Martin Johnston has been promoted to audit and assurance partner, and the firm has also appointed employment tax partner Brian Rudkin, and Stewart Crockett, who has taken the helm of Armstrong Watson Financial Planning Limited.

Financial planning consultant Jennifer McMahon and accounting senior manager Colleen Welsh have also joined the 29-strong Glasgow office team in recent months, while senior talent acquisition adviser Claire Connelly has been brought on board to ensure recruitment momentum in the region continues.

These appointments and promotions reflect the growing strength of Armstrong Watson’s offering in Glasgow and the wider Scottish market. The firm has invested significantly in the five years since it acquired the Haines Watts Glasgow office in Blythswood Square and amalgamated its former Queen Street base, and these positive changes are a further sign of its commitment to the region.

Mr Johnston, who has played a pivotal role in growing the business in recent years, has a strong reputation and extensive experience of managing a diverse and often complex portfolio of clients, across a wide range of sectors.

He said: “I’m pleased to have been part of the journey the Glasgow office has been on over the past few years, where we have gone from strength to strength.

“The breadth and depth of our service offering at Armstrong Watson has enabled us to cater for all our clients’ needs and be a key partner in their business.”

Brian Rudkin has been appointed to head up the firm’s employment tax services. He joins Armstrong Watson from Johnston Carmichael where he was director and head of employer services. Having specialised in the areas of employment taxes, staff reward and pay governance for more than 30 years – in roles at HMRC and in practice, including 15 years with Big 4 firms – Mr Rudkin has become a recognised expert in his field.

Stewart Crockett now leads the firm-wide 50-strong team of Armstrong Watson Financial Planning Limited, the financial planning arm of Armstrong Watson. He joins the business after 23 years with Close Brothers Asset Management, where he was managing director. He says his key objective at Armstrong Watson Financial Planning Limited is to build on the success that has been achieved by the financial planning team in recent decades.

Mr Rudkin and Mr Crockett’s appointments are not only key developments within the Glasgow office but also support the delivery and growth of the wider business.

Paul Dickson, managing partner and CEO said: “The recent investment in our Glasgow office team reflects the growing strength of our offering in the city and the wider Scottish market.

“In the years since we acquired the former Haines Watts office in 2018, we’ve developed our offering to ensure we can provide a full range of services that you would expect from a leading firm in the Central Belt of Scotland.

“Our new colleagues in Glasgow are all highly experienced and respected professionals who will make a significant contribution to our team. I am confident that they will help us to continue to grow our business and to provide our clients with the high-quality service that they expect.

“I am really excited for the team in Glasgow as we continue to invest and grow in the city.”