Mike Brown, a founding Partner and Head of Corporate Finance at Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB), one of the leading independent firms of Chartered Accountants in Scotland, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 Scottish Business Insider Deals and Dealmakers Awards. This is the first time that the Deals and Dealmakers event has issued such an award.

The judging panel praised Mike’s invaluable contribution to deal making in Scotland and his ability to fight to win deals in a highly competitive market, saying that “The contribution made by Mike Brown to deal-making in Scotland was felt worthy of a special award and particularly with regard to his fantastic track record in the oil and gas sector”.

Under Mike’s leadership the Corporate Finance team of AAB has an outstanding track record of high performance and their recognition as the top dealmakers in Scotland for the last ten years (based on Scottish Business Insider deals statistic as the accountants having completed and initiated the most deals in Scotland each year from 2005 – 2014) is testament to this. Over the last 10 years, the team have completed more than 500 transactions with a combined deal value of over £4.5bn.

Commenting on the award Mike said “Whilst I am extremely proud to have received this award the recognition received is truly for the effort and ability of everyone at AAB, not just me. Every transaction not only involves our Corporate Finance team but a number of teams across the office. So this award is really for them, and I would like to thank the experienced and committed team of individuals at AAB for making the achievement of this award possible.”

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB), one of the leading independent firms of Chartered Accountants, has become the first Accountancy firm in Scotland to achieve the prestigious Investors in Young People Gold Accreditation, the only people management standard that focuses on an employer’s recruitment and retention of young people.

Investors in Young People (IIYP) originated through a key recommendation from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, led by Sir Ian Wood, and represents a true commitment to the training and development of young people and demonstrates AAB as an employer of choice for young people.

Commenting on the award, Graeme Allan, Managing Partner at AAB said, “Young people train with us and stay with us to grow their careers, capitalising on the coaching, mentoring and knowledge sharing that our experienced and specialised colleagues deliver through day to day work and formal training and development programmes.

We are proud to be accredited with the Investors in Young People Gold award which demonstrates our commitment to developing young people and shows that we are an employer of choice for the next generation.”

Karen Stewart, Chief Human Resources Officer also commented, “Investment in young people has always been at the core of our recruitment strategy at AAB. Recruiting placement students and graduates and nurturing the talent that they bring to our business has supported our significant growth over the last 25 years and will fuel our future growth as we continue to increase our intake of young people each year. So far, 2015 has seen us recruit a record number of young people with 20 graduates, placement students and school leavers joining our firm and undertaking our various training programmes.”

Peter Russian, Chief Executive of Investors in People Scotland, said “This is a fantastic achievement for AAB, and I and the whole IIYP team would like to wholeheartedly congratulate them. The Investors in Young People framework not only recognises and supports organisations in the employment of young people, but marks them out as an employer of choice.

The benefits of recruiting and developing young people are countless. These include the creation of a talent pool for the future, new and increased skills in areas such as IT and social media, fresh eyes and mind-sets into business operations along with enthusiasm and unique talents.”

AAB have over 250 people working in specialised teams across 25 different service lines, all focused on working in partnership with clients to understand their ambitions and to help deliver them.

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB), one of the leading independent firms of Chartered Accountants in Scotland, has announced the appointment of Richard Petrie as Corporate Benefits Manager within their Integrated Employment Solutions team.

Richard, who joined the financial services industry in 2000, joins AAB from Mattioli Woods PLC where he was responsible for managing the employee benefits service for a large portfolio of corporate clients. Richard brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to AAB and his focus will be on providing consulting advice, solutions and services across the full range of employee benefits to existing and new clients. Whilst there is an immediate requirement to support businesses through the requirements of auto enrolment the overall service includes guiding businesses through the process of implementing and/or improving benefits packages that will help with recruitment and retention of businesses key assets; their employees.

Steven Fraser, Head of Integrated Employment Solutions, commented “We are committed to providing innovative business solutions and an all-round approach to employment related matters and are delighted to welcome Richard, who brings further expertise to the corporate benefits arm of our Integrated Employment Solutions team.”

AAB have over 250 people working in specialised teams across 25 different service lines, all focussed on working in partnership with clients to understand their ambitions and to help deliver them.

Latest figures from trade publication Accountancy Age show that Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB), one of the leading independent firms of Chartered Accountants in Scotland, is now ranked among the top 30 UK accountancy firms. The Accountancy Age analysis of the top 50 UK accountancy firms reveals that AAB have moved 11 places up the tables from 38 in 2014 to now 27, having achieved growth in excess of 30% over the previous year.

Graeme Allan, Managing Partner commented “It is our vision of pioneering integrated advisory solutions in partnership with our clients which has made this growth possible, as well as the exceptional talent, experience and expertise of our people who continue to rise to the occasion and deliver excellent results.

We achieved growth across all our service lines during the past year and in addition have successfully integrated the acquisition of John F Daly Associates Ltd, an international business specialising in joint venture and contract audit services which we completed in June 2014 which contributes to almost a third of this growth.

2014/15 was an exciting and busy year for AAB and in addition to the substantial growth experienced by our firm we also made some exciting decisions about the future and achieved a number of successes in the form of various awards and accreditations. We are very proud of our achievements which will hopefully drive us on to even greater success.”

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB), one of Scotland’s leading independent firms of Chartered Accountants, has retained the title of ‘Tax Team of the Year’, at the 2015 Scottish Accountancy & Finance Awards (in conjunction with Scottish Business Insider).

Graeme Allan, Managing Partner commented “We are delighted with this national recognition of our firm’s achievements. It is rewarding that the hard work of our staff and their commitment to providing our clients with the best service possible is being highlighted in this manner.

It is particularly gratifying that we won against some of the strongest competitors in the country. Each year offers up different challenges and through their exceptional talent, experience and expertise our people continue to rise to the occasion and deliver results time and time again.”

The firm has been successful in these awards in the past having been awarded ‘Tax Team of the Year’ at the 2014 awards, ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year’ in 2013, ‘Best Small Firm’ and ‘Fastest Growing Firm’ in 2009 and ‘Best Team of the Year’ (corporate finance) in 2010. This is also the tenth consecutive year that the firm’s corporate finance team have topped the Insider league tables as the accountants having completed and initiated the most deals in Scotland each year from 2005 – 2014.

Construction work has started on Anderson Anderson Brown’s (AAB) new Kingswells office complex

Construction work has started on Anderson Anderson Brown’s (AAB) new office complex, located on the Prime Four business park at Kingswells west of Aberdeen.

The 45,000 square foot facility is being built to AAB’s specifications by park developers Drum Property Group. It is expected to be operational in Spring 2016 and will have capacity for over 400 staff.

The new, L-shaped environmentally friendly building features a stunning glass atrium as its centrepiece, and will be located close to Prime Four’s social and amenity plaza, the Fourcourt.

Mike Brown, Senior Partner, commented “This is a very exciting moment for everyone at AAB, as we start to see our new building begin to take shape. Being based in these new, bespoke premises, and on such a great park will provide our firm a fantastic platform for future growth.

The firm has been in great locations in Aberdeen, starting at the well-known Carden Church before moving to 9 Queens Road, one of the best of offices in the West End. We have enjoyed our time here but the extraordinary growth which we have achieved over the years continues apace and this will be marked as we enter our 25th year in business as we move to the new, landmark office headquarters.

It seemed fitting to ask Hazel Jamieson, our first ever employee at AAB who has completed 25 years’ service and her team colleague Hollie Tierney, who, at 18, is the youngest AAB staff member, to perform the ground-breaking at the site which is an important milestone for our firm.”

Stuart Oag, Group Finance Director of Drum Property Group, developer of Prime Four, said: “It is always a defining moment to see construction start, and we are delighted that the AAB building is underway.

AAB will be joining a vibrant and active community at Prime Four – with KingsWellies nursery now operational, following the hotel, health club, Starbucks, and other social and sporting activity now being delivered at the Fourcourt plaza at the heart of park, there is a real buzz around Prime Four.

Despite the challenging market conditions currently facing the energy sector we continue to experience strong interest in Prime Four and will announce further new tenants in the future.

Prime Four will continue to play a major role in generating hugely significant economic activity for the north east of Scotland for many years to come.”

ANDERSON ANDERSON & BROWN RECEIVE PERSONAL CONGRATULATIONS FROM MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT AFTER ATTAINING THE NEW INVESTORS IN YOUNG PEOPLE ACCREDITATION

Aberdeen based accountancy firm Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB) has achieved the double success of Investors in Young People and 15 years of Investors in People accreditation.

Investors in Young People is the only people management standard that focuses on an employer’s recruitment and retention of young people. This represents a true commitment to the training and development of young people and demonstrates AAB as an employer of choice for young people.

Launched in July 2014, Investors in Young People originated through a key recommendation from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, led by Sir Ian Wood. The accreditation is offered to all businesses across Scotland and exists to recognise and support organisations across Scotland in the employment of young people.

The firm’s achievement of the Investors in Young People award resulted in Annabelle Ewing, the Minister for Youth and Women’s Employment, sending her personal congratulations and thank you to AAB; “I greatly appreciate the investment of time and effort that your company makes, not only to give young people a range of employment opportunities but also to train them to high skills levels. Congratulations again on this richly deserved recognition of AAB’s commitment to introducing young people to the world of work and giving them the opportunity to develop their careers.”

Achieving Investors in People accreditation meanwhile, illustrates AAB’s dedication to their employees and demonstrates a solid foundation of good practice which remains challenging and aspirational for many organisations. Having now achieved the accreditations, AAB is now eligible to use and display the Investors in Young People and Investors in People logo and plaque, and enjoy their benefits.

Commenting on the award, Karen Stewart, Chief Human Resources Officer at AAB said, “Young people have brought vibrancy to our firm and our investment in them over the years has been essential in bringing in new ideas, enthusiasm and new ways of working and it is fantastic that this has been recognised through this accreditation which we are thrilled to have achieved. We were equally delighted to receive a personal note of thanks and congratulations from Annabelle Ewing for our commitment to this area of our recruitment initiatives.

We are incredibly proud of the various training programmes which we offer to young people to build a fulfilling and progressive professional career which is something that we as a firm see as being key to moulding the business professionals of the future, both within our core accounting business but also within other specialist areas and our support team. This ethos has been a success to date with many of our employees who joined as a ‘young person’ now at Manager, Senior Manager and even Partner level. Young people truly are the future of our firm.”

Peter Russian, Chief Executive of Investors in People Scotland, said “I’m delighted that AAB has achieved IIYP and IIP accreditation. To see over 1,000 young people working in IIYP accredited organisations in such a short space since the launch date is testimony of the appeal, rigour and value that organisations across Scotland are putting on the award. We now have organisations accredited in nearly every geographical part of Scotland covering the private, public and third sector.”

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB) recently attended TIAG’s 24th international conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. The conference, which took place on May 4-6, 2015, provided TIAG® members with the opportunity to strengthen the relationships they create within the alliance of more than 115 accounting firms from around the world. Also in attendance at the conference were members of TIAG’s affiliate alliances, TAGLaw® and TAG-SP™. All three alliances are collectively known as the TAG Alliances™.

In addition to various networking opportunities and group breakout sessions, TIAG members attended a variety of informative and educational sessions aimed at firm and practice development. Sessions and speakers at this conference include:

• “The Future of Europe” – Rt Hon Lord Norman Lamont, Former Chancellor of the UK Exchequer;
• “The Modern Partner: Not Like it Said in the Brochure” – Mark Brandon, Motive Legal Consulting;
• “The Road Ahead: Anticipated Changes in the Energy Industry” – Moderator: Andrew Reid, Douglas-Westwood;
• “Pricing in Professional Service Firms: An Essential Skill” – Richard Burcher, Validatum;
• “Paths to Growth for Accounting Firms” – Howard Wilkinson, TIAG Advisory Board Member and Former Senior Partner of Mercer & Hole (London, England – TIAG); and
• Various “Specialty Group” breakout sessions.

For more information about how AAB TIAG relationships can help your business, please contact Neil Dinnes, or your usual AAB contact.

About TIAG & The TAG Alliances

The TAG Alliances comprise three groups: TIAG (The International Accounting Group), TAGLaw and TAG-SP. TIAG is an international alliance of high quality, independent accounting firms. TAGLaw is a similar alliance of independent law firms, and TAG-SP is a complementary association of strategic business partners. Collectively, the TAG Alliances provide accounting, legal, financial and business support services on a worldwide scale. With approximately 15,500 professionals in 280 member firms, and 580 offices in over 100 countries, The TAG Alliances serve tens of thousands of clients from all industry and commercial sectors. For more information visit www.TIAGnet.com

We are delighted to announce that AAB has been shortlisted for the 2015 Scottish Accountancy & Finance Awards in the categories of ‘Tax Team of the Year’, which we won last year, and ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year’. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Glasgow on Wednesday June 18.

Now in their eighth year, these awards look to celebrate the vital ‘behind the scenes’ role that accountants play in ensuring the effectiveness of both companies and public sector organisations. The awards will once again be judged by an independent panel of experts with research for the awards being carried out by the Business School at Edinburgh Napier University.

Commenting on this latest recognition of the firm, Graeme Allan, Managing Partner, said “At AAB we pride ourselves on doing the best for our clients and our people and are delighted to be shortlisted for these prestigious awards, which are a testament to these commitments.

2014 was an exciting and busy year for AAB – our firm experienced substantial growth, made some exciting decisions about the future and also achieved a number of successes in the form of various awards and accreditations.

We are looking forward to the awards ceremony in Glasgow in June.”

A generous 12-month support by a local firm has enabled a north-east charity to step up its provision of counselling services throughout the north-east.

Mental Health Aberdeen (MHA) has received £26,724.62 thanks to the efforts of Anderson Anderson and Brown LLP (AAB), whose staff chose to support MHA as their charity of the year.

The chartered accountancy firm has taken part in a wide variety of fundraising initiatives, including the Baker Hughes 10k last year and doing their bit in the ice bucket challenge, to a prize draw for a four ball at Trump International Golf Links, cake sales and numerous other activities.

MHA provides support services, counselling and advice to people affected by challenges related to mental health and wellbeing. AAB’s first donation to the charity has funded volunteer counsellor training courses for around 10 to 15 volunteers over the course of a year, including volunteers at the Banff and Buchan counselling project.

The remainder of the money raised will be split between MHA’s Comraich Day Support, Carers Support Project and Companions Befriending Project.

Astrid Whyte, MHA’s chief executive, said: “I was absolutely delighted when AAB told me that staff had chosen MHA as their charity of the year. Their kind and generous support over the past 12 months has been a real touchstone for us. They have made huge efforts to bring in money for us all year and the amount raised has already allowed us to train more counsellor volunteers.

“It has been a great joy to welcome AAB to our Comraich Day Support centre in Inverurie, which is one of the three initiatives that will be boosted because of their fantastic fundraising. Comraich is a community support service which provides support, assistance and encouragement for people who are experiencing or recovering from mental ill-health.

“Thanks to AAB we are aiming to start a new peer support group which will help train service users who have been in Royal Cornhill Hospital to go and speak to patients who are coming out of hospital and help them with the daunting transition, as well as welcoming them to the peer support group at Comraich.”

She added: “In addition to this the funding from AAB will also be used to aid both our Carers Support and Companions Befriending projects. It will enable us to provide our carers with some respite and distraction from their caring roles and offer our befrienders and service users a chance to have a fun social gathering. We are so grateful to all at AAB for all their support and the tremendous amount of money they have raised for us.”

Jade Anderson and Val Huggins, of AAB said: “Our staff have had a fantastic time over the past 12-months taking part in a variety of events and initiatives to raise money for Mental Health Aberdeen. It has been great fun and extremely rewarding doing what we can to help such a worthwhile charity which does so much throughout the north-east of Scotland to help people affected by challenges to their mental health.

“Visiting the Comraich Day Support has given us even more of an insight into the variety of services MHA offers and we are pleased that this initiative and two other projects will be further bolstered with the money raised by our staff.”