recognising the significant contribution she makes to the team and clients she works with.

Ms Laidlaw-Keggans began her career with the firm in 2012 as an accounting trainee after leaving school. She subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant while working within the accounts and audit teams in Dumfries and Carlisle. She later qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser.

She said: “It wasn’t until I moved to the corporate tax team that I really found my passion and my desire to progress – and the rest is history as they say.”

Ms Laidlaw-Keggans, who is based at the firm’s office is Rae Street, is proud of what she’s achieved in her career at Armstrong Watson but says this promotion is “a bit more special”, coming just six months after she returned from maternity leave.

“I’m delighted to have been promoted,” said Ms Laidlaw-Keggans. “I hope that in my new role I can continue to grow my relationships with my existing client base but also have the opportunity to meet and chat with other business owners within and around Dumfries about how we may be able to assist them with their corporate tax needs.

“I have navigated a new way of working – working flexible hours so that I can be available for both colleagues and clients, whilst dealing with everything that motherhood throws at you.”

Ms Laidlaw-Keggans’ promotion also comes as the firm made a strategic senior hire in Glasgow, welcoming Kirsty Wilson as tax director, while Hayley Deeming has been promoted to tax partner and Becky Fraser promoted to tax director.

Becky Bowness, head of tax, said: “Hannah’s promotion is thoroughly well deserved. Hannah is an invaluable member of our Senior Tax team providing exceptional client service as well as being committed to developing the rest of tax team. She contributes to the strategic growth of our tax practice and promotes Armstrong Watson in South West Scotland and North Cumbria.

“We’re growing the corporate tax team across the business and have also welcomed new colleagues in Glasgow Newcastle and Leeds, including three graduates, and we are in the process of recruiting further graduates in to our team. From my perspective the corporate team is certainly the strongest it ever has been.”