Newport-based accountancy firm, UHY Hacker Young, has announced its latest strategic appointment to bolster the firm’s corporate finance department in the light of successive new business wins and forecasted growth.

Tom O’Brien has joined the practice as corporate finance manager and will work alongside UHY Hacker Young’s managing partner Paul Byett to advise SMEs and other businesses on all matters relating to financial planning, budgeting and forecasting, cash flow management and reporting.

Tom brings more than eight years specialist knowledge in the fields of refinancing, start-up capital, acquisitions and mergers from funding through to change management.

Previously working as a financial director at the HLN Group, an award-winning architectural, construction and engineering design practice operating throughout the UK and overseas, Tom was responsible for overseeing the strategic planning and centralising of accounts systems of million pound mergers and acquisitions.

He will be leading the corporate services team at UHY Hacker Young.

He said: “I’m delighted to be to be joining one of Wales’ most established and well-respected firms at such an exciting point in its history. The opportunity to join this ambitious team to use my knowledge to aid Wales’ newest businesses’ get off the ground, and, help some of its most renowned brands continue to grow, was too good an opportunity to pass up.”

UHY Hacker Young currently employs more than 40 staff based at its Newport headquarters and founding Abergavenny practice, in addition to serving clients across the border from its Bristol office.

Paul Byett, said: “Tom joins us at a crucial point for us. As a motivated company, we constantly strive to provide all of our clients with an unsurpassed level of service and business insight. One of the rewards for this dedication is our ability to attract and secure top level talent like Tom to ensure this sustained level of service continues.”