French Duncan’s Partner group and key staff offer a unique blend of people who have experience of working within both small and large accounting firms which we believe allows us to provide a well rounded service. Many of us have trained and or worked for a Big Four or national accounting firm, bringing experience we can offer our clients at fees significantly lower than those charged by the Big Four.
Partners
Associates and Key Staff
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Kevin Booth Euan Ferries Margaret Fowlis Adam Hardie Peter Haveron |
Andrew Melville Margaret Sinclair John Sharkey Derek Simpson Ken Sommerville |
The detailed profiles and contact details of our Partners and key staff are detailed alphabetically below:
John S. Anderson has become a partner at French Duncan following its merger with Dumbartonshire accountancy firm O’Sullivan Cleary. John has audit responsibility for the Kirkintilloch and Dumbarton offices, also providing a range of general practice and business advisory services to Kirkintilloch clients.
He is looking forward to the opportunity of being able to access the added resource and expertise that partnership with a mid-tier firm will bring and is confident that the extra services will be well received by new and existing clients. John has been with O’Sullivan Cleary since July 2000 and beforehand spent 10 years with Grant Thornton.
Eileen is a Partner, Head of Business Recovery and a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. She leads the Firm’s Business Recovery arm into new business areas, both in Glasgow and the Forth Valley, with the aim of developing the range and volume of work. Eileen joined French Duncan in 2003 and has brought a new dynamism and expertise to the firm. She is a member of R3’s professional technical committee and has lectured for ICAS as well as being involved in student education and training projects.
A key member of French Duncan’s substantial audit department, Kevin joined the firm in January 1999 as an audit senior and was rapidly promoted to audit manager. He was appointed an associate of the firm in January 2005. Managing a diverse client base, Kevin deals directly with several of the firm’s larger corporate clients, including a number operating throughout the UK and overseas. Kevin has an appetite for engaging with businesses of all sizes and assisting in their growth plans.
Charles Cleary has become a partner in French Duncan following its merger with O’Sullivan Cleary. Charles initially established his own accounting firm in Dumbarton which then merged six years ago to become O’Sullivan Cleary. Through both transactions Charles has remained responsible for the running of the Dumbarton office and will continue to do so under the stewardship of French Duncan. He brings 20 years of accountancy experience, an established client base and an in depth knowledge of the local market to the firm. Traditionally focused towards smaller and family run companies, Charles brings a high profile presence to French Duncan in the area with the opportunity to grow that substantially in light of the greater resources he now has at his disposal.
Euan Ferries brings highly regarded and valued industry expertise to the French Duncan Corporate Advisory team, which he joined as Corporate Advisory Director, from ADS Visual. In conjunction with the commercial acumen Euan has to offer, he also brings further corporate expertise to the French Duncan table having acted as a senior corporate financier with BDO Stoy Hayward for many years. Euan will work alongside Graeme Finnie, partner in the Corporate Advisory division, which was rebranded earlier this year to reflect the corporate finance and advisory roles it fills for clients. Both the structural and personnel changes have helped the division expand rapidly and French Duncan is well positioned for the service to become of increasing importance to a growing number of clients.
Having held senior positions within the corporate finance departments of two "Big Four" firms, and then having been the managing director of two successful Scottish companies, Graeme recently joined French Duncan as our corporate advisory partner. Having dealt with a range of business issues in his career, Graeme is focussed on delivering a comprehensive, high quality advisory service to clients. This service covers the provision of corporate finance advice as well as genuine consulting services to clients. Graeme's experience means that French Duncan is able to offer its clients a service not readily available in mid-tier accounting practices.
Margaret is a debt collection and recovery specialist. Describing her role as that of a ‘professional go-between’, Margaret assesses each case on its own merits prior to advising a client on the most efficient, and least expensive, means of recovery. While solicitors are inclined to recommend court action in such circumstances, Margaret believes that, prior to raising an action in the courts, the various possibilities for negotiation should first be pursued. This service is provided on a no win, no fee basis.
Adam is French Duncan’s Business Development Director responsible for leading the firms’ growth. He also assists in the firm’s understanding of client issues, participating in the strategic growth of some of our clients and where appropriate delivering strategic planning workshops with individual management teams.
A successful business development professional with cross industry expertise, he has extensive experience in unlocking route to market and exploitation strategies for companies at various stages of evolution. Adam also has good knowledge and personal experience of many of the issues facing early stage and high growth businesses including; strategic business planning; intellectual property protection, market assessment, sales and business development, managing growth, building management teams and fundraising.
Peter has worked in the financial services industry for 16 years. As an Associate of the Society of Financial Advisers, Peter provides a comprehensive range of financial advice to all clients’ needs, from retirement planning and wealth management to tax planning. He also advises companies on protection services and all planning issues. Peter’s professionalism, skill and affability make him an invaluable team member.
Stephen, a Partner in the firm, is active in corporate finance, tax planning and auditing for a varied portfolio comprising private limited companies, sole traders and health sector practitioners. He is also focused on developing further the considerable outsourcing resource that French Duncan is already offering its clientele.
With more and more clients requesting that their accountants fulfil a comprehensive ‘financial counselling’ role, whereby much of the day to day responsibility for financial management is outsourced to its financial adviser, thereby allowing directors to concentrate on managing and developing their business, French Duncan is well placed to provide such services as book-keeping and payroll on an ongoing basis to a growing number of clients. Stephen considers the level of personal service, consistency and the single point of contact he can offer as valued advantages French Duncan has over other accountancy firms.
Joining French & Cowan (as French Duncan was then known) from university, Robert proceeded to work his way up through the firm to his present position of Managing Partner. In this role, his remit includes the identification of opportunities for expansion and Robert was directly responsible for the establishment of the firm’s corporate finance and financial services departments and credit recovery.
Adding a valued commercial dimension to the firm, Robert continues to deal directly with many of its larger clients and, to this end, has developed an in-depth knowledge of the IT, catering and printing sectors amongst others, together with a comprehensive international capability derived through the firm’s established links with associate member firms of Polaris IA International. Robert regards direct contact with partners as a key benefit that French Duncan can offer clients – a benefit that many of its larger competitors are unable to match.
General Partner responsible for the Falkirk office, Jim provides a general audit and accountancy service to a diverse portfolio of commercial and agricultural clients. Serving the requirements of a clientele comprised predominantly of owner/managers of small and medium sized enterprises, Jim adopts a holistic approach to accounting that takes into consideration all the pertinent interrelated personal and business aspects of an owner/manager with a view to developing an overall plan for the enterprise.
Len is a Partner, responsible for the provision of taxation and audit services to a portfolio of commercial and private clients, including parliamentarians at Westminster, Holyrood and the European Parliament. As French Duncan has expanded over the years, Len has become increasingly involved in the internal administration of the partnership’s financial affairs and has been tasked with ensuring that the working practices of the partnership are co-ordinated fully and aligned into a cohesive, complementary and efficient system through a continual process of improvement aimed at maximising effectiveness.
While audit and accountancy represent the mainstay of John’s work, the provision of corporate finance advice has become an increasingly important aspect of the range of services he is able to offer clients. He has been closely involved with a number of rapidly expanding SMEs, providing specialist advice on a diverse range of financial, management and strategic issues.
In addition John works closely with client companies involved in merger and acquisition activity. This includes diligence assignments, forensic accounting reviews and financial restructuring proposals. The fact that John as a Partner in the firm, is readily available as a single point of contact means that French Duncan is able to provide a consistency and level of service unrivalled by other accountancy firms.
Andrew Melville retired from the Partnership as Chairman in April 2006 after a lengthy career with the firm of over 40 years. During this time he managed the financial affairs of a range of SME clients over successive generations, providing an unrivalled consistency and understanding of their particular requirements. However, we are delighted that he has decided to remain involved with the firm in a part time consultancy role so that we may continue to benefit from his extensive knowledge, expertise and seasoned counsel.
Annette is a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner and a Partner with responsibility at an operational level for the Firm’s Business Recovery department. Annette is experienced in both corporate and personal insolvency and is a “hands-on” practitioner, whether advising directors in relation to their rights and obligations in insolvent situations, or dealing with employees and creditors. Annette is also involved in training candidates in relation to the Certificate of Proficiency in Insolvency examination.
Following the merger with O’Sullivan Cleary, Kevin O’Sullivan has joined French Duncan as a partner and will continue to head up the Kirkintilloch office he established 23 years ago. O’Sullivan Cleary was the first CA firm in Scotland to achieve ISO9002 and Investors in People and brings an established client base and local presence for French Duncan in the area. In return French Duncan will ease some of the regulatory burden for O’Sullivan Cleary and enable it to offer an improved range of services to clients, including expertise in corporate finance, specialist tax matters, insolvency and financial services. Kevin is well known in the local business world and is also chairman of Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire and Loch Lomond Shores Management Company.
As French Duncan’s audit regulation compliance partner, Alan is tasked with ensuring that all the firm’s procedures comply with best practice within the auditing profession and assumes overall responsibility for compliance with established auditing standards. In addition, Alan is the client contact partner for French Duncan’s listed clients arm and provides recognised specialist expertise in the construction and engineering sectors. He is also a contact partner for overseas work originating through the firm’s involvement with Polaris IA International. Alan has for many years been actively involved with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and is currently a member/convenor of various committees overseeing professional authorisation and standards.
Janice heads the Firm’s Business Services department catering for the needs of owner-managed businesses. Small/medium sized independent businesses often require advice and assistance in dealing with government agencies and benefit from regular management information for bank purposes and to assist controlling and developing the business. With direct experience of working in just such businesses and with 15 years in the profession dealing with the problems encountered by owner managers Janice is ideally placed to offer business services clients practical solutions to their everyday problems.
A consultant in Business Recovery and Insolvency Services, John continues to accept insolvency appointments in his own name, and at the same time, assumes departmental responsibility for various administrative functions including taxation, VAT, accounts production, and the feeing and finalisation of cases.
Derek is an Associate in the firm’s Business Recovery department and is a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner with a background in both English and Scottish Business Recovery and insolvency procedures. With the processes for personal insolvency in England markedly different from the equivalent processes in Scotland, Derek’s previous work experience has proven to be of particular value to the firm as, while his own caseload may be weighted in favour of corporate insolvency matters, the firm also provides a comprehensive personal insolvency service. Derek is a pivotal member of a strong team with much experience and expertise in both Business Recovery and insolvency.
Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1996 and as a Chartered Tax Adviser in 1999, Margaret was promoted to associate in January 2005. She has a specific focus on Corporate Tax and an extensive and in-depth knowledge of the UK's taxation regime. Responsible for managing the tax affairs for a portfolio of corporate clients, from small and medium sized enterprises through to listed PLCs, Margaret keeps all clients up to date with the ever-changing tax regime, advising and assisting clients on their tax affairs and highlighting where potential savings may be made.
In addition to his role as staff partner, encompassing the full range of personnel issues within the office, Tony manages a diverse portfolio of commercial and private clients while specialising in the provision of company pension scheme advice. Tony considers French Duncan ideally placed to offer a value added service to SMEs and PLCs alike through its ability to provide expertise over a comprehensive range of financial services while maintaining regular client contact at partnership level. As a contact partner for overseas work originating through the firm’s involvement with Polaris IA International, Tony considers that, as a single point of contact, he can offer clients a level of consistency and personal service unmatched by other accountancy firms.
Ken Sommerville retired from the Partnership in April 2005 after a lengthy career with the firm. However, he has decided to remain involved in a part time consultancy role so that we may continue to benefit from his extensive knowledge and expertise.
Gillian is a partner in French Duncan’s taxation department. Specialising in the delivery of taxation advice to wealthy individuals and their employers, Gillian was recently attracted to French Duncan from a Big Four firm by the prospects of assuming greater responsibility and an enhanced ability to provide clients with a more hands-on, personal service. Recognising that it is regular access to partners that clients particularly value, Gillian helps French Duncan provide the level of personal service that only mid-tier firms are structured to provide, but with ready access to partners.
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