Mazars, the international tax, audit and advisory firm, has appointed Lesley Fox as Office Managing Partner in Poole and made a major investment in its future growth by hiring 10 new entry level trainees in 2021. Lara Brennan, also based in Poole, has been appointed to the national role of UK Head of SME.

Lesley Fox is a highly experienced and well-respected Partner at the firm and member of the Dorset business community. She has been with Mazars for over 30 years, and has spent her career to date working with growing and established businesses across a wide range of sectors: both regionally and across the UK and Europe. As Office Managing Partner (OMP), Lesley will be responsible for leading the development of the firm’s business strategy in Poole.

After 5 years as OMP, Stephen Mills continues to be a key part of the Poole leadership team, alongside Lesley and Lara, while focusing on his responsibilities as the Chief Operating Officer of Mazars’ UK audit business: a critical national role during a pivotal period in an audit market facing wholesale reform.

Mazars’ 10 new entry level trainees, from school leavers to graduates, are local hires from Dorset and the South West. They will benefit from Mazars’ comprehensive training and development programmes as they build their careers at the firm, and will work across a range of service lines including audit, tax, accounting, and financial planning.

In the newly created role of UK Head of SME, Lara Brennan will be responsible for setting, leading and implementing the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) strategy for Mazars in the UK and will join the international SME leadership group. She will work closely with a diverse range of clients and lead a national team which operates from five key regions including Glasgow, East Midlands, Birmingham, Poole, and Leeds/Manchester.

Lesley Fox, Poole Office Managing Partner, said:

“I’m very proud to lead our exceptional team in Poole, which is such an important part of Mazars’ business in the UK. This year we have reinforced our long-term commitment to the region, which has resulted in a growth from 50 to 77 people over the last five years, and are proud that Stephen and Lara have taken critical national roles to support the firm’s growth. We will continue to invest in, and develop, our people and provide a supportive environment where team members from all backgrounds can thrive. Our team is ideally positioned to support and grow alongside our valued clients – both in Dorset and across the UK”.