KPMG and Deloitte promote tax advisory experts in Newcastle

KPMG has promoted David Elliott to the role of Senior Partner at its Newcastle office, succeeding Mick Thompson who is retiring from the role. Deloitte too has unveiled a promotion an in the firm’s Newcastle office, with Julia Fox becoming Director in the firm’s Tax Practice.

David Elliott joined KPMG in 2008, taking on the role of Tax Partner and lead of the firm’s tax practice within its Newcastle office. He previously worked at PwC, where he rose to the role of Tax Director over a period of almost 18 years of service. Elliott trained to become an accountant at Stokoe Rodger, where he started in 1986 as a Trainee Chartered Accountant.

Elliott is set to take the role of Senior Partner At the firm’s Newcastle Office from 1 March 2017, following the retirement of current holder Mick Thompson. He takes responsibility for leading the offices’ 150 strong team of professionals – the office is one of the major contributors to the firms recently announced 15% revenue growth across its Northern practice. Thompson, who will stay with the firm until the spring of 2018, to continue to provide support for the firm’s largest regional clients.

Speaking about his appointment to Office Senior Partner, David Elliott says: “Having played an active role in this vibrant, regional economy for many years, I am delighted to lead one of the area’s most prestigious firms. The excellent KPMG team based here on the Quayside and our superb client portfolio makes the North East an exciting and rewarding place to work.”

Chris Hearld, KPMG’s North Region Chairman, adds, “David is North East through and through, with a longstanding reputation in the regional market. The success he has delivered for our tax practice, developing deep specialisms, for example in capital allowances, innovation reliefs and incentives and M&A tax, plus his energy and appetite for client service makes him a superb fit for this market critical role, driving our strategy for further profitable growth in the future.”

Julia Fox, following her Bachelor of Science in Medical Chemistry from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, joined Arthur Anderson as a trainee accountant in 1995. Two years later she joined Deloitte’s North East regional business, where she spent the following twenty years – in her most recent role as Associate Director. She is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Tax Advisor.

In her new role as Director in the firm’s Newcastle-based tax team – she leads a team of tax experts focused on supporting companies through restructuring across the North East, Yorkshire and Scotland.

Stephen Hall, Senior Partner for Deloitte in the North East, remarks, “Julia’s understanding of the tax complexities in a restructuring situation is second-to-none, but she is also happy to roll her sleeves up for her clients and immerse herself in the situation. When your business is facing uncertainty, or a period of change, that’s what you need from a tax adviser.”

Fox reflects, “Working with a business that needs to change to achieve its objectives can be a high-pressure situation because timeframes are usually tight and there’s so much at stake, but it’s extremely satisfying when you help the business through a successful restructuring.”