Top UK accountancy and business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael has strengthened its leadership team with seven senior promotions across Scotland and the North East of England.

The seven senior promotions are among 55 promotions effective across the business this month and brings the total number promoted at Johnston Carmichael this year to 143.

Business advisory specialist Raemond Jappy, who is based in Aberdeen, becomes Partner, and there are six Director promotions:

• Lisa Thomson (Audit), also based in Aberdeen
• Louise Mair (Audit), in Edinburgh
• Allyson Banford (Audit), Jordan Haldane (Financial Reporting Advisory Services) and Greg Sutherland (Tax), in Glasgow
• Glen Small (VAT and Duty), in Newcastle.

Raemond – known to colleagues and clients as Rae – joined Johnston Carmichael in 2006 as a student on the firm’s graduate programme. Having specialised in audit for many years, in 2021 he moved to Business Advisory and now plays a key role in the team that provides Johnston Carmichael’s Outsourced Finance Services.

He has worked with a wide range of businesses, from start-ups to large privately owned businesses and private equity, across a variety of sectors including energy – specialising in renewables – tech, and food and drink. Rae recently completed Johnston Carmichael’s in-house Leadership Programme, which the newly promoted directors have also participated in or are currently enrolled in.

Rae said: “I am extremely proud to be joining the firm’s partner group and look forward to playing a significant role in the future of the business as we continue to grow.

“I’ve benefited from working with some brilliant colleagues who have guided me as I grew my career, and I have been able to access fantastic learning and development opportunities.

“After starting out as a graduate, I hope I show how it’s possible to achieve your career ambitions at Johnston Carmichael.”

Each of the seven have achieved professional qualifications equivalent to a masters degree.

Rae, Louise, Allyson and Jordan obtained chartered accountant (CA) status after completing their ICAS (The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland) qualifications with Johnston Carmichael, while Lisa was a CA prior to joining Johnston Carmichael as a supervisor in 2016.

Glen Small, who joined the firm in 2022, is CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser) qualified. In 2019, Glen was awarded the Chartered Institute of Tax (CIOT) North East England Prize for the highest overall score achieved by newly qualified CTA members. Greg is ATT (Association of Tax Technicians) qualified.

Martin Osler, Chief People Officer, said: “We have an inclusive culture where we encourage everyone to be a leader of their work and their learning. It is encouraging to see so many people who joined our firm as Graduates, grow their careers with us and become senior leaders.

“Our Leadership Programme challenges our people to think differently about themselves and their performance and to reflect on how they can achieve their career ambitions while embedding a high-performance philosophy in our firm. Each of these promotions exemplifies these principles.

“Congratulations to everyone who achieved promotion in our firm this year and we look forward to seeing them help to sustain our success.”

About the promotions

Partner

Raemond Jappy (Aberdeen – Business Advisory)

Raemond joined Johnston Carmichael in 2006 as a student on the firm’s graduate programme. Having worked in audit for many years, in 2021 Rae moved to business advisory and now plays a key role in the firm’s outsourced finance services team.

Directors

Lisa Thomson (Aberdeen – Audit)

Lisa joined Johnston Carmichael as a supervisor in 2016 and now heads up the Aberdeen audit department. She was recently granted RI (Responsible Individual) status and has been featured in ICAS’s “Top 100 CAs under 35”.

Louise Mair (Edinburgh – Audit)

Louise joined the Edinburgh office as a graduate in 2014 and is now a senior leader of the Edinburgh audit team and an infrastructure and renewables (“I&R”) specialist. She is an active member of Johnston Carmichael’s CSR committee and is currently participating in the firm’s in-house Leadership Programme.

Allyson Banford (Glasgow – Audit)

Allyson joined Johnston Carmichael in 2015, completing her ICAS qualification with the firm, and has grown to manage a portfolio of key audit clients as well as a specialism in food and drink. Allyson has participated in Johnston Carmichael’s in-house Leadership Programme and has also obtained a sponsored place on the Harvard Leadership Programme.

Jordan Haldane (Glasgow – Audit)

Jordan, who joined Johnston Carmichael’s Glasgow office as a graduate in 2010, was originally part of the firm’s audit team but later became a founding member of the financial reporting advisory services team. Jordan is currently participating in the firm’s Leadership Programme. He has been featured in ICAS’s “Top 100 CAs under 35” and is actively involved with the firm’s social mobility programme offered in partnership with the ICAS Foundation, providing mentoring to students.

Greg Sutherland (Glasgow – Tax)

After a successful career at other firms and in industry, Greg joined Johnston Carmichael in September 2015 to work within the corporation tax team. Over the last few years his focus has been on the OMB (Owner Managed Business) sector and on transaction taxes and providing support to the restructuring and insolvency team. Greg has also been a tax tutor at Strathclyde University and a Tax Volunteer for Tax Help for Older People.

Glen Small (Newcastle – VAT & Duty)

Glen is based in Newcastle and joined the firm in 2022. Prior to joining Johnston Carmichael, Glen trained as a VAT adviser and has over seven years of experience working in the “Big 4” accountancy firms. In 2019, Glen was awarded the CIOT North East England Prize for the highest overall score achieved by newly qualified CTA members. Glen recently completed the Johnston Carmichael and Moore Global leadership programmes.