Top 50 accountancy and business advisory practice Thomas Westcott Chartered Accountants has appointed experienced Alison Watts to head its newly-launched corporate finance service.

Alison joins as Director of Corporate Finance after spending 20 years successfully building a team and similar service offering at a firm of accountants in the North of England.

Thomas Westcott has grown significantly in recent years and is now recognised as one of the UK’s leading mid-tier accountancy and business advisory practices.

However, whilst it provides almost all the services you would expect from a firm its size, until now it has never had a specialist corporate finance offering.

Alison, who grew up in the South West before work commitments eventually took her to the north of England, said: “For the last 20 years I have worked with directors and business owners advising on everything from start-ups and expansion plans through to, ultimately, their exit strategies.

“I enjoy meeting and advising clients, getting under the skin of what makes them unique, understanding their needs and concerns and guiding them every step of the way.”

She said it had been her “long-term ambition” to move back to the Westcountry, adding: “So when I heard that Thomas Westcott needed someone to head and develop its new corporate finance service I jumped at the chance to embrace this new challenge.”

Alison’s appointment represents a significant milestone for Thomas Westcott as it means the firm now offers a full lifecycle of services to clients, from start-up and formation stage right through to eventual exit and everything in between.

“We have always dealt with corporate finance transactions for our clients however with Alison joining us this takes our service offering to the next level. She is used to being the deal leader for all transactions which will be a great benefit to our clients,” said Shona Godefroy, deputy managing partner at Thomas Westcott.

“We can offer a complete lifecycle of services, ensuring we are thereby our clients’ side whenever they need us.”

Alison, who also has experience working for “Big Four” accountancy firm EY, added: “Since returning to the South West I’ve noticed a real vibrancy and feel-good factor about the area and I can’t wait to meet new contacts in the business community and start growing and developing Thomas Westcott’s new corporate finance service.”