Income Tax and National Insurance have emerged as the taxes most urgently in need of reform, according to the first post-Scottish election poll of ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland) members. New findings show that more than twice as many Chartered Accountants (39%) identified Inco
Appointments
See all articlesBenson Accountants has continued its expansion in Scotland, driven by sustained growth in its Scottish client base and the strengthening of its Perth office team. Founded in 2014 by Paul Benson, the Cumbria-based accountancy and business advisory firm has grown to a team of more than 40, supporting
Aberdeen Investments has appointed Herman Bots as global head of its equities franchise, which has £46 billion assets under management and over 100 investors. He joins after seventeen years at APG, one of the world’s largest pension investors, most recently as managing director of equiti
Knight Frank has appointed Steve Dunbar to lead it's new ratings advisory service, with the deadline for the latest appeals process fast approaching. Mr Dunbar has joined Knight Frank as rating advisor, spearheading the new offering. Based in the firm’s Aberdeen office, he will provide support
RSM UK has appointed Rosemary Ford as a partner in its consulting team in Edinburgh, specialising in forensic accounting investigations. Ms Ford has over 16 years’ experience advising on complex and sensitive matters. Her expertise covers financial misconduct, accounting irregularities, suspec
Iain Henderson has been named as BDO's next senior partner following a vote by the firm's equity partners. He will take office on 1 October 2026, succeeding Matthew White, who will have completed the maximum of two four-year terms in the role.
Bk plus has appointed Calvin Bond as corporate finance partner, joining the firm's Glasgow office. Mr Bond will lead its Scottish deal advisory offering, advising SMEs, owner-managed businesses, private equity-backed businesses and private equity clients on acquisitions, business sales, growth fundi
Accountancy
See all articlesBenson Accountants has continued its expansion in Scotland, driven by sustained growth in its Scottish client base and the strengthening of its Perth office team. Founded in 2014 by Paul Benson, the Cumbria-based accountancy and business advisory firm has grown to a team of more than 40, supporting
ACCA has urged the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to adopt the International Standard on Auditing for Less Complex Entities (ISA for LCE), while pressing for a formal consultation before any move is made.
Wbg expects a 30% rise in fee income from its tax offering, driven by geographical expansion and the launch of a specialist VAT advisory service. The firm's tax service line has grown consistently by 10 to 15% per annum in recent years, prompting an expansion of its team from one partner to three. H
Deloitte UK has promoted over 6,000 of its people, including 48 new partners, following a very strong financial performance. The promotions, up from approximately 5,600 in 2025, come alongside a series of measures designed to reward skills and experience. Average in-grade salaries will rise by 4.2%,
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has imposed financial sanctions against audit firm BDO and Geraint Jones, an audit engagement partner in relation to the audit of the financial statements of NMCN. BDO has been fined £2 million for its audit of the firm in 2019, while Mr Jones recieved a f
Business
See all articlesCyber risk has surged to the top of the business agenda, with 40% of business leaders saying cyber is the top risk they are unprepared for – up from 23% in 2025, according to a new report from BDO. BDO’s Global Risk Landscape 2026 report found that cyber risk had jumped as organisations
New lending data from Funding Circle has signalled a shift in how SMEs use external finance, with borrowing for tax payments, working capital and debt refinancing all rising significantly, while growth-focused lending loses ground. The findings, based on analysis of 2025 data, carry practical implic
Business confidence in Scotland rose two points during May to 50%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland. Companies in Scotland reported higher confidence in their own trading outlook month-on-month, up nine points at 62%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy
Scottish businesses are demonstrating remarkable resilience and optimism, outpacing the rest of the UK in commercial confidence despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. According to Barclays’ Q1 2026 Business Prosperity Index, 85% of Scottish firms are confident about their five-year prospe
More than half of Scottish businesses say a combination of supply chain pressures and higher energy and fuel costs are among their biggest challenges as they grapple with the impact of conflict in the Middle East, according to new research from accountancy and advisory firm BDO LLP. The bi-monthly s
Whisky
See all articlesDiageo has reported a surprise return to sales growth in its third quarter, helped by distributors stocking up ahead of the Fifa World Cup, even as the drinks giant continues to grapple with a steep downturn in its critical US market. The FTSE 100 company, which owns brands including Johnnie Walker,
US President Donald Trump has announced the removal of tariffs on Scotch whisky imports, in a move that distillers have described as a significant boost for an industry that had been losing millions of pounds a week in the world's most lucrative export market. The decision, unveiled on Truth Social
George Iordanov-Nalbantov
Whisky bottler Saltire Rare Malt is expanding its US footprint with two tasting events in California this spring, marking the brand's West Coast debut as it builds on recent momentum in the American market.
Eden Mill Distillery has appointed Steven Kersley as chief executive officer. Mr Kersley, who brings over a decade of senior leadership experience in the Scotch whisky and craft spirits industry, takes the helm with an ambitious agenda to establish a world-class spirits brand rooted in its home of S
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has joined seven other spirits industry organisations across the UK in signing a joint statement warning that spiralling duty rates are causing serious damage to the spirits sector. The coalition, which also includes the English Whisky Guild, Drinks Ireland: Spiri

