Eight senior promotions at East Midlands business services group

Experts in business, payroll and tax will secure senior roles at Duncan & Toplis, one of the East Midlands’ biggest accountants and business advisers.

Chris Bradford is being appointed as a director at Duncan & Toplis, while Annette Stewart, Charlotte Peacock, Damon Tunnicliffe, Ellie Scotland, Emma Pendrigh, James Goodrich and Sally-Anne Hurn will all be promoted to associate director roles in the company.

They will each play a role in leading the company as it supports businesses and individuals across the East Midlands and beyond.

Adrian Reynolds, Managing Director of Duncan & Toplis, said:

“Despite an uncertain economic outlook, 2022 was a year of growth for Duncan & Toplis, and these promotions reflect our confidence and resilience as we look to the future.

“All of the candidates have demonstrated their individual passion for the role and the Duncan & Toplis group, and they’re committed to delivering on Our 2025 Vision.

“I am delighted for Chris, Annette, Charlotte, Damon, Ellie, Emma, James and Sally-Anne, and I am looking forward to seeing them flourish in their new senior roles.”

Leading the high-profile promotions, Chris Bradford will be appointed as business services director. Meanwhile, Annette Stewart, Emma Pendrigh, James Goodrich and Charlotte Peacock will become business services associate directors, Damon Tunnicliffe will become payroll associate director, Ellie Scotland is being promoted to tax associate director and Sally-Anne Hurn is being promoted to assurance associate director. The promotions are effective from 1 April 2023.

Duncan & Toplis is one of the largest accounting and business advisers in the East Midlands, employing almost 500 people and supporting more than 12,000 businesses and individuals. The organisation has been supporting local people and communities since it was established in 1925 through both its work supporting clients and its charitable efforts.

Chris Bradford joined Duncan & Toplis in 2009 after completing a degree in mathematics, accounting and financial management at Loughborough University. He specialises in non-routine assignments, such as accounts preparation for corporate underwriting and consolidated accounts. He became business services associate in 2022, and will now move into the role of business services director.

Annette Stewart has been with Duncan & Toplis since leaving school and has amassed over 20 years of experience in the business. Her specialism is in the healthcare sector supporting GP practices across the East Midlands, and she will move from her position as a manager to become a business services associate director. Emma Pendrigh has been with Duncan & Toplis since 2006 and is being promoted into her new role as business services associate director after her tenure as audit and accounts manager. Charlotte Peacock joined Duncan & Toplis as a graduate trainee in 2015. She will also be promoted to business services associate director. Annette, Emma and Charlotte will play a key role in the Duncan & Toplis business services team, which is the backbone of the group’s business advisory service offering.

James Goodrich first joined Duncan & Toplis as an accountant in 2008 and rejoined the company as an account manager in 2022, after seven years of building his experience at Queensgate Financial Management and Vertu Motors. He will bring his combined 15 years of experience to the position of business services associate director, enabling him to provide a proactive business advisory approach to his clients. James works with owner-managed businesses to help them better understand their financial position so they can make the most of opportunities including the introduction of management information, financial systems and controls, raising finance, helping clients buy or sell businesses as well as due diligence assignments.

Damon Tunnicliffe will move from his role as payroll manager to become payroll associate director, having joined Duncan & Toplis in 2008. An important leader in the payroll team, Damon will be responsible for delivering outsourced payroll services to clients, ensuring best practice is followed and processes are carried out accurately to reduce risk to businesses.

Ellie Scotland has been with Duncan & Toplis for over ten years, starting out as an accountant before progressing to tax supervisor and then tax manager. A key part of the Duncan & Toplis leadership team for corporate tax services, Ellie will now be promoted to tax associate director. The Duncan & Toplis tax team provides a specialist service that preempts and solves the problems presented by tax so that clients can focus on running their businesses.

Sally-Anne Hurn has worked for Duncan & Toplis since 2008 and looks after a varied portfolio of clients from small sole traders to large audit companies. She will move from her position as assurance manager to associate director for the audit and assurance team. Duncan & Toplis’ assurance and audit services are tailored to meet the specific needs of businesses whilst remaining fully compliant with statutory requirements.

For more information about Duncan & Toplis, visit www.duncantoplis.co.uk.