Leading chartered accountant and business adviser Wilkins Kennedy has appointed Andy Dawbarn as VAT partner.

Dawbarn joins Wilkins Kennedy from Baker Tilly. He is a qualified chartered tax adviser and has extensive experience in advising on the provision of a wide range of VAT services and tax issues across both the public and the private sectors. Having started his career in VAT with HM Customs & Excise (as it then was) 25 years ago, he then worked for over 15 years within the VAT departments of two of the Big Four firms.

Reporting to Ron Smith, managing partner, London, Dawbarn will be based within the tax department at the firm’s London office. He will lead the direction and delivery of VAT and other indirect tax advisory services to a broad industry range of domestic and international clients across Wilkins Kennedy’s 12 regional offices, including the property and financial services market, corporate finance, charity and not-for-profit sectors. His role will include advising and operational compliance, as well as department and resource development and expanding the existing client base.

Dawbarn said: “Whilst VAT was famously introduced as a simple tax, there is no doubt that it is becoming ever more complex. The degree of complexity coupled with the introduction of the new penalty regime means that mistakes can prove to be extremely costly. Part of the Wilkins Kennedy offering is to ensure our clients minimise the risk of such errors as well as help them through the bewildering array of regulations and administration now involved in being VAT registered. We aim to provide practical advice on VAT matters that will also make commercial sense to our clients. I know Wilkins Kennedy have an excellent reputation across the marketplace, and I am delighted to join this continually growing partner-led firm.”

Colin Wiseman, managing partner, added: “Wilkins Kennedy are dedicated leading accountants and business advisers in the South of England. Despite a challenging economic environment, we continue to grow and expand our service offering, and consistently attract highly skilled and motivated professionals to the team. We would like to warmly welcome Andy to the London office and to the firm generally.”