Armstrong Watson promotes six to tax team in 12 months

Armstrong Watson has further strengthened its Yorkshire tax team with six key appointments in the last 12 months.

In corporate tax, the accountants, business, and financial advisory firm has welcomed tax director Nicole Hilton and senior tax manager Mel Harrison, and has promoted Janine Levine to tax director. 

The firm has also welcomed senior private client tax manager Becky Fraser and trust tax manager Luke Pickering, while Ben Tetley has joined as VAT and indirect tax manager. 

Tax partner James Fraser said: “From a Yorkshire perspective, we have strengthened the team over the last year with senior appointments in VAT, private client tax and corporate tax. We have also recruited at more junior levels and will welcome our graduate trainees in September. 

“All of these measures strengthen our ability to support our clients across a wide range of issues, and also to support businesses (and the individuals behind those businesses) from start-up through to exit.”

Hilton joined Armstrong Watson in April after 14 years at Mazars. A corporate and international tax specialist with extensive experience in advising large multinational groups and entrepreneurial businesses across a variety of sectors, she also previously worked for EY and Dixon Hughes Goodman in the United States.

She will develop both new and existing client relationships and help drive growth for the Leeds office and wider tax team. Her background working with large international businesses will also service the firm’s larger corporate clients, including inbounds and outbounds, with tax issues, in relation to tax governance, international tax and other corporate tax implications. 

Hilton said: “I am passionate about providing relevant, straightforward tax advice and I have always enjoyed working with owner-managed businesses, supporting them as they grow and face more complex tax issues both in the UK and overseas.  

“My role at Armstrong Watson allows me to do what I love as part of a firm that puts people first and has core values that really resonate with me. It also provides an exciting opportunity for me to develop the tax advisory service offering for our client base to help drive further growth.”

Levine, who also joined Armstrong Watson from Mazars, has more than 25 years of tax consultancy experience. She has a portfolio of family and owner-managed businesses and supports the partner group in improving processes, leading on advisory projects, delivering high-standards of client service as well as achieving financial targets. 

Regarding her appointment, Levine said: “In my role as tax director I hope to continue to build a good strong tax consultancy team that can support each other, develop themselves as well as deliver excellent client service that we can continue to be proud of.”