South: James Cowper Kreston shortlisted for prestigious tax award

James Cowper Kreston, the accountants and business advisers firm with offices across the south, has been shortlisted for a prestigious tax award.

The firm’s four-strong VAT team has been shortlisted for ‘Indirect Tax Team of the Year’ in the annual Taxation Magazine awards for its work in advising large international businesses on VAT compliance, and UK businesses on complex VAT issues including partial exemption. The team has a particular strength in identifying and correcting the errors made by other firms of accountants.  

Meera Rajah, director and head of VAT at James Cowper Kreston, said: “The VAT landscape is incredibly complex, particularly for UK businesses doing business internationally and for overseas businesses with a UK presence.  We have built a team which understands and can guide clients through this landscape.”  

Rajah joined the firm in October 2012 from Ryan, a global tax services firm, following a 14-year career in Customs.  In May 2015, Nigel Waterfield joined the firm following a 30-year-plus career at HMRC where he specialised in many areas of VAT. Two associates complete the team, demand for whose services has gone up by 625% during the past two years. 

Robert Holland, managing partner at James Cowper Kreston, commented: “The team has developed rapidly over the past two years into a technical powerhouse and a resource on which our clients have come to depend.”

Taxation Magazine is the authoritative voice for UK tax professionals, providing news and analysis on government and international tax policy.  Its annual awards seek to highlight the very best tax professionals from the world of accountancy, law and consulting. Its award winners will be announced on May 19 at a ceremony in London.