AAB strengthens senior leadership team to drive growth in London

Leading professional services firm AAB has expanded its senior team in London, underlining its strategic commitment to growth and enhanced client support in the capital.

AAB, a top-25 UK firm that has trebled in size since 2021, has appointed Jai Raja as Audit Partner, James Snape as Audit Director, and Greg Smythe as Tax Director to bolster its audit and tax capabilities to meet growing demand. These appointments represent a strategic shift toward deeper local investment in London, building on three consecutive years of 30% combined annual audit and tax growth. AAB is focused on expanding its London presence to support existing clients and capture new market opportunities.

Jai Raja brings over 20 years of experience in audit, including senior roles within Big 4 and top 10 firms, with a focus on large infrastructure corporates and developing high-performing teams. James Snape adds more than a decade of financial leadership across practice and industry, including a CFO role, and has expertise in real estate and construction clients. Greg Smythe, appointed as Tax Director, brings significant expertise in international and corporation tax, advising both global and UK-based clients on complex restructuring and refinancing matters.

With over 100 team members and all core business units now represented in the London office, AAB is well positioned to deliver integrated audit, tax, and advisory services to complex, high-growth businesses. This senior-level expansion also develops further opportunities for collaboration between audit and tax teams. This joined-up approach positions the firm to provide comprehensive solutions for businesses operating in increasingly regulated and fast-changing environments both in the UK and internationally.

John Beevers, Head of Professional Services at AAB, commented: “Our senior team in London continues to grow in strength and depth. The appointments of Jai, James and Greg to our senior team reflect our commitment to investing in both audit and tax and allow us to offer more comprehensive support to clients across key sectors.

“We’re seeing a consistent trend, particularly among large domestic and international corporates, of clients seeking service providers who can deliver both audit and tax under one roof. With our expanding team and collaborative model, we’re exceptionally well placed to meet that need and continue our growth journey in the capital.”

The announcement is also timely given the significant changes across both the audit and tax landscapes. Evolving regulatory frameworks, updates to accounting standards such as FRS 102, and the growing importance of technology and AI are reshaping how services are delivered. In tax, increased scrutiny from HMRC, shifting international tax rules, and greater complexity in areas such as transfer pricing, customs and restructuring are creating new challenges for businesses. AAB remains committed to investing in these areas, from regulatory readiness to digital innovation, to stay ahead of industry transformation and ensure clients receive proactive, tech-driven support.

Emma Lancaster, CEO of AAB, added: “Our continued investment in London is a vital part of our wider growth journey. While we’ve supported clients here for years, this is the next chapter in building our local presence. By expanding our senior team and deepening our community engagement, we’re making sure we can support existing clients more effectively and open the door to new opportunities.”

This announcement follows AAB Wealth’s recent acquisition of Magus Wealth, a deal which boosted their Assets Under Advice (AuA) to £1.8billion, reinforcing AAB’s strategic investment in London, across all business units.

Since securing investment from August Equity in 2021, AAB has trebled in size and now employs more than 1,000 people. The rapid growth journey is set to continue as part of delivering its ambitious growth strategy for 2030.