RSM expands its Manchester operation with two senior hires

RSM has scooped two experts, with backgrounds in tax and audit, from ASE Global. Alison Ashley joins RSM's team as a Partner, and will work in the firm’s audit practice, while Amanda Sayle joins the firm’s tax practice as an Associate Director. The new hires, both based in Manchester, reflect the firm’s continued organic growth as it seeks to expand its ranks in a region which is dubbed the ‘northern powerhouse’.

Prior to joining RSM, Alison Ashley worked for ASE Global, a specialist in motor trade specific accountancy and business advice, as a Managing Partner in the firm’s Professional Services division. During her more than four years at the firm, she was responsible for, among others, the corporate finance and tax departments. Previous roles include Director at PKF between 2007 and 2012, Senior Manager at PwC between 2001 and 2007, and Audit Senior at Grant Thornton, starting in 1999.

Amanda Sayle, prior to joining RSM, was a Tax Director at ASE Global from early 2015. She started at the firm in 2012 and was prior to that a Corporate Tax Manager at Bennett Brooks for around a year. Earlier in her career she worked at Harts for more than five years, in her last role as Corporate Tax Manager, and at Champion Chartered Accountants as a Corporate Tax Associate from 2005. Sayle holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics. She is a CTA from the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and an ATT from The Association of Taxation Technicians.

In a bid to strengthen its audit, tax and consultancy capability in the North West of England, RSM has recently been expanding their talent in the region: Rebecca Reading was recently added as a Partner in its Manchester practice, while James Morris and Tina Mullington were promoted to Partner in Preston and Stoke. 

In Manchester, Ashley teams up with Reading, where she takes up the role of Partner and will work across multiple practices at the firm, providing regulatory, advisory and transactional support to the firm’s list of clients. Sayle joins the firm’s tax practice in Manchester as an Associate Director, bringing in more than 13 years of experience.

Eric Solomons, Office Managing Partner at RSM in Manchester, says: “It’s great to have Alison and Amanda on board.” He adds: “They both bring a wealth of experience and specialist technical and sector expertise that will support our clients to move forward. I am sure that their experience and credentials will further enhance our offering to clients and corporates in the North West. It’s an exciting time to be joining RSM, as we continue to grow our reach in the UK and internationally; and our ongoing commitment in investing in the right people is not only enhancing our capabilities and sector expertise, but it’s shaping our future firm.”

Ashley comments that she is “absolutely delighted” about the appointment, and looks forward to working for the RSM team. “The firm has seen an impressive level of growth that I now look forward to contributing towards. In particular, I believe that our offering across the North West region is unrivalled and I'm incredibly excited about being a part of that.”