Experts from accountancy group Smith & Williamson’s Bristol office have helped the firm win a place on the body that protects employees’ pensions if their companies go bust.
The firm’s pensions assurance team is now advising the Pension Protection Fund’s (PPF) updated Audit Services Panel. 
The PPF protects millions of people across the UK who belong to defined benefit pension schemes. If their employers go into insolvency, and their pension schemes have insufficient assets, the PPF will pay compensation to members.
The PPF is a public corporation, set up by the Pensions Act 2004, and is run by an independent board.
The updated panel is made up of four audit firms and exists to ensure that pension schemes progress through their assessment period for entry into the PPF as efficiently as possible.
The successful tender for the panel was led by Smith & Williamson Bristol-based partner Matthew Maneely, who is also head of the firm’s pensions assurance team.
Mr Maneely, pictured, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed and are looking forward to developing long-standing and collaborative relationships with the PPF, fellow panellists and other panels already in operation.
“Our pensions assurance team has two key differentiating factors. It works exclusively on pensions assurance assignments and the team includes ex-pension scheme administrators.
“This industry experience together with our total focus on pension assurance work gives us a rare breadth and depth of experience.”
Smith & Williamson employs around 200 people in its Bristol office.
