The firm, with approximately 100 staff across offices in Edinburgh and Fife, currently operates with five RIs conducting regulated audit work. Thomson Cooper serves as an auditor for organisations spanning public, private and not-for-profit sectors throughout Scotland.

Mr Whyte started with Thomson Cooper as a graduate trainee in 1997 and qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2002. She secured the role of Director of Audit in 2018. After overseeing audits for a number of years, Ms Whyte started the process of becoming an RI last year through her professional body, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

She explained: “Achieving RI status has been a long-term goal of mine and I feel a great sense of pride having achieved this milestone in my professional development.

“It means I can be appointed as statutory auditor and undertake regulated audit work, signing audit reports on behalf of the firm.

“I recognise the trust the partners have in me as an RI and I look forward to the responsibilities and challenges that the new role brings.”

Head of audit, senior partner Andrew Croxford, added: “As a ’home-grown’ talent, we are proud of Jacqueline’s drive and dedication to the audit department where she has excelled as director.

“In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in audit opportunities, driven by a growing recognition among organisations of the advantages audits offer.

“This has coincided with many auditors exiting the market as regulation, legislation and compliance become increasingly complex. We are committed to providing a first-class audit service and have invested significantly in our audit function.

“Jacqueline’s appointment will allow us to take advantage of more opportunities while continuing to develop our audit services.”