1pm, the Bath-based specialist lending group, has appointed James Roberts as its new chief financial officer.
James, pictured, who takes up the new role on May 1, brings extensive financial and commercial experience to the group. 
He is currently finance director at Stroud-based Catalyst Business Finance, which provides invoice and loan financing in the alternative finance sector for growing UK small and medium-sized businesses.
He also has responsibility for its IT, HR, operations and credit departments.
Having qualified as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, he has held senior management and directorship roles in a number of financial services firms, mainly in the West of England, including Jelf Financial Planning, Horatio Investments, The Bitesize FD Ltd and Cooper Gay (Holdings) Limited.
1pm, provides assets finance from £1,000 to £50,000 for a period of between 12 and 60 months and £1,000 to £50,000 for business loans (repaid over 3-36 months), announced that its finance director Helen Walker, would leave the company on May 31 this year.
She will work with James to effect an orderly handover of duties.
1pm CEO Ian Smith said: “I am delighted to welcome James Roberts to 1pm and look forward to his contribution in the pivotal role of chief financial officer as we continue the growth and corporate development of the group.
“We wish to place on record our thanks and gratitude for the contribution Helen Walker has made as a director of the company in recent years.”
1pm has expanded rapidly in recent years through acquisitions and organic growth group. Earlier this month it announced growth in revenues of 52% to £7.99m in the six months to November 30 with pre-tax profits up 23% to £2.05m and said it continued to look for further takeover opportunities.
