People: Sedulo Group; KPMG; Manningham Housing Association; and more
Sedulo Group has confirmed the arrival of Sam Perkin as audit director from Deloitte.
He joins the Leeds branch of Sedulo – which also has offices in London, Liverpool and Manchester – to lead the team locally while further growing their national client base.
Perkin specialises in audit and assurance services across a number of sectors, with a wealth of knowledge in audit, accountancy and tax-related issues.
He has over 10 years of experience in audit at Big Four firm Deloitte, managing a diverse client portfolio including UK and US listed firms as well as a range of privately owned companies.
The appointment comes as Sedulo expanded its national expertise in 2023, with Diccon Thornely joining as national head of audit at its London base and Katelyn Dutton announced as audit director in Liverpool.
Perkin said: “I am pleased to have joined Sedulo and to enhance the existing audit team in Leeds, building on the previous investments in teams across London and Liverpool, as the national presence continues to expand.
“As the complexity in the audit product and our clients increases, I’m confident my background and expertise will help further Sedulo’s reputation as a trusted and high-growth advisor, and I’m looking forward to supporting and evolving the exciting client base and opportunities that exist in Leeds and beyond.”
Thornely said: “Sam will provide additional quality and experience in leading the team across the breadth of sectors Sedulo Audit Limited covers from Sports to Manufacturing and Retail to Hospitality.
“Recent wins like Concept Taverns emphasise the fact that established entities are looking to the Sedulo Group for their professional service needs.
“Sam’s appointment is the latest in Leeds, with the team doubling in size over recent months, bringing in experience from BDO as well as other local firms to support both the growth in our client base and complexity of our clients.”
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Euan West
KPMG has confirmed that Euan West has been appointed to lead KPMG’s Private Enterprise business in the UK.
KPMG Private Enterprise (KPE) supports privately owned businesses with their growth agendas and business strategy, from early-stage funding advice to planning an exit.
West has been KPMG’s Leeds Office senior partner since 2019. He joined the firm in 2002, playing a pivotal role in establishing an integrated ‘go-to-market’ strategy for KPMG’s regional business.
He became partner in 2011 by which time he was leading relationships with several of the firm’s largest regionally based clients – including listed, privately owned, and private equity backed organisations.
He then worked in London before leading KPMG’s Liverpool office between 2017 and 2019.
West will take over the role of head of KPE on 1 January 2024 when Karl Edge becomes the firm’s chief people officer and joins KPMG’s UK executive committee. Edge will keep his additional role as head of regions.
West said: “Privately owned businesses have a lot of ambition, whether that’s a family business who have been around for generations or a scaleup completely disrupting a sector.
“The economic landscape in which they are operating remains extremely challenging, with multiple domestic and global factors at play.
“KPMG has been supporting our diverse and valued client base through these tough times, ensuring that they navigate the challenges and seize upon opportunities to innovate and thrive.
“Our Private Enterprise teams across the country provide outstanding expertise and advice to these businesses and I am looking forward to helping us build on this going forward.”
Edge said: “Our Private Enterprise business is an integral part of our firm and runs across all of our capabilities.
“Wherever we are in the country, our teams ultimately support local businesses and Euan’s appointment demonstrates the importance of the regions to the firm and the value they bring through growth opportunities.
“I know Euan will continue to do a great job supporting the entrepreneurial spirit that KPE embodies in this new role.”
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Barrington Billings
The chief executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has paid tribute to the Bradford-based organisation’s chair, Barrington Billings, who is stepping down at the end of December after more than six and a half years in the role.
Billings has more than three decades of experience in the housing sector and is currently head of asset management and development at Tuntum Housing Association in Nottingham.
He is a former president of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Lee Bloomfield said Billings has played “an absolutely pivotal role in enabling MHA to establish a reputation as one of the most forward-thinking housing associations in the country.”
Bloomfield added: “Barrington joined us in 2017 following a regulatory downgrade. We needed a leader who could bring strength in governance and a unique blend of experience in both housing and non-executive roles.
“Barrington emerged as the beacon we sought, providing us with the guidance and expertise needed to navigate through challenges and steer MHA towards success.
“Under his direction, we have achieved the highest possible gradings from the Regulator of Social Housing and become the first housing association to be officially accredited for our work in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion – alongside numerous other awards.
“We cannot adequately express our gratitude for Barrington’s dedication to MHA and the broader community.”
Billings said: “Establishing our Community Investment Strategy and the range of community based initiatives that followed were proud highlights for me.
“Winning awards and accolades are always welcome, but these are merely recognitions of the critical grass roots work MHA have been doing in local communities.
“Of course, none of this success would have been possible without the solid and transformational leadership of our CEO Lee Bloomfield, deputy CEO Ulfat Hussain and director of finance and resources John Kent.
“Lee and Ulfat have both been there from the start of my time as chair and stood with me shoulder to shoulder in the challenging early days of putting our house in order.
“The success of MHA could not have happened without our staff, our tenants and customers. The Customer Panel, led by MHA tenant Cath Bacon, has also been instrumental in scrutinising, reviewing and improving the services we provide.
“I am delighted to be handing over the reins to Rupert Pometsey our current vice-chair, who I regard as one of the best in the country. I will leave knowing that the organisation is in great shape and in good hands.”
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Leeds-based commercial law firm, Square One Law, has continued to invest in future talent with the promotion of several trainees and the recruitment of a further four into training contracts and apprenticeships.
Walter Marufu has completed a two-year training contract having gained experience across all key departments and has qualified into the Commercial Property team.
He joined the firm’s trainee programme in 2021, during the pandemic.
Kimberly Crossman, who joined as a construction paralegal has also qualified and has taken a role as a solicitor in the Commercial Property team having been supported through the CILEX route to qualification.
Since its launch several years ago, the programme has proven to be a success and three new trainees have been awarded training contracts in this year’s cohort of new starters.
This includes Dominika Cudak and Declan Fahey, who have joined the firm’s Newcastle office, and Amelia Smalley, who has been promoted from a paralegal role and will be based at the Leeds office.
Kyle Taylor has recently joined as a paralegal apprentice and Aminur Azad recently completed his business administration apprenticeship, securing a full-time role with the firm.
Gill Hunter, managing partner, said: “We are thrilled that Walter, Kimberley, and Aminur have completed their respective traineeships and apprenticeship.
“It is testament to their exceptional hard work and diligence. We’re also really pleased to be giving a very warm welcome to Amelia, Declan, Dominika and Kyle.
“Traditionally, the legal sector has always been incredibly attractive, but for a multitude of reasons, the pathway for many people has been full of obstacles and difficulties.
“That’s why programmes such as this play a key role in helping us address the legal skills gap and we have every confidence that Amelia, Declan, Dominika and Kyle will go on to be a success, just like Aminur, Kimberly and Walter before them.”
Marufu added: “I’m really happy to have qualified as a solicitor into the Commercial Property team. The support I have received throughout this journey has been brilliant.
“As someone who has come a long way to achieve this qualification, it truly means the world to me.
“I am genuinely excited about the future and incredibly grateful to my colleagues and managers for their outstanding training.”
