EY appoints new Directors to Cambridge tax team
Big Four auditing and advisory firm EY has expanded its tax team in Cambridge, with the appointment of two Directors from rival firms PwC and Deloitte. Jason Locking and Matt Webb will lead the firm’s local tax compliance and tax reporting teams, respectively.
As the UK faces a myriad of potential changes ahead of Brexit, currently due to come into effect after March, businesses across the country are scrambling to prepare for still unknowable impacts on their companies. One area which is facing major alterations is the area of taxation, something which is likely to drive demand for consulting services throughout 2019.
In order to prepare for this demand in Cambridge, one of the leading innovation hubs in the UK, EY has appointed two new professionals to help lead its tax practice in the region. Jason Locking will lead the local tax compliance and advisory team in Cambridge; meanwhile, Matt Webb will lead the firm’s tax reporting and audit team across the East. 
Locking arrives at EY from PwC, having worked with the Big Four firm for the last 21 years. He specialises in transactions tax, corporate tax compliance, structuring and international expansion, and has worked with a variety of local clients, along with managing the tax affairs of international groups and providing them with a range of commercially focused advice in respect to deals, corporate structuring and helping clients meet their regulatory and tax obligations.
Matt Webb joins from fellow Big Four rivals Deloitte, bringing a similar breadth of transactions and compliance experience with him, and significant experience in tax reporting and tax audit services. Webb provided tax audit specialist input for a variety of local clients working as part of the audit team to help support investor confidence and promoting transparency. He has also provided tax reporting advice to local clients and multinational groups to help them meet their statutory obligations as well as communicating their tax position to stakeholders.
Both the new EY professionals will perform duties across EY’s East practice, covering both the firm’s Cambridge and Luton offices. This will see them meet the needs of clients across a range of tax services, including in the private mid-market.
Stuart Wilkinson, Head of Tax at EY in the East, said of the twin arrival, “Cambridge and the East of England region is home to many listed and private businesses and the tax issues that they face are increasingly complex. I am pleased to be adding additional senior resource to our local tax team at a time when demand for a range of specialist tax services is growing.”
Related: EY appoints new leader for North East financial services team.
