Tait Walker grow team and appoint managing partner

North East independent accountancy firm Tait Walker has made a number of strategic promotions and is welcoming six new recruits across its specialist divisions.

Andrew Moorby, who joined Tait Walker in 2001 as taxation partner, has been appointed to managing partner of the 135 strong business, which has offices in Newcastle, Northumberland and Tees Valley.

Andrew will be responsible for driving the firm forward into 2014, whilst continuing to work alongside previous managing partner David Arthur, who has accomplished 15 years at the helm of the business and remains a well-respected figure on the North-East accountancy scene.

Passing on the baton to Andrew, David will remain a partner at Tait Walker and will continue to handle his own portfolio of clients, whilst heading up the firm’s forensics department.

In addition to Andrew’s new role, a number of exciting internal promotions have been put in place alongside six new appointments across different parts of the business.

Simon Brown, an employee since 1996 who heads up the firm’s not-for-profit and education sectors, was appointed to associate partner on 1 November.

Meanwhile, Mark Parkinson has been appointed to wealth management partner having worked in the profession for over 22 years, including roles within the wealth divisions of Barclays and HSBC.

In October, Simon Turner and Phil Griffin both took up financial planner roles within the wealth management department, in addition to Leonard Birnie who has been appointed to employee benefits administrator.

Jacky Ross and Hannah Gill have also joined the wealth management team as paraplanner and apprentice within the business.

Elsewhere in the firm, accounting and finance graduate Sara Andrews, from Newcastle University, has been appointed to tax trainee and Emma Todd, from Teesside University, to accounts trainee.

Tait Walker managing partner Andrew Moorby said: “As one of the largest independent accountancy practices in the region, we put huge emphasis on bringing in new faces with their own expertise and diverse experience that can enhance our existing offering of specialist skills.

“We take an integrated approach in managing all aspects of our clients’ personal and business finances, in which each department works closely with the other, and investing in further employment facilitates this greatly.

“We have made 18 appointments this year alone, so needless to say it’s an exciting time to be at Tait Walker. Over the next 12 months we will look to support the existing talent within the team whilst continuing to encourage the next generation of young accountancy talent into the industry.”