haysmacintyre, a top 25 firm of chartered accountants and tax advisors, is delighted to announce the promotion of Brendan O’Connor and Karen Allan to Director in its pensions and financial services teams respectively.

With over 25 years of experience auditing a wide range of occupational pension schemes, Brendan joined haysmacintyre in 2008. He specialises in the audit of pension schemes and delivers technical training within this space.

Brendan also provides technical accounting advice to clients and third party administrators, and is actively involved with a number of external sector working parties.

Having trained and qualified with haysmacintyre, Karen primarily works within the firm’s Financial Services sector. She acts for hedge fund managers, corporate finance boutiques and private equity managers, particularly those regulated with the Financial Conduct Authority.

As well as acting on audit engagements, Karen has worked with a number of new start-up managers, assisting with track record reporting and other procedures and often acts in the capacity of a business advisor beyond the audit.

Jeremy Beard, Managing Partner at haysmacintyre, comments: “We are delighted to be promoting Brendan and Karen. They have both played an invaluable role in their respective teams, and I have no doubt that they will excel in their new positions and help the firm go from strength to strength.”

Brendan added: “Hard work and ambition are both recognised and rewarded at haysmacintyre, which our promotions reflect. I am excited to help the firm grow its presence in the pension scheme audit and accounting environment and look forward to my future with haysmacintyre.”

Karen added: “I am both delighted and proud to become a Director at the firm I trained and qualified with. The community and people have and continue to provide invaluable support throughout my career and I am thrilled to be embarking on a new chapter within the firm.”