EY HAS welcomed 13 Partners along with nearly 100 new graduates and apprentices to its Scotland practice this year as part of the firm’s continued investment in its Scottish business.
Across the UK, EY strengthened its partnership with 120 new Equity Partners – including the promotion of 75 Equity Partners and 45 external hires – its largest-ever cohort. The appointments reflect the firm’s increased investment in its sectors, service lines and regional business, including in areas such as Audit, Technology Consulting, EY-Parthenon, Financial Services, Sustainability, Energy and Consumer Products.
Earlier this year, EY announced internally that it was also expanding its Partner presence to meet strong demand from its clients by elevating the Associate Partner role to Partner across some of its regions, including the UK. Combined with this year’s Equity Partner appointments, this change brings EY’s total UK Partner number to 1,526 and to 95 in Scotland.
Using the Partner title raises the importance of the existing Associate Partner role, recognising their expertise, client delivery and leadership. It will create career opportunities for EY’s people and attract talent with the skills needed to win in an evolving market – particularly in fast-growing areas such as sustainability and technology.
Nearly 100 new graduates and business apprentices have also been welcomed to EY Scotland this month. They have been recruited to strengthen the firm’s capabilities across all service lines and will be based across EY’s Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow offices. In total, 1,473 people have joined EY across the UK as part of the 2022 student intake.
Ally Scott, EY Scotland Managing Partner said: “These promotions reflect the continued investment in our Scotland business as well as the hard work and talent of our people to reach these significant career milestones. Our colleagues bring valuable insights to our clients across the market, from entrepreneurial and mid-market private businesses to some of the largest listed and multinational corporates based in Scotland.
“Our continued commitment to recruit new talent demonstrates the strength of our business and the career development opportunities available. EY people – from new graduates and apprentices to our Partner team – will continue to help clients navigate ongoing challenges, prepare for future growth, and build a vibrant, resilient business community as we transition to a green economy and continue to attract foreign investment to Scotland.”
Sue Dawe, Financial Services Managing Partner for EY Scotland said: “Underlining EY’s commitment to growing our business in Scotland, we’ve continued to invest in top talent and a pipeline of new talent despite the challenging economic backdrop. Our Partner appointments will bring a wealth of experience to our clients, many of whom are focused on large-scale transformation projects as the world pivots to accommodate emerging complexities, such as climate change.
“Through the market obstacles and headwinds, financial services will continue to support consumers, businesses, communities and the wider economy so we are making sure EY is equipped to continue as leading advisors to the sector.”
About the Scotland Partner appointments
Marjorie Strachan (Partner – People Advisory Service), based in Glasgow, joined EY in 2020 and has 30 years’ transformation, change and organisational effectiveness experience, gained from working in global roles, cross-industry, in both public and private sectors.
Kris Aspin (Partner – Strategy and Transactions), based in Edinburgh, joint lead of Scotland’s Turnaround & Restructuring Strategy team. Kris has over 15 years’ experience advising stakeholders in restructuring situations, working across a diverse range of sectors. Kris is a Chartered Accountant and a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner.
Simon Millage (Partner – EY Parthenon), based in Glasgow, is currently working at the forefront of Energy Transition, focused on the UK and international battery industry, working across government bodies, battery manufacturers and the supply chain. Having worked for EY since 2011, Simon has always worked in Energy and has led a number of global operating model and commercial strategy engagements with E&P companies and international supply chain and engineering companies in O&G and broader Energy sector. Prior to Joining EY Simon worked for the Indian government as a director of the Commonwealth Games, and brings experience of helping governments and corporates work together to deliver sporting events and major infrastructure projects.
Jen Rogan (Partner, Financial Services – Audit), based in Edinburgh, has been part of EY’s audit and assurance team in Edinburgh for over 20 years. During her time at EY, Jen has worked in Financial Services, specialising in the Wealth and Asset Management sector. She has worked on the audits of a wide variety of asset managers and funds across the UK with a particular focus on the Scottish market. Jen will take a lead role in our Funds Audit Centre of Excellence which is based in our Edinburgh office.
Obaid Khawaja (Partner, Financial Services – Markets), based in Edinburgh for over 16 years, leads EY’s largest Wealth and Asset Management (WAM) clients in Scotland. He has worked across many countries, industries and all service lines at EY since joining in 2002 and has strong experience of delivering a breadth of services to the WAM sector.
Tom McFarlane (Partner, Financial Services – Financial Accounting Advisory Services), based in Edinburgh, leads EY’s CFO Advisory practice in Scotland helping Financial Services clients enhance their finance functions. He has over 17 years’ experience with EY driving complex remediation and transformation initiatives across accounting and regulatory reporting, Target Operating Model design and implementation, process reengineering, internal controls, data and technology.
Chris Docherty (Partner – Audit), based in Glasgow, has been part of EY’s audit and assurance team in Scotland for 12 years. Chris works across a breadth of engagements from listed companies to smaller, owner managed entities. As well as strong relationships with Scottish clients, he has a breadth of experience having operated in New York and Washington DC and a secondment to a FTSE30 company.
Gillian Gilmour (Partner – Audit), based in Glasgow, has been part of EY’s audit and assurance team in Scotland for 11 years. During her time at EY, Gillian has worked with a diverse portfolio of companies across Scotland, with a particular focus on listed engagements. Gillian is integral in promoting audit quality in the region, having spent time within the Audit Quality Support Team and has most recently completed a secondment as the Chief of Staff for Assurance supporting the leadership team across the UK&I.
Rob Jones (Partner – Audit), based in Glasgow, has been part of EY’s audit team in the central belt of Scotland since joining the firm in 2015. Rob worked on a range of large and medium sized corporate audits before helping to launch the central belt GPS assurance team in 2017, which now comprises 25 audits across local government, health and education. Rob is also the Audit Transformation Leader for the GPS audit cluster nationally, including leading the adoption of Digital GAM and other automated audit approaches across our GPS engagements.
Fabrizio Marchetti (Partner – Audit), based in Glasgow, has been part of EY’s audit and assurance team in Scotland for 12 years. Fabrizio has significant international experience in auditing companies across a variety of sectors, from large global and listed companies to private and entrepreneurial businesses. Fabrizio has built a deep understanding of the drinks and beverages sectors from working with brewing and distilling companies across the Scottish market and beyond. He also worked for two years in EY’s Milan office as part of the capital markets team supporting clients through IPO transactions.
Dean Lockhart (Partner – Audit), based in Glasgow, joined the firm in 2004 and specialises in accounting for intangible assets, leases, and impairment. Dean provides technical advice to a number of listed companies across the UK and assists organisations in adopting new accounting standards.
Claire McFadzean (Partner – Financial Accounting and Advisory Services), based in Glasgow, leads EY’s Financial Accounting and Advisory Services practice in Scotland. Claire has over 14 years’ experience providing practical support to clients with financial reporting challenges arising from transactions, regulatory change and compliance requirements and assisting companies in improving their financial reporting. She supports a broad range of clients including listed businesses, private companies, public sector organisations and higher education institutions. Claire is also the leader of EY’s Financial Accounting and Advisory Services for the private and private-equity sector nationally.
Gillian Carlisle (Partner – Assurance), based in Glasgow, specialises in Pension Scheme audits in the firm’s Financial Services practice. Gillian has worked with a number of organisations in unfamiliar areas, such as the implementation of the revised Pensions SORP, significant investment transitions, bulk transfers out, wind-up and ‘buy-in’ exercises. Having joined EY in 2007, Gillian now leads the audits of a wide range of Pension Schemes and is an active member of the Pensions Quality Team.
