In brief: Accountants hired by flood defence specialist; KBS Corporate & more

MANCHESTER-based flood defence specialist IBS Engineered Products has appointed accountants and business advisers Beever and Struthers to provide a range of specialist services and strategic advice.

IBS, headquartered in King Street, and with a presence in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IBS Technics GmbH, the specialist designer, supplier and installer of flow control and flood protection equipment based near Munich in Germany.

IBS GmbH was established in 1994 and has had a presence in the UK since the early 2000s.

The business enjoys a long history of providing large scale flood protection systems, including the installation of in excess of 1,000 linear metres of glass wall systems in Europe such as in Keswick, Cumbria in 2011 and more than 100,000 square metres of demountable and temporary flood barriers worldwide.

The group’s expansion of its UK operations led it to seek a firm of accountants and business advisers.

It consequently appointed Manchester-based Beever and Struthers to provide a combination of back office support, audit and tax compliance services and strategic advice.

Sebastian Schaubeck, a director of IBS, said: “We were seeking a ‘one-stop shop’ with all support coming through one partner firm and in Beever and Struthers we found the ideal partner for IBS UK.”

Caroline Monk, audit partner at Beever and Struthers, is one of the specialist partners heading the manufacturing division.

She said: “Our restructuring reinforced and extended our core specialisms in sectors including manufacturing/engineering and our appointment by IBS allows us to offer our expertise in the sector to a progressive and ambitious firm that is expanding its presence in the UK.”

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BOLTON-based KBS Corporate is offering university students the opportunity to get a foothold on the corporate finance ladder with the launch of a new academy.

The firm is working with several universities to offer four undergraduates a 12-month placement each year.

KBS Corporate specialises in helping owner-managed businesses sell their companies to UK, international and institutional buyers.

During the 12-months, students will get hands on experience of the corporate finance process including identifying potential buyers, deal valuations and how to structure and finance deals. They will have the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs and get invaluable insight into companies operating across a wide range of sectors.

The firm is working with a number of universities including the University of Liverpool, Loughborough University and Sheffield Hallam University to recruit students who will ideally be studying for international business and finance degrees. They will spend the third year of their four-year course at the company.

The first undergraduates will join in June next year. At the end of the 12 months, two students will be offered permanent jobs at KBS Corporate and the opportunity to study for further qualifications in corporate finance and accountancy.

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WIRRAL marine hydraulics contractor V&A has completed a vessel repair package for Runcorn-based international fuel bunkering firm Whitaker Tankers.

The Birkenhead-based family firm has delivered a series of complex hydraulic upgrades to Whitaker’s short haul fuel tanker, Keewhit.

V&A Hydraulics managing director Vic Seddon said: “It was a highly rewarding project because of the scale and variety of work. We have a firm business philosophy here at V&A that there is no hydraulics job which cannot be solved. It is quite simple – we trust in our knowledge, skill and expertise.”

Whitaker Tankers operates a fleet of inland barges and sea going tankers in UK and European waters. It specialises in carrying fuel product for major oil companies.