Mr Barber has more than 20 years of experience supporting clients with complex tax issues across a diverse range of sectors, predominantly oil and gas.

He has extensive experience advising on international tax projects (inbound and outbound from UK), structuring Private Equity backed transactions and leading vendor and acquisition due diligence projects.

Joining EY in March, Duncan Reoch leads the Scotland Private Client team within EY’s Private practice. He manages this team across the firm’s four offices in Scotland; Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness providing both personal and corporate tax services to both individuals and privately-owned businesses.

Derek Leith, EY’s managing partner in Aberdeen, said: “The appointment of Moray and Duncan to EY’s tax practice is a boost for our clients based in the north east and Scotland-wide. It is fantastic to have not one but two tax professionals of such a high calibre as Moray and Duncan join EY in quick succession.”

Originally from Aberdeen, Moray Barber returned to the city in 2004 after starting his career in Edinburgh and is passionate about his home city, holding several local public roles spanning arts, society and business. He is the chair of Castlegate Arts (which operates Aberdeen Arts Centre), is a Burgess of the City of Aberdeen and is on the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce’s Policy Council as well as being part of its Vanguard initiative.

Mr Reoch has more than 20 years of experience as a private client tax advisor. He works with high net worth families, business owners, C-Suite executives and business angels as well as a wide range of private companies on a variety of issues including the design of shareholder structures and the implementation of management equity plans.

Derek Leith added: “As businesses emerge from the prolonged period of lockdown and focus on the next phase for their organisation, our newly expanded tax team is providing clients with careful, strategic support at this time. In the north east many businesses work within the oil and gas sector and have the additional considerations of navigating the current low oil price environment while also seeking to capitalise on the opportunities offered by energy transition.

“Our team is committed and invested in the success of our clients and we are dedicated in the provision of long-term value to clients as they pursue their growth ambitions in the domestic market and further afield.”

These new hires follow the expansion of EY’s tax team in Scotland with the creation of a Transfer Pricing (TP) group last year. The team of five, led by Director Erica Fitchie, serves multinational clients throughout Scotland. Erica’s team is uniquely placed offer an enhanced local service to clients.

The Aberdeen appointments come a few months after EY announced its move to 2 Marischal Square as part of the firm’s continued investment in the city.