Accountancy and business advisory firm Azets announces five partner promotions in its North West offices

Accountancy and business advisory firm Azets announces five partner promotions in its North West offices

Azets, the UK's largest regional accountancy and business advisors to SMEs, is pleased to announce that it has promoted Karen Chadwick, Jenny Pape, Simon Read and Lee Van Houplines to partner across its North West offices. Helen Davies has also been promoted to director. These key promotions demonstrate Azets commitment to growing the business regionally. Azets has offices in Bolton, Lancaster, Manchester, Preston, Rossendale and Stockport.

Jenny Pape joined the Azets tax team in Lancaster in 2017 after 10 years with a ‘big four’ firm. She has over 12 years’ experience advising SMEs, owner managed businesses and international groups, as well as charitable organisations, on all aspects of UK taxation. Jenny specialises in tax structuring and also has significant experience agreeing settlements with HMRC on her clients’ behalf. She will also be responsible for providing tax advice to Azets’ Preston office client base.

Karen Chadwick has been with Azets for 6 years and has over 25 years of private client tax experience. Karen started her career with the ‘Big 4’ and prior to joining Azets, worked at two independent firms widening her experience within the owner-managed business/SME market. She advises high net worth individuals across the region including many non-UK resident and domiciled clients and is based in the firm’s Manchester office.

Karen brings with her a wealth of personal and trust tax compliance and advisory experience, having dealt with a range of clients including non-resident and non-UK domiciled individuals. Karen has gained valuable experience within the tax investigations/enquiries arena from a private client and business perspective.

Lee Van Houplines joined the Manchester office as a graduate trainee in 2004. He has significant experience of audit compliance and accounts advisory services, dealing predominantly with a range of owner-managed businesses alongside listed entities and large groups of companies containing overseas subsidiaries. He has particular expertise in the manufacturing, distribution and healthcare sectors.

Lee develops strong relationships with clients and balances strong technical financial & regulatory reporting skills with his personable and approachable style.

Simon Read is a Chartered Accountant with over 10 years’ experience in the accountancy profession. He works closely with a wide portfolio of clients, in a range of sectors including professional football, online retail and technology. Simon is a trusted advisor for a number of businesses, from smaller family companies to the UK arms of large international groups and is based in the Rossendale office.

“I’m delighted to congratulate Jenny, Karen, Lee, Simon and Stephen on their promotion to partner. They all bring a wealth of experience to the role and their promotions are testament to their hard work and dedication. Our dynamic and ambitious team across the North West continues to expand and our new partners will take a leading role in growing our practice. As a result of the pandemic, we’re seeing more businesses looking to us to provide support in their future plans albeit in some cases managing downturns but in many cases assisting them in delivering opportunities they are identifying in this new business environment . We’re well placed to do this having such a presence throughout the North West and a strong multi-disciplinary team of experts in advisory, funding and corporate finance.”

"While it's been a challenging few months, it's important we plan for the future and ensure we invest in the firm. Ensuring we continue to develop future leaders demonstrates our confidence in and commitment to the market and these appointments reflect the importance we place on delivering the best service possible to our clients across the region.”

“Interestingly many of our clients are finding new growth opportunities and improved efficiencies within the "new normal" following the pandemic and the UK's departure from the European Union; we are all looking forward with fresh optimism to the new challenges 2021 may bring.”