Leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM has appointed Rob Gordon as a risk assurance partner to lead its financial services internal audit and assurance offering in London and the South East.

The new appointment strengthens RSM’s financial services team and reflects the firm’s commitment to grow its offering in this sector.

Rob joins RSM from Grant Thornton, where he was a managing director responsible for the provision of fully outsourced and co-sourced services for various banking, securities and asset and private wealth management clients. This included providing assurance over key business, operations, technology, regulation and compliance matters. During his 11 years at Grant Thornton, Rob led its retail banking, investment banking, asset management and private wealth sectors within its financial services business risk services.

Rob is a KPMG-qualified Chartered Accountant and brings some 30 years’ experience in external and internal audit focused on banking, regulation and compliance services in the financial services sector. He previously worked at Citi, Gulf International Bank and Merrill Lynch.

In his new role, Rob will work closely with Jon Pepper, who leads RSM’s financial services risk and compliance faculty within the risk assurance practice nationally, and will focus on investment banking, capital markets, securities, exchanges, asset management, private wealth and retail banking.

Commenting on his appointment, Rob Gordon said: ‘I am looking forward to working with the existing and new RSM team members to grow the business and so provide a strong alternative to the Big Four. We will do this by providing first class client service and through the team’s in-depth knowledge of our clients’ financial services sector specialisms.’

Jon Pepper, Head of Financial Services Risk and Compliance at RSM, commented: ‘We are delighted that Rob has decided to join the team to grow our financial services internal audit and assurance offering in London and the South-East. His wealth of experience will further build on our team’s strengths and ensure we provide high quality service for our clients.’

David Fenton, Head of Financial Services at RSM, added: ‘We are pleased to welcome Rob to our sector team. He brings a deep knowledge of the financial services sector that will add real value to our growing client base.’