AAB Wealth, Chartered Financial Planners, have appointed two new members to its team, in response to client demand for its services. Wendy Fleming and Vikki Venerus, both formerly of local financial planning firm Fleming McDonald, are based at AAB’s Queens Road offices.

Vikki has many years experience within the Financial Services Industry, having worked in retail banking for eight years before moving to an IFA firm as PA to the Principal. Vikki takes up the role of Client Services Support within AAB Wealth assisting at various stages of the financial planning and advice process.

The new team is jointly headed up by Directors Paul Lothian and Jonathan Gibson, who are both Chartered Financial Planners as well as being holders of the Institute of Financial Planning’s CFP licence. Fewer than 5% of all UK financial advisers are as well qualified.

Paul Lothian commented “This is a time of great opportunity for quality financial planning, and AAB is a well respected and highly successful firm in the area. We will offer a highly professional and comprehensive proposition, on a fee-for-service basis, free from any bias, and quite properly regarding any commission arising from all and any financial products as belonging to the client.”

Aberdeen’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, has announced the appointment of a new Senior Manager to their Accounting Outsourcing division.

Anderson Anderson & Brown (AAB), Aberdeen’s largest independent accountancy firm, is delighted to announce the addition of Wealth Management to the firm’s existing extensive range of services.

A²+B Wealth (Chartered Financial Planners) has opened its doors for business at AAB’s Queen’s Road offices.

Mike Brown, one of the accountancy firm’s founding partners, and Managing Partner of AAB, said “Expansion of our services into wealth management is a natural progression. There is a clear link between our existing services and the areas of advanced financial planning and investment consulting. We wanted to offer a highly professional and comprehensive proposition in this area, on a fee-for-service basis; free from any bias, and quite properly regarding any commission arising from all and any financial products as belonging to the client.”

Financial planning and investment advice will be delivered by a dedicated team, jointly headed up by Directors Paul Lothian and Jonathan Gibson, who are both Chartered Financial Planners as well as being holders of the Institute of Financial Planning’s CFP licence. Fewer than 5% of all UK financial advisers are as well qualified. Wendy Fleming and Vikki Venerus, both formerly of local financial planning firm Fleming McDonald, complete the team, which is expected to grow rapidly in response to client demand for its services.

Mike Brown added “We are delighted to have secured the services of Paul and Jonathan to help us further serve the needs of our customers by establishing and developing this new strand of our business. Our aim is that A²+B Wealth will become the wealth management service of choice for our firm’s existing clients as well as new contacts.”

Paul Lothian commented “Jonathan and I are looking forward to serving AAB’s clients as well as the wider population of Aberdeen City and Shire. This is a time of great opportunity for quality financial planning, and AAB is a well respected and highly successful firm in the area.”

Commenting on the wider picture of growth at AAB, Mike Brown indicated that “Since our inception, we have now trebled the existing four traditional services namely; Audit, Personal Tax, Corporate Tax and Accounting Services. Over the years we have added; Corporate Finance & Strategy, Employer & Expatriate Tax, Accounting Outsourcing and Management Information Solutions. Then in 2010, we introduced a further three complementary service areas viz Payroll Services, a specialist VAT team that rivals in size and expertise anything in Scotland and a Fraud Investigation, Asset Recovery and Whistle Blowing service.”

“The last 5 years has seen turnover almost doubled; staff numbers increased to 162 – an increase of almost 30%; and client numbers increased by 25%.”

“Comparing this against our three year strategy (from 2008), we are on plan with staff numbers and growth in the client base, the target of delivering fee income in excess of £10m has been surpassed and our move to purpose-built landmark premises in the West End of Aberdeen has been achieved and has been a huge success.”

“2011 promises further exciting challenges with this new wealth management service demonstrating that we are not prepared to sit back and be content with what has been achieved since our formation in 1990.”

What Others Say…

Have a look at what our clients say about our Fraud Prevention & Investigation Services:

• “During the period 2004/2006, in my capacity as Senior Partner and Head of Litigation at Shammah Nicholls, Solicitors in Manchester, I was instructed to advise and act on behalf of a Limited Company in the Manchester area who were the subject of an investigation being conducted by Scott Grant, into an alleged embezzlement of £750,000 during the period 1997/2003 by senior employees of a multinational Company in the logistics industry with depots and offices in Scotland.
  The methodology of the allegations centred on a sophisticated network of fake companies incorporated to receive payments for sevices which they did not in fact provide, as well as the alteration of genuine invoices to conceal the payees for goods and sevices provided to a senior employee of the multinational Company for his personal benefit.
  The invoices included invoices purportedly issued by my Clients, a number of which appeared not to be genuine and payments made to my Clients for no genuine or apparent business reasons. It became clear, during the investigation and arising from the efforts and judgement of Scott Grant and his team, that whilst the conduct of my Clients was a matter for consideration, the usefulness of my Clients as potential witnesses, allied to their cooperation in the investigation and their probable non involvement as perpetrators of the alleged embezzlement, meant that they would not be involved as co-defendants.
  Throughout the investigation Scott Grant displayed enormous focus, energy and skill, and over a series of interviews held in Manchester, an encyclopaedic understanding of the complexities of a case with many strands and a high level of sophistication.
  His methods proved very successful and led to a substantial recovery as well as securing a conviction of the senior employee without the requirement of a Trial.
  My Clients were content that they had been treated fairly and that it was accepted that they were not involved in the embezzlement.
  Scott Grant is a very capable and professional forensic fraud investigator.”
  Joe Shammah, Former Senior Partner & Head of Litigation
  Shammah Nicholls, Solicitors in Manchester.

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP, Aberdeen’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, has announced the appointment of Douglas Martin as Partner in Corporate Finance.

Douglas, who joined the firm in 2002 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2005, has gained significant experience in corporate finance, with involvement in over 100 deals, acting principally as a lead advisor involved in start-ups, mergers and acquisitions, MBO’s/MBI’s, fund-raising and refinancing. During his time with AAB, Douglas has contributed to the firm being named the leading dealmakers in Scotland for the last 5 years, topping the Scottish Business Insider tables for both deals initiated and completed (2005-2009 inclusive), and the CF division being named ‘Team of the Year’ at the 2010 Scottish Accountancy Awards.

Mike Brown, Managing Partner and Head of Corporate Finance, commented, “We are committed to providing top quality corporate finance services to our clients and Douglas has made a significant and valued contribution since he joined us 8 years ago. It is particularly pleasing to see one of our trainees develop within the firm, culminating in his appointment as Partner.”

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB), Aberdeen’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, has again been successful at the 2010 Scottish Accountancy Awards. The firm was judged to have the best ‘Team of the Year’ in their corporate finance division. The team was noted as being, ‘a cut above the rest with an impressive and consistent track record.’

Sheena Anderson, Partner, who accepted the Award, said, “It is rewarding that the efforts and successes of an experienced and committed team of individuals 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.”

This follows the firm being awarded ‘Best Small Firm’ and ‘Fastest Growing Firm’ at the 2009 Awards. This was also the fifth consecutive year that the firm’s corporate finance team topped the Insider league tables for both ‘most deals initiated’ and ‘most deals completed’ in Scotland.

Sheena is seen here on the right, receiving the ‘Team of the Year’ award at the 2010 Scottish Accountancy Awards.

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP, chartered accountants, sponsors of The Robert Gordon University Best Final Year Student in Accounting and Finance BA (Hons), has awarded the 2010 prize to Sarah Ruddy from Aberdeen.

Sarah, who won several prizes throughout her course, plays and teaches piano in her spare time and has already commenced her CA traineeship.

Robbie Gordon, partner, said: “This is the 14th year we have sponsored this award, since its introduction, and continue to be impressed with the high standard of candidates graduating from this course and Sarah is certainly no exception”.

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP, Aberdeen’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, has announced the appointment of Kevin Mann as Partner in Taxation Services.

Kevin, who is qualified as both a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser, joins the firm from John Wood Group PLC. He was with the Wood Group for almost 13 years, latterly as Senior Manager in their Tax Department. Kevin specialises in corporation tax and PAYE with a particular emphasis on international tax. His main responsibility in recent years has been advising Wood Group companies globally on all the tax implications of working on international projects including those for any expatriate personnel. Kevin is also a former footballer with Dundee FC, Inverness Caledonian FC, Buckie Thistle FC and Cove Rangers FC, among the list of clubs that he played for during his career.

Mike Brown, Managing Partner, commented “We are committed to providing top quality service and tax advice to our clients and Kevin’s appointment brings further expertise to our international tax advisory team. With many Aberdeen-based businesses now working internationally, this is an increasingly important service area”.
Anderson Anderson & Brown was formed in 1990 and, following a continuous period of substantial growth, now has 12 partners and over 150 staff. The firm has 6 key service areas, namely; audit & accounting, taxation (personnel, corporate, international and VAT) accounting outsourcing, corporate finance, corporate strategy and IT solutions.

The Partners of Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP, Chartered Accountants, have hosted a Long Service Party at which six members of staff each celebrated ten years’ service with the firm. Mike Brown, Managing Partner, acknowledging the long service, said “Lesley Connon, Linda Carmichael, Jackie Reid, Lynn Wilson, Chris Masson and Anna Fergusson have all made a significant contributions to the success of the firm in the ten years since they joined. It is hugely rewarding to see individuals progressing through the firm and to witness their career and personal development.

It gives the Partners tremendous satisfaction to add these names to an ever-growing list of long serving employees. Presenting each of them with a gift to commemorate this milestone is a token of our appreciation of their loyalty and long service to the firm.”

Anderson Anderson & Brown was formed by 3 partners, with 2 staff in 1990 and today has 11 partners with over 150 staff and has 6 key service areas; audit, accounting services, taxation (personal, corporate, international and VAT) accounting outsourcing, corporate finance & strategy and IT solutions.

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP, Aberdeen’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, has announced the appointment of Steve Mitchell as Corporate Finance Senior Manager.

Steve joins after nearly 20 years practice experience dealing with all types of industries and has 10 years experience dealing with Corporate transactions and Advisory Services. Latterly in his work as Director at Acumen Accountants and Advisors he was responsible for all aspects of running an Accountancy practice.

Steve commented, “I am delighted to be joining Anderson Anderson & Brown’s Corporate Finance team which has an unparalleled breadth of experience and skills”

Mike Brown commented, “we are delighted to welcome Steve, who brings huge experience of the Aberdeen market and business advisory services to our team.”

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP was formed in 1990 and following a period of substantial growth, now has 12 partners and 150 staff. The firm has 6 key service areas namely; audit, accounting, taxation (personal, corporate, international and VAT), accounting outsourcing, corporate finance and management information solutions.

Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB), Aberdeen’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, has been named as the top dealmakers in Scotland in 2009 for the 5th consecutive year, topping the Scottish Business Insider tables for both deals initiated and deals completed.

The Scottish Business Insider’s review of the Scottish deals market reveals that AAB completed 33 transactions in 2009, more than double any other accountancy firm in the same period, and initiated 13 transactions in 2009, more than any other advisor in Scotland.

Transactions completed by AAB in the period included the disposal of PI Group to Amec Group plc, fund-raising for Fletcher Shipping in order to facilitate a major vessel acquisition and the disposal of Walker Technical Resources to a management buy-in team backed by Maven Capital Partners.

Mike Brown, Head of Corporate Finance, said “It is hugely rewarding to achieve this fantastic double accolade for the 5th successive year – reflecting as it does on the efforts and successes of an experienced and committed team of individuals. Each year offers up different challenges and through their exceptional talent and expertise our team continue to rise to the occasion and deliver results time and time again.”

Looking ahead, Brown commented “We are certainly extremely positive about our prospects in 2010 given our leading market position and our track record for initiating and executing deals in the Scottish market. We have recently made a number of key client gains and are currently working on over 75 projects and look forward to working with both new & existing clients in order to bring many more deals to fruition during 2010.”