Azets, the top 10 national accountancy firm, has made three senior appointments in its Bristol office just seven months after it opened.
Duncan Stratford and Adam Garside have been appointed as partners while Julia Ross has joined as a director. 
Azets, which has 88 offices across the UK, has grown a team of specialists in tax, audit and business advisory since moving into the office on Bristol’s Temple Back East.
Duncan Stratford, who has more than 27 years’ experience, joins as a partner in the audit team, having spent his entire career at PWC (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers) in Bristol, most recently as a senior director.
A Chartered Accountant, Duncan was president of the ICAEW in the West of England region in 2016/17 and remains a regional board member.
Having worked with a range of clients across different sectors, he specialises in advising technology, manufacturing and service-based businesses as well as private and internationally owned businesses and listed groups.
His arrival at Azets in Bristol follows that of Iain Sanderson, who has joined as a tax partner when the office opened having also spent the 27 years working in PwC’s Bristol office.
Adam Garside has joined as a forensic accounting partner. A Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years’ experience, arrives from Control Risks, the London-based global risk and strategic consulting firm specialising in political, security and integrity risk, where he spent just over two-and-a-half years as a director.
He has also worked at global accountancy group KPMG in London and Australia and as a self-employed forensic accountant.
He has conducted investigations into suspected fraud, misconduct, bribery and corruption on the ground in more than 15 countries.
He as been ranked by Who’s Who Legal as a ‘Future Leader in Investigations’ and sits on the Advisory Panel of the Association of Corporate Investigators.
Julia, a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor, joins Azets from her role as a senior tax manager at accountancy group EY’s Bristol office, where she spent more than 13 years.
She has experience across a broad range of corporate tax areas covering international tax, due diligence, transaction advisory, tax compliance, tax accounting and tax audit.
Her passion is working with businesses in the South West and supporting them through growth and helping them achieve their potential.
Azets Bristol-based regional managing director Richard Goddard said Bristol was the second new office it had opened in the region, following the success of Plymouth which launched in 2022.
“In just over six months, it’s amazing to have grown the team, and these senior appointments are another great step towards our goal for strategic development,” he added.
“These appointments, and the continued collaboration across our offices in the Central and West region, allow us to offer a full range of accounting and advisory services with an incredibly experienced and dynamic team.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome Duncan, Adam and Julia, as our region continues to go from strength to strength.”
Azets has 10 offices across the South West and Wales, including in Gloucester, Cardiff and Swansea.
Pictured, below: Front row – Azets regional managing director Richard Goddard and regional managing partner Claire Clift. Back row – director Julia Ross. partners Iain Sanderson and Adam Garside, assistant Kate Johnson and partner Duncan Stratford
