EQ accountants announce Partner’s retirement

After 26 years with the firm, Peter Southcott has retired as a Partner at EQ Accountants LLP.

The firm, which has offices in Dundee, Cupar, Glenrothes and Forfar, said Mr Southcott, who also worked at predecessor practice, Carters, had made an “outstanding contribution” during his more than quarter of a century with EQ which ended at close of business on 31 October.

EQ said in a statement: “For much of that time, including latterly, he has been a partner in our Glenrothes office, and was a driving force behind the merger which brought Carters and EQ together in April 2015.”

Mr Southcott said: “I have been lucky over my career to work with a great team and it has only been as part of a team that I have been able to provide my clients with the support and advice that I know has made a difference to many of them. The firm and in particular the partners and team in Glenrothes will continue where I leave off and I wish them and all my clients all the very best for the future.”

Managing Partner, David Cameron thanked Mr Southcott for his significant contribution to the firm.

He said: “I have known Peter for many years and enjoyed working directly with him over the last 18 months. His passion and enthusiasm has been vital during that period, supporting the merger, and particularly focusing on the needs of both clients and staff within our Glenrothes office. We have faced many challenges including a series of enforced changes at Partner level, and Peter and many colleagues from across our offices, have ensured that those gaps have been filled, and client service remained our priority. We all wish Peter well in retiring from Public Practice, as he moves on to this next phase of his life.

“Following Peter’s retirement, clients can expect to continue to receive the highest level of support and advice that they have grown used to over the years. This will be delivered through our very experienced Glenrothes team, many of whom have worked alongside Peter for a number of years, and who already have close working relationships with their clients.

“We have been very successful in recruiting talent across the firm, but particularly into Glenrothes in the past 9 months. We will continue to have 4 partners in our Glenrothes office, supported by a team of 30 colleagues.

“Mark Gibson and Gail Cowan share over 45 years service with the firm collectively, and they will be more than ably supported by Ross Oliphant, who joined us as a partner in May 2016, along with Steven Todd, a partner from our Cupar office who has relocated to Glenrothes to maintain our strength in depth.”