Ms Ferguson has joined from a Big Four audit team and has more than 18 years’ experience in audit, assurance and financial reporting across Scotland.

Her appointment will strengthen the firm’s audit team, which has grown by more than 80% in recent years, and now has more than 250 dedicated audit professionals across the UK.

Ms Ferguson will be based in Glasgow and work closely with clients across the firm’s UK offices and their key sectors. She is experienced in both IFRS and UK GAAP accounting standards, supporting smaller privately owned business through to large corporate groups to resolve complex areas of accounting.

She said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining Johnston Carmichael. I’m really impressed by the audit team’s forward-thinking approach to business, and making this move felt like a natural next step in my career.

“The presence the firm has in the Scottish market, working with so many iconic businesses, and growing across the UK, really attracted me to the role.

“I’m personally very proud to be stepping up the role of partner for the first time. My experience in engineering and manufacturing, and more broadly across sectors will add real value across the business and to our clients, and I look forward to building on the great work of the team in recent years.”

Johnston Carmichael’s audit team now works with more of the top 100 small to medium-sized private businesses in Scotland than any other accountancy firm.

Graham Marjoribanks, partner and head of audit, Johnston Carmichael, said: “Jane is a great fit for Johnston Carmichael, with a proactive and positive approach to business.

“She’s extremely well respected in our industry, and her experience and expertise across numerous important sectors are a real asset for us.

“With Jane’s appointment coupled with a targeted growth strategy, 2025 will be another positive year for our audit team and we look forward to building on the strength and depth of our team across the year.”

It comes after the firm strengthened its audit governance team in December with the recruitment of its first two independent non-executive directors (INEs).

Les Clifford and Michael Timar have more than 70 years’ experience working within the profession. Mr Clifford, a former global client service partner at a Big Four firm, was appointed chair of the firm’s newly constituted Audit Quality Board, and Mr Timar, who has been the audit partner for a number of listed companies, including FTSE 100 & 250 and NYSE listed, also now sits on this board.

The firm has also invested significantly in expanding its audit team through the development of its talent pipeline and external hires in specialist areas including financial services, where it now offers CASS audits, and pan sector services such as risk assurance and internal audit, as well as ESG reporting.