People on the move: Inquesta; Condy Lofthouse; McLintocks

FAST-growing forensic accounting and insolvency practice Inquesta, based in Radcliffe near Bury, has added to its team to meet increasing demand for its services.

Amanda Berezai has joined as a senior manager in the forensic team. She has more than 14 years’ experience gained at two of the Big Four practices in London and Manchester, where she specialised in forensic services.

Donna Hayes has been recruited as an administrator in Inquesta’s insolvency division to support a growing caseload of individual voluntary arrangements.

She has more than 10 years’ experience in the field.

Inquesta director and co-founder Rob Miller said: “We are seeing significant growth across our service lines.

“The number of personal insolvencies is rising sharply, with last month’s figures from the Insolvency Service showing a year-on-year increase of nearly 20 per cent in the third quarter of 2015.

“Alongside this we are seeing increased demand for our forensic expertise, especially in relation to banking litigation matters in the light of issues arising from the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Global Restructuring Group.

“Amanda and Donna are superb additions to our team. They have extensive experience in their specialist fields and we are delighted to welcome them to the practice.”

Miller, who founded Inquesta in 2012 with Steven Wiseglass, added: “We are entering a tremendously exciting period for the firm as we near our fifth anniversary.

“We are likely to be recruiting further in the coming months as we look to grow geographically, expand our existing service lines and increase the range of niche services we offer, including corporate finance and specialist tax investigations.”

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CONDY Lofthouse, the Liverpool-based architecture practice currently overseeing the refurbishment of Everton FC’s Goodison Park stadium, has promoted three of its team to associate level.
 
The move follows continued growth at the practice, whose range of projects currently include PRS projects, social housing, healthcare facilities, a new brewery and a £30m waste-to-energy plant.

Making the move upwards are: Graham Bell, 35, who joined CLA in 2007 and is one of the firm’s residential design specialists, with a particular expertise in large value homes; Greg Phillips, 35, who leads on the firm’s work designing major healthcare villages, having join CLA in 2003; and Pete Williamson, 43, who joined the firm in 2008 and is an expert in the design of specialised mental health care facilities, as well as a member of the firm’s expert witness team.

The company employs 34 staff from its base in the Connect Business Village in the city’s north docklands.

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MCLINTOCKS Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors has appointed Lynsey Jenkins as a senior tax manager at its Chester office.

Jenkins, 32, has moved from a large national firm and will now work alongside a team of seven directors and over 50 staff members, becoming an integral part of a growing tax department that will be able to offer a full range of high level tax advice to both individuals and organisations.

She said: “Having worked in the industry for the past 10 years, I am excited to have joined such a prominent independent firm, which has gained a first-class reputation across the North West.
 
“I am very much looking forward to becoming part of the Chester team and hope that my previous experience and eagerness to drive forward evolving tax solutions will go on to complement the services already in place and bring something new.”

Jenkins began her career in a local firm where she trained and qualified as a chartered accountant and a chartered tax adviser.

Managing director Alastair Jeffcott said: “Lynsey is a fantastic addition to an already strong tax team and her variety of experience will be a great asset to the firm. Her fresh approach, forward thinking and personable manner will no doubt further the scope of our ever-expanding tax services.”

CEO Mike Caputo added: “Lynsey’s knowledge will enhance the services that we offer ranging from tax planning for high net worth individuals, owner managed businesses, professional practices and trusts; at the same time ensuring that clients meet their compliance obligations.”

McLintocks has offices based in Chester, Wirral and Wrexham.