Matt Watts also joins Birmingham office as head of business tax services

Stephen Drew, partner and head of international services at Smith & Williamson, joined the Birmingham office on 1st May as professional services regional managing partner.

Stephen has been with the accountancy, investment management and tax group for 20 years, advising on internationally active businesses with significant operations outside the UK and those looking at setting up here. He has an audit background and specialises in financial due diligence and reporting accountancy work. Stephen is also a member of the firm’s Scale Up leadership team and a committee member at the Scale Up Institute.

Stephen brings with him a wealth of client experience, and aims to build an audit presence at Smith & Williamson’s offices in Colmore Row, building transactional and professional service capabilities. He will continue leading international growth plans for the firm.

Stephen Drew said:

“I am excited for this chance to manage an office of fantastic and talented people. I will be bringing a core corporate offering to the Birmingham office, so that we can offer the full range of services to Midlands-based clients and contacts.

“This is a really exciting opportunity for growth, both for us, and for the businesses in Birmingham we will be working with. My work within the Scale Up community provides an insight into what growing businesses are doing, both domestically and internationally.”

Smith & Williamson is investing in the Birmingham office through a series of senior staff hires.

On 1st May Matt Watts also joined the Birmingham office from London as head of Birmingham business tax services (BTS). Matt is a tax specialist with experience advising on international group structures and tax aspects of acquisitions and disposals, and has also helped many of his clients make successful R&D tax credit claims.