RSM appoints former PwC audit quality leader

29 October 2018 Consultancy.uk

Global consulting firm RSM has appointed a new audit quality head. PwC veteran Marion Hannon has joined RSM following a 27-year stint at the Big Four firm.

Mid-market professional services network RSM has 35 offices across the UK. Last year, the firm saw revenues increase by 9% to £319 million, while RSM further supplemented its organic growth with the acquisition of Explore Consulting, boosting its NetSuite capabilities in the process. Kicking on from this, earlier this year, RSM saw its global revenues pass the £3.7 billion mark, while seeing all its service lines grow. Moving forward, the firm is looking to meet its growing demand, particularly in regards to regulation and technological transformation, by boosting its expert headcount.

The latest development in a raft of new arrivals at the firm has seen former PwC Director Marion Hannon named the new Global Leader for Quality and Risk at RSM. RSM, which is the sixth largest accountancy network in the world, has installed Hannon to lead the technical team, focusing on quality assurance, risk containment, ethics and independence for the network. She will also be responsible for network’s policies, procedures, tools and processes.

Hannon worked at PwC for almost 30 years, joining in 1989. This extensive tenure included spells in Hong Kong – where she was a Partner and Strategic Change Leader between 2000 and 2003 – Dublin and London. Her most recent role with the firm was with Director, Health Sector Audit Technical Leader in the London branch of PwC. After a career break of one year, Hannon has arrived at RSM to replace the outgoing Bob Dohrer, who held the position for six years.

Hannon commented on her new challenge, “The global network is committed to the provision of the highest quality audit services around the world and has already got in place robust policies and procedures to achieve this… More than ever before, audit is under the microscope. Regulators are calling for improvements in quality while technology is transforming the amount and speed of data available to auditors. I am excited to work with RSM’s member firms around the network to be at the forefront of these changes.”

Jean Stephens, CEO of RSM International, added, “As we grow our services, our global footprint and our client base, we must ensure that we do not lose sight of this essential pillar of our network. I am delighted to have an expert of Marion’s calibre joining our team and leading our vision in this area.”