Saffery promotes six to partner

Saffery, the accounting and advisory firm, has announced the promotion of six directors to partner, with effect from 1 April.

Based in the Harrogate office, David Bussey is a chartered accountant and Trust and Estates practitioner, advising families and owner-managed businesses across Yorkshire and the North East. He is a member of the firm’s Land and Rural Group and specialises in advising owners of landed estates and rural businesses on the many and often complex taxation and accounting issues they face, including succession planning, capital taxes mitigation, property transactions and general commercial advice. David’s work also encompasses preparing business valuations for both commercial and tax purposes.

Meanwhile, based in High Wycombe, Luke Hanratty advises a broad portfolio of clients, including UK subsidiaries of large US chains, landed estates involved in property rental and commercial enterprises, international pharmaceutical groups and science and technology companies. His background is highly technical, holding both chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser qualifications, as well as a doctorate in particle physics.

In London, Steven Coelho is a private client tax specialist, advising high and ultra-high net worth clients and their families on their UK tax affairs, estate and succession planning. Having trained with a trust company in Jersey, he draws upon his experience to provide tailored and holistic advice to international family offices and trustees with multi-jurisdictional interests. Coelho is ACCA qualified and is a chartered tax adviser.

In addition, Anna Hicks leads on the firm’s audit and financial reporting technical activity. She has considerable experience in IFRS as well as UK GAAP, with a particular interest in larger company financial reporting. She works with the firm’s client teams, advising on audit and accounting matters as well as supporting technical training requirements. She joined Saffery in 2014, having spent seven years in industry as group financial accountant for a listed property company.

Andrew Smith is also based in London, providing tax advice to the owners of private companies and shareholders, across personal and corporate tax issues. His clients span a variety of sectors, including recruitment & executive search, technology, sports & entertainment and film and TV. Andrew has a particular interest in advising on corporate reorganisations, business sales and equity reward plans.

Finally, Helen Wilkie is a not-for-profit audit specialist. She has extensive experience of auditing and advising a range of charity and other not-for-profit organisations, from start-up charities to household names. Wilkie has a Masters in Charity Accounting and Financial Management and also holds the ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting.

Matthew Burton, managing partner at Saffery LLP, said: “Our six new partners reflect the exceptional quality and breadth of expertise in our teams serving important markets and regions across the UK. They each have made, and continue to make, important contributions to the success of our clients, and the development of our business. They epitomise our shared values and commitment to client service – the golden thread which runs throughout the firm.

“As an organisation, our purpose is to ‘support opportunity and enable success’ and we passionately believe in investing in our people and supporting them to develop and achieve their potential. This is true right from the earliest career stages – which is why we were thrilled to welcome our largest ever cohort of graduate trainees last year – and it remains just as important at each subsequent stage of the journey. We are enormously proud of all those promoted today, and warmly congratulate them on taking this well-earned step forward.”