PKF Smith Cooper has added Beverley Scott to its senior tax leadership, naming her corporate tax partner as the firm seeks to strengthen its foothold in the West Midlands and broaden its corporate tax services. The move is part of a wider growth push, and Scott arrives with long experience advising owner-managed businesses across the region and the UK. Her hire is intended to boost the firm’s capability to serve mid-market companies and support an ambitious expansion plan.
Scott will work closely with the existing tax directors to lift the firm’s corporate tax offering and deepen its presence across the Midlands market. The appointment signals a strategic push to combine local market knowledge with a larger advisory platform. It also reflects PKF Smith Cooper’s effort to build a more rounded tax team that can handle complex needs for a variety of clients.
PKF Smith Cooper managing partner James Bagley said: “Bev’s appointment as tax partner is a major milestone for the firm as we push forward with our ambitious five-year plan to double in size. “Her extensive experience and keen understanding of the Midlands market make her an excellent addition to our leadership team.” These remarks underline that the hire is not just tactical but central to the firm’s growth ambitions.
Scott brings over two decades of tax experience, much of it focused on owner-managed businesses that form the backbone of the Midlands economy. Her background includes work with companies of different sizes, which gives her a practical perspective on issues from everyday compliance to cross-border structuring. That hands-on advisory history is valuable for a firm aiming to provide tailored tax solutions across sectors.
Before joining PKF Smith Cooper, Scott spent six and a half years at another Midlands-based organisation and previously held roles at two of the Big Four firms. Her career began at a boutique advisory practice where she supported a diverse client base, from smaller local firms to large international groups. That mix of boutique and big firm experience means she understands both personal client service and the processes needed for larger, more complex engagements.
Commenting on her appointment, Scott said: “I am delighted to be joining PKF Smith Cooper at such an exciting time in the firm’s growth. “With its strong and well-established presence in the wider Midlands region, I am looking forward to working alongside the leadership team to help further develop and strengthen the firm’s position across the West Midlands region, as well as further enhance the corporate tax offering across the firm.” Her statements emphasize a clear intent to roll out enhanced services while staying rooted in regional client relationships.
The firm has been active in bolstering its leadership recently, having expanded its Business Recovery and Restructuring unit last autumn with a senior appointment in the East Midlands. That earlier hire shows a pattern: PKF Smith Cooper is investing across advisory areas to capture more of the mid-market advisory work that regional businesses need. Strengthening tax capabilities now fits into that broader program of building multi-discipline teams that can support growth and restructuring alike.
For clients, Scott’s arrival should mean closer access to senior tax expertise without losing the local focus that matters to owner-managed firms. For the firm, it adds a recognized practitioner who can lead on commercial tax planning, transactional support and ongoing compliance for businesses operating in and beyond the Midlands. The appointment positions PKF Smith Cooper to compete for larger, more complex mandates while keeping service levels aimed at regional entrepreneurs and management teams.
