our client base in Manchester and across the North West.”

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National law firm Irwin Mitchell is expanding its planning and environment team with the recruitment of two new members, Victoria Tague, as an associate in Manchester, and Tracy Lovejoy as a senior associate, based in the Birmingham office.

The appointments take the specialist planning and environment team to nine. P&E sits within Irwin Mitchell’s property division which numbers 27 partners and 146 qualified lawyers.

Victoria Tague joins as an associate from DLA Piper UK, where she was an associate in the Manchester planning team.

Victoria Tague

She has acted for a wide range of clients in respect of both development proposals and real estate and corporate transactions and has assisted with high profile planning matters. She also has worked on complex legal agreements, including section 106 planning obligations, highways agreements and utility arrangements, compulsory purchase orders, compensations disputes, land transfers and planning due diligence.

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Victoria worked at Brabners in Manchester.

Claire Petricca-Riding, head of planning and environment at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Both planning and environment are fast moving disciplines where our clients need up to date and strategic legal advice to keep ahead of the game. Our team works as a national practice, advising clients all over the UK. We are delighted to have reinforced our presence in the North and Midlands with these two new appointments.

“Both Tracy and Victoria will play an important part in helping us to fulfil our ambition to provide first class advice to clients. Both new joiners come with great hands-on experience and good reputations and will be great assets to our practice. We plan to announce further appointments in the new year.”