UNW appoints new partner and head of audit and assurance

Newcastle-based independent chartered accountancy and business advisory firm UNW has announced the appointment of Ian Kelsall as partner and head of audit and assurance. 

The announcement follows the arrival of Nicola Coleman as audit and assurance partner at the end of 2023 and comes off the back of a period of demand-led growth that has seen the firm invest considerably in its senior team.

Kelsall, a native of the North East, moves to UNW from Deloitte where he was a partner and head of audit in the Belfast office. 

With more than two decades of experience, he has provided corporate audit services to FTSE 250 and AIM listed entities, privately owned businesses and large subsidiaries of overseas multinationals, across a wide range of industry sectors including energy, utilities, transport, manufacturing, retail and pharmaceuticals.

He trained and qualified with a North East independent firm and then worked in senior management roles at both EY and Deloitte locally before transferring to Belfast.

Regarding his appointment, Kelsall said: “A return to Newcastle has always been an attractive option for me, but the only opportunity in the local market that I could really get excited about was at UNW. The calibre of its team and client base, along with its culture and ambition, and the entrepreneurial approach of an independent firm, ticked all the boxes for me. 

“UNW’s determination to continually invest in its people and drive opportunities both internally and externally across the region really sets them apart from others.”

Andrew Wilson, managing partner at UNW, added: “We have known Ian for some time now and believe he will be a perfect fit for our firm. He has a wealth of experience looking after the type of clients that populate our portfolio and is really keen to get back to the region and focus on local businesses. He’s a team player and enthusiastic about supporting the development of the fantastic people we have throughout the firm.”