Dow Schofield Watts (“DSW”), the leading specialist professional advisory and equity finance firm, is delighted to announce the appointment of Jeff Gardner as a Director in its Transaction Services team. He will be based in the Yorkshire & North East office.
Jeff qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC in 2002 and is a long-standing member of the Yorkshire deal advisory community. Following seven years in PwC’s Transaction Services team Jeff joined Morrisons Plc as a Strategy Consultant in 2014. This role involved Jeff working closely with the Board and responsibilities included corporate strategy, annual planning and operational strategy.
Originally established in 2008, DSW’s nine-strong Transaction Services team provides financial due diligence advisory services to a wide range of clients across the North of England on buy-side, sell-side, and refinancing transactions. Jeff joins the Yorkshire & North East Transaction Services practice established in 2014 by Rob McCarthy.
DSW’s Yorkshire & North East office was set up in 2012 by former Deloitte partner, Roger Esler, providing Corporate Finance Advisory services to businesses, management teams and investors. The multi-service line office now also provides Forensic advisory led by partner Kate Beckett and VAT advisory led by partner Jacqui Wells. Tony Norwood, Corporate Finance Director, also sources and structures investment opportunities for PHD Equity Partners (“PHD”), the fund management arm of DSW, which launched its second private equity fund of £20m in late 2014.
Commenting on Jeff’s arrival, Rob said: “Jeff’s appointment demonstrates our commitment to the Yorkshire and North East region as we continue to build our financial due diligence team. Jeff’s considerable deal experience reinforces our unique reputation of delivering senior led client advice in our transaction services business.”
Jeff commented: “I am delighted to be joining DSW at this exciting time of growth. DSW Transaction Services has a fantastic, well established team who has proved there is a real appetite for DSW’s unique proposition in the regional market. I can’t wait to be part of this and start working closely with private equity, funders and businesses across Yorkshire and the North East.”
DSW founding partner, James Dow, commented: “We are pleased to welcome someone of Jeff’s calibre and expertise to DSW. His senior hands-on industry experience and significant profile across the regional market, will build on the momentum we have achieved in our Due Diligence Services, and indeed the wider professional services we offer.”
About Dow Schofield Watts
Established in 2002, the corporate finance arm of Dow Schofield Watts has advised on 160 deals with a combined value of over £3.3 billion and as built an experienced team of 18 senior corporate finance professionals.
Dow Schofield Watts with offices in the North West and North East of England, has a talented team of 42 professionals who provide a broad range of professional services, including corporate finance, transaction services, business recovery, management and strategy, VAT advisory, and forensic services.
About Dow Schofield Watts Transaction Services
Established in 2008, Dow Schofield Watts Transaction Services has swiftly become a leading provider in the Northern M&A market. The team of predominantly ex-PwC and KPMG specialist chartered accountants operates from offices in Cheshire and Leeds, and has a wealth of experience across a variety of service offerings, in particular buy-side due diligence, vendor due diligence, working capital reviews, completion accounts reviews and vendor assistance.
The team provides tailored and flexible services to private equity houses, venture capitalists, acquisitive corporates, banks and asset based lenders, and have significant experience across all industry sectors.
