Grant Thornton UK LLP has invested in its Northern tax team, announcing a trio of senior hires with a combined total of more than 50 years’ experience, spanning specialisms that include corporate, private client, transfer pricing, and not-for-profit.
The move comes in response to growing demand from the firm’s client base, who place a premium on the ability to access specialist tax advice in-person in the North’s core cities.
Abigail Davies is a transfer pricing expert who joins as an associate director. She has more than two decades of experience gained predominantly through in-house roles within engineering, financial services, and consultancy.
Also joining the team as an associate director is private client specialist Chris Mitchell, who has 15 years’ experience advising entrepreneurial clients and owner-managed businesses. His expertise includes compliance, advisory and transaction work; exit and succession planning; and group reorganisations and structuring.
The third new hire is not-for-profit sector-specialist Angela Forde. Over a career spanning more than 15 years, Angela has developed specialist experience in social housing and higher education. Her expertise includes cross tax compliance; tax implications of property developments and joint ventures; and capital allowances.
Grant Thornton has also recognised the progression of one of its key Northern tax experts, promoting Douglas Tailby to director. Douglas, who has been developing his career with the firm since he joined in 2011, specialises in corporate and international tax. He deals with transaction and advisory work for a range of clients, from owner-managed businesses to listed international groups.
The new hires take the Northern tax team’s headcount to 183.
All will all operate pan-regionally, working from the firm’s offices in Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.
Rachel Engwell, partner and Northern head of tax for Grant Thornton, said: “Access to our global network is a major draw for clients. But many have also told us just how much they value the ability to access specialist tax advice, in-person, in the UK, without jumping on the train to Euston.
“This demand, and our commitment as a firm to invest in talent, has driven our decision to bolster the Northern tax team; adding experienced professionals with deep expertise in a range of specialisms, to grow our capacity in these service lines.
“I’m also delighted to recognise the continued development of Douglas. He’s been instrumental to both the team’s strong fee growth, and to maintaining many of our long-term client relationships, since joining us more than a decade ago.”
