RSM appoints three new service line heads in Tax business

Leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK has appointed three new service line heads to three of the firm’s key tax service lines. Helen Relf, Rowena Cliffton and Martin Cooper take on the roles.

Ali Sapsford, head of tax at RSM UK, commented, “I’m thrilled to see Rowena, Martin and Helen take the reins to lead our tax teams through this next phase of growth, and I’m confident that our tax offering to clients will continue to be enhanced under their watch.”

Helen Relf heads up private client services, advising the firm’s high net worth clients. She joined RSM almost 15 years ago as a tax director, before becoming partner in 2015. She currently oversees a team of over 200 tax professionals who are committed to providing RSM’s ultra-high-net-worth clients with advice on succession and estate planning and business exits. Many of Helen’s clients have an international presence and need advice from a global tax perspective.

Rowena Cliffton leads the indirect tax team which spans advisory, global compliance and digital reporting, and VAT technology. She joined RSM in 2016 as an indirect tax director, progressing to partner in 2019. She specialises in advising large and listed businesses, primarily in the energy, defence, aerospace and manufacturing sectors. Rowena advises on a broad range of international indirect tax issues, with a specific interest in VAT function effectiveness, tax governance, VAT technology tools and compliance processes.

Martin Cooper now leads employer solutions, comprising RSM’s employment tax, global employer solutions and share plans and reward teams. He focuses on delivering tax-efficient solutions to reward clients’ employees using shares, share options and cash-based incentives. His clients include private equity-backed businesses and listed PLCs as well as high-growth companies and family-owned businesses. His key areas of expertise include all forms of tax-advantaged arrangements, growth shares and employee ownership trusts.

The trio take over from RSM’s three former heads of its tax service lines: Gary Heynes, Anne-Marie Welch and Ian Carpenter.

Sapford added, “ I’d also like to say a big thank you to the outgoing tax heads –- who have been fantastic leaders and role models for their teams and who will each continue to play essential senior roles as tax partners at RSM.”