Financial Appointments: Grant Thornton; Hayward Wright; Crowe Clark Whitehill

GRANT THORNTON has marked double digit growth in its commercial audit revenues with the expansion of its Birmingham senior team.

The move has seen the promotion of associate director Natalie Gladwin and the appointment of fellow associate director John Coates.

The business and finance adviser has boosted commercial audit revenues in Birmingham by 27% over the last three years, with almost 100 people now working with the office’s portfolio of growing businesses.

Audit wins in 2016 include motorsport and technology specialist Prodrive, Worcestershire-based flooring group Victoria, Solihull-based hybrid estate agency Purplebricks and the Edgbaston Priory Club, which has recently undergone a multi-million pound redevelopment.

Becky Eagle, partner and head of commercial audit, said: “Natalie’s promotion is richly deserved and John’s experience in industry is a valuable addition to the team, particularly in bringing a client’s perspective and knowledge of overseas governance, operations and parentage.”

Ms Gladwin joined the firm as a graduate trainee in 2003 and qualified in 2006. Her audit clients include businesses across a variety of industry sectors with a focus on international groups and high growth businesses.
Her role also includes recruitment and staff development, working closely with colleagues to ensure their career goals are being met.

Mr Coates joins the firm’s commercial audit team from Jaguar Land Rover, where he was financial reporting senior manager with responsibilities including external financial reporting and financial process improvement across the group.  Prior to that role, he was a director at PwC in Birmingham, where he specialised in providing assurance services to private and private equity backed businesses.

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HAYWARD Wright Accountancy Group has appointed a new director to its senior management team as it sets its sights on further expansion in the West Midlands.

Gareth Wood (pictured right) has been promoted from his role as client manager following an impressive 18 months in which he has brought in new clients and played a role in the company’s ambitious growth plans.

The management accountant and business finance specialist, who joined Hayward Wright in March last year, will now take the lead in the company’s organic growth plans, working closely with its teams in Redditch, Worcester and Solihull.

Alistair Hayward-Wright (pictured left), founder and managing director of Redditich-based Hayward Wright Accountancy Group said: “We knew when Gareth joined us last year that he was a talented and well-connected accountant who builds a strong rapport with clients.

“In 18 months he has more than proved his talent and ambition. He is a first-rate accountant and someone with the ability to give clear and concise advice. His promotion is well-deserved.”

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CROWE Clark Whitehill has doubled its number of VAT partners with the appointment of Robert Marchant and Keri Pay as the audit, tax and advisory firm continues to bolster its services to corporate clients.
 
Joining Crowe’s London office, Mr Marchant moves from PwC, where he gained 15 years’ experience advising UK and multinational businesses on their indirect tax obligations.
 
Moving from BDO, Keri Pay (pictured) has 27 years’ VAT experience, working with a full range of clients from sole traders and owner managed businesses, clients in the not for profit sector right through to large corporate and international companies, including some of the largest businesses in the Midlands region.
 
Mr Pay will be based in Crowe’s Midlands office.

Robert Warne, National Head of VAT at Crowe says: “Both Robert and Keri are respected and established advisors and we are extremely pleased to have them on board to spearhead our services for corporate clients.”