Lindsay Tarrant, who started in 2017, has received a senior promotion and Caroline Bedford has joined Armstrong Watson to continue to build on her long-standing forensic accounting career.

Since its inception in 2016, the Leeds-based team has gone from strength to strength, expanding in response to increased demand. Now, with eight members, including Glasgow-based Paul Black, the team’s wide-ranging expertise provides the diversity and depth needed to undertake work in the majority of litigation and investigation areas.

These recent investments within the team come following another outstanding year, despite the pandemic.

Matthew Geale, head of forensic accounting, said: “In under five years we have significantly increased the litigation support work we do across the board, growing the team from an initial three people to eight fee earners. This reflects our team’s key values of fully understanding what our client needs, rolling up our sleeves and working with them, to help as best as we are able, and having early and honest conversations about fees.

“Lindsay’s promotion and Caroline’s appointment strengthen two of our real success stories - that of commercial litigation and a very strong defendant personal injury offering, acting for a growing number of UK insurers.”

Ms Tarrant has more than 30 years’ experience in professional practices, companies and charities and spent seven years working as finance director at a growing Yorkshire company before joining Armstrong Watson. He also worked as a Forensic Accountant at a top 10 firm, where he developed expertise in valuation work and large commercial litigation matters.

Mr Geale continued: “It wasn’t an easy decision 10 years ago to leave forensic accounting and go into industry, but it was both instructive and rewarding and has added a breadth to my experience that I always felt I lacked and could not otherwise have gained. Now, having been on the other side of the fence, I find this adds a new layer of connection with clients and the ability to better understand their positions and issues.

“It is great, having been at Armstrong Watson for almost four years, that my contribution has been recognised and I am looking forward to continuing to work with our great team of like-minded professionals who are simply fantastic to be with.”

Mr Geale said Lindsay’s promotion was well-deserved recognition of his hard work and commitment and reflects the number of high-value and high-profile commercial litigation matters that the team has been successfully involved with over the last year.

Caroline Bedford joins Armstrong Watson from Sedgwick International UK’s Forensic Accounting Services division. She trained with Coopers & Lybrand - before it merged with Price Waterhouse to form Big 4 firm PwC - and has more than 20 years’ forensic accounting experience, including more than 17 years with niche forensic accounting firm RGL Forensics (now Baker Tilly). She has a strong background in insurance litigation including personal injury/ fatal accident, professional negligence and business interruption, together with experience of commercial litigation and business valuation.

Caroline Bedford commented: “When the opportunity to join Armstrong Watson’s experienced Forensic Accounting team presented itself, it was an easy decision to accept the offer.

“Spending time away from traditional forensic accounting made me reflect on what I enjoyed most about my previous roles. I am looking forward to taking on a varied caseload, sharing my experience and helping the team expand our Forensic Accounting offering and client base.”

Ms Bedford will be based near Preston and is well-placed to expand the firm’s client base in Lancashire and the surrounding areas.