FROM TRAINEE TO PARTNER – DEVELOPING TALENT AT HURST

January 2007

Helen Besant-Roberts, who joined north west accountants HURST as a trainee eleven years ago, has been appointed partner.

Helen’s rise through the ranks is seen as a major milestone at HURST which has developed a strong reputation for staff training and development.

Helen will head up HURST’s consultancy division, the role previously carried out by managing partner Tim Potter, who is now concentrating on development and growth of the practice which has offices in Stockport, Manchester and Liverpool.

In addition to carrying out traditional audit and accountancy work, Helen specialises in consultancy and assurance. Her work includes risk management, business development, corporate governance, systems and procedures planning and Sarbanes Oxley compliance work for UK subsidiaries of large US companies.

She works with a number of large owner managed companies, not-for-profit organisations and companies within the financial services sector. Her clients include Manchester Solutions, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Greater Manchester Police, Sheffield Mutual, The Original Holloway Friendly Society and Pioneer Friendly Society.

Said Tim Potter: “As a company we put great emphasis on both training and investing in the best people, so it is particularly pleasing to reward Helen, who is our first trainee to become a fully fledged partner of the firm. It demonstrates our commitment to developing - and retaining - the best team of accountants and business advisors in the region.”

Helen, who lives in Altrincham, has a degree in English and History from Lancaster University. Before joining HURST she held senior positions in retailing. Helen has another professional claim to fame: she is an experienced scuba diver instructor assisting in the professional training of novice scuba drivers for a diving school based in Macclesfield.