Affinia expands Ipswich office with 10 new tax specialists

Why it matters: Nine of the new recruits will be based in Ipswich, adding capacity just as local businesses and individuals seek advice on the implications of the Autumn Budget, delivered by the Chancellor on 28 October.

The details: The appointments build on Affinia's existing Ipswich presence, where the firm works with owner-managed businesses, growing companies and private clients across Suffolk.

• Andy Buchanan rejoins Affinia after 12 years at BDO, bringing more than 30 years of experience in personal tax advice. He will lead the Private Client Services compliance line across the firm's 33 offices nationwide.
• Chris Farrow, who has more than 20 years' experience advising owner-managed businesses and corporate clients, joins as Associate Director leading the Corporation Tax team across Affinia's East Anglia offices.
• Caroline Batts joins the London Private Client team as Associate Director, with 25 years' experience advising private clients on complex tax matters.
• Damian Joy and Kit Townley join as Corporate Tax Managers, while Kieran McMorran joins as Personal Tax Manager and Eleanor Harvey as Assistant Manager.
• Jack Rowland joins the Ipswich team as a Private Client Tax Semi-Senior, and Kemi Omoni as a Private Client Tax Trainee.
• Further senior appointments are expected to join the firm in the coming months.

What they're saying: Rob Thomson, Head of Tax at Affinia, said: "Bringing Andy and this team into Affinia gives us considerably more corporate and personal tax expertise in East Anglia. They know the region and many have spent years working with businesses and individuals here, which matters when you are dealing with decisions that can have long-term financial consequences."

He added: "The recent Autumn Budget has prompted many questions from individuals and businesses about what any tax changes mean for them in practice. Having more senior specialists based in Ipswich means we can help local companies understand those changes and decide how they should respond."

The bigger picture: Affinia describes itself as one of the UK's Top 20 accounting firms, with 33 offices, around 1,600 colleagues, more than 25,000 clients and annual revenues of more than £160m. The group, which works primarily with owner-managed businesses, entrepreneurs and mid-market organisations, owns three UK businesses of UHY: in London, the East Midlands and the South Coast.

The bottom line: The expansion gives Affinia's Ipswich office more senior tax capability at a time when local firms and individuals are looking for guidance on how recent Budget changes will affect them.

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