Bath-based chartered accountancy firm Richardson Swift has strengthened its tax and audit teams with two senior appointments.
Deborah Sawyer has joined as a personal tax manager while Catherine Edwards has been promoted to director of audit services.
The appointments follow another year of strong growth at Richardson Swift, the largest independent firm of chartered accountants and tax advisers based solely in Bath, due to continued client demand and increased compliance for businesses as part of the government’s Making Tax Digital programme.
Deborah, who has more than 28 years’ experience, will be working with Richardson Swift’s growing number of private clients, providing specialist tax planning advice and managing tax compliance.
She joins from Kingswood firm Evans and Partners, where she spent 13 years as a tax manager specialising in Capital Gains Tax, property and Inheritance Tax advice for high net worth individuals.
Deborah said: “I’m excited to be joining Richardson Swift and to take on this new and challenging role. There’s a strong private client team here and I’m really looking forward to getting to know clients and helping them with their tax affairs.”
Catherine joined Richardson Swift as an audit manager in 2014 and has played a key role in overseeing the auditing processes on behalf of the firm’s business clients.
She previously managed the audit team at Bath accountants Robson Taylor and was also an audit manager with national firm Baker Tilly.
She said: “Since joining Richardson Swift, I have enjoyed working closely with clients, including several who are new to the firm, and I look forward to building on these relationships as audit director.
“As well as statutory audits of financial statements, we also carry out audits of government grants, Solicitors Accounts Rules work and client money reports for residential letting agencies.”
Catherine is also registered as an ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licence) Reporting Accountant, which means she is able to assist travel businesses with their returns to the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) – a growing area of work for us the firm.
Richardson Swift tax director Jon Miles said: “I’m delighted to welcome Deborah to the firm.
“She is a very capable tax manager and has vast experience of both personal and business taxation and I’m sure she will prove a great addition to our team.
“Our warmest congratulations also go to Catherine on her promotion. She has made a huge contribution to the firm and its clients over the years, ensuring that compliance requirements are met efficiently, whilst identifying areas where businesses can improve their internal systems to develop robust processes and controls.”
Pictured: Catherine Edwards, left, and Deborah Sawyer, right, with Richardson Swift director Jon Miles
