Press release
Grant Thornton continues record investment in Tax team with appointment of three Partners
10 Jul 2024
Grant Thornton UK LLP, the leading financial and business advisory firm, welcomes Jo-Anne Allen and Heather Smallwood as Global Mobility Tax Partners and Ian Rowland as Innovation Tax Partner. The appointments are the latest in the firm’s record investment in senior talent across the wider Tax team, which saw the promotion and hire of 7 Partners and 19 Directors in the last six months.
The other new tax Partners appointed in the first half of 2024 include: Jess Fountain, Private Capital Tax; Matt Pannell, UK/US Private Client Tax; Mandipa Soni, Corporate Tax and Alex Miller, Indirect Tax. They join Kevin Martin, Indirect Tax who arrived in the second half of 2023.
Jo-Anne Allen joins the firm as Global Mobility Tax Partner. Based in London and the South, she has a legal background and over 20 years’ experience in global mobility. Jo-Anne specialises in supporting mid-market companies, outside the FTSE 100, whose size often means that they do not have a mature in-house global mobility function or the internal resources to manage the complexities of a global network.
Jo-Anne is known for getting under the skin of her clients’ businesses, supporting them navigate the complexities of cross border working and for making the complex simple. She says:
“My move to Grant Thornton is one I am extremely proud of. The inclusive, agile and collaborative culture enables us to bring the very best experience to our clients and our people and remain relevant as businesses grow and expand their global footprint.”
Heather Smallwood is a chartered tax adviser with a career in global mobility and international employment tax and social security spanning more than 25 years. She is based in Aberdeen where she specialises in the energy sector. Her experience ranges from assisting large, multi-national companies with solving their complex UK and international employment tax and social security-related problems, to advising small businesses just starting to trade/operate internationally.
Heather’s work with clients includes managing employee tax return compliance programmes, advising on the taxation of rotators, commuters and remote workers, international social security and international assignment and tax policy review and design.
Heather says:
“I am absolutely thrilled and proud to be promoted to Partner at Grant Thornton. I feel very lucky and privileged to work with such a diverse and talented group of people and I am looking forward to building on our recent successes and helping our clients navigate the complex, ever-changing tax landscape.”
Based in Manchester, Ian Rowland has been promoted to Partner in Grant Thornton’s national innovation tax team, applying his significant experience gained from over 20 years of working with businesses undertaking R&D across all sectors. Ian will continue to support a range of clients of all sizes, with a particular focus on fast growing, dynamic businesses across the mid-market.
Ian says:
"I am excited to be promoted to Partner and am proud of our great team, as well as the firm’s supportive culture, and agile working policy for families. I look forward to building on our success and further growing our market share, while championing inclusivity and diversity within our team."
Hazel Platt, Head of Tax at Grant Thornton UK LLP, added:
“We have ambitious growth plans across our Tax business and investing in new Partners and Directors is a core pillar of how we are maximising the market opportunity that exists for us to provide tax services. I am always delighted to support the progression of our internal talent to achieve their personal goals and am delighted that both Heather and Ian have been promoted to Partner.
“Alongside this, gaining the endorsement of experienced external candidates when they choose to join us is equally exciting and I am confident Jo-Anne is an excellent addition to our Partner team. I had a clear priority around investing in senior talent when I took on the role of Head of Tax and am very proud of what we have achieved so far – it's certainly exciting times.”
