RSM appoints new Director to Birmingham hub
Advisory and auditing firm RSM has appointed a new Director to its team in Birmingham. Former EY professional James Roberts has worked with a wide range of UK and international clients, delivering projects including corporate reorganisations, acquisitions and disposals.
The Midlands face significant uncertainty in the coming months, with the impact of Brexit, a slow-down in the global economy, fluctuating currency rates, and changes in consumer spending meaning that firms in the region may quickly need to make fundamental changes to protect and grow their businesses. As a result, the region’s largest city of Birmingham has seen a multitude of consulting firms looking to strengthen their capacities there, anticipating heightened demand from businesses looking to adapt amid turbulent circumstances.
RSM is a global auditing and consulting firm which targets the middle market, and has nearly 3,800 partners and staff working at 35 locations throughout the UK. As the firm looks to boost its own ability to meet the needs of clients in the coming months, it has recruited former Big Four professional James Roberts to its financial services wing.
Bringing 12 years of experience to RSM, Roberts has specialised in financial reporting and risk assurance throughout his career, having spent a significant portion of his time in the financial services sector. In his new role based in the West Midlands, Roberts will focus on broadening RSM’s financial services offering nationally, drawing on the firm’s expertise and talent from across the UK and internationally.
Prior to arriving at RSM, Roberts spent time with three of the consulting industry’s infamous Big Four. Spending over six years with KPMG, where he was latterly a Senior Manager, Roberts was also a Manager at PwC for two years, and most recently worked as a Senior Manager in Transaction Structuring for EY.
Mark Taylor, RSM’s regional managing partner for the central region said, “I’m delighted to welcome James to the team. He brings with him extensive technical and pragmatic experience in advising financial services businesses. Given the regulatory and strategic challenges currently facing financial firms across the region, James’ expertise will be in great demand both from our existing and prospective clients.”
As it prepared for heightened demand at another regional office earlier in August, RSM’s Hull locale also appointed a new Partner and Tax Director. Pete Adams and Aysha Marley respectively joined RSM after having spent more than a decade with PwC, which is planning to close its Hull office in 2020.
