SIGNATURE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Associate Director
• Associate Director of Signature Tax

Adam is Associate Director of Signature Tax. He has over 15 years of experience in business management, with expertise in the IT sector. He delivered outstanding growth for several companies including his own business which he subsequently went on to sell prior to joining AMS. He joined AMS Accountants Group in 2013 and has been instrumental in the growth of the group operationally, developing theirs' IT strategy and improving efficiencies by over 56%. Adam is now a leader in our Signature Tax Team managing relationships with entrepreneur's, HNWI's, SME's and various accounting firms nationally.

Job Titles:

• Assistant Manager
• Corporate Finance
• Executive

Charlotte is an Assistant Manager in the Signature Corporate Finance team, having previously spent seven years at Grant Thornton across their audit and transaction services practices. Charlotte is an ACA qualified Chartered Accountant. Charlotte works with clients in the mid-market, advising on a wide range of transactions.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director

Colin joined Independent Tax from the Tax Disputes team of a Big 4 accountancy firm. Colin has spent 12 years working in a variety of roles at HMRC, including presenting cases at Tribunal for HMRC, investigating offshore evasion, as a Case Director in the Affluent Team and as a Senior ADR facilitator (Colin is a CEDR-accredited mediator). Colin spent time both before and after his stint at HMRC at the same Big 4 accountancy firm, as well as shorter stints at Grant Thornton and BPP Professional Training. Colin has spent most of his career immersed in HMRC investigations and associated issues in all their forms - COP9, local office, large business, HNW, employer compliance, avoidance). He can flex his style and approach to whatever the problem is and has been involved in cases and enquiries across all the taxes that HMRC administer. He uses the inside knowledge gained from his years in HMRC to the best advantage of his clients. Colin is hugely approachable and builds trusted relationships with clients. When not at work or ferrying his children about, he can be found watching Sheffield Wednesday, out with his dog or fly fishing.

Job Titles:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Chief Executive Officer of AMS Accountants Group

Ebrahim is the Chief Executive Officer of Signature Group. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor at KPMG, and after gaining extensive experience, he joined his father's accountancy practice (AMS Accountants) in 2011. Since joining Signature he has successfully grown our audit, tax, corporate finance and insolvency departments across our regional offices. Ebrahim is also the CEO of AMS Group, which is our accountants branch of the Signature Group. The ability to transform the AMS Group into a top 100 firm within a 5-year period has enabled Ebrahim to develop a unique skill set. Ebrahim has an excellent senior leadership team working alongside him to ensure a broad range of expertise and experience across every aspect of the accountancy field. Ebrahim has won numerous awards in recent years and is recognised by his peers and his mentors, including senior members of the business, political and social communities as a future ‘inspirational' leader with a key emphasis on philanthropy, and as a result has been voted as one of the top 100 most powerful Asian's within the UK. Ebrahim also runs the AMS Academy, which is focused on taking talented youngsters from disadvantaged communities with limited opportunity and helping them find careers within accounting. Ebrahim is the Chief Executive Officer of AMS Accountants Group. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor at KPMG, and after gaining extensive experience, he joined his father's accountancy practice (AMS Accountants) in 2011.

Job Titles:

• Director
• Trustee
• Associate Director in Signature Tax

Esmail is Associate Director in Signature Tax and is based in our London office. With a decade of banking experience with Nationwide Building Society and Al Rayan Bank (formerly known as the Islamic Bank of Britain), Esmail held various managerial roles to help develop client's business interests. Esmail is primarily responsible for managing the business development team at Signature Tax as well as managing relationships with entrepreneur's, HNWI's, SME's and various accounting firms across London and the Southeast. Outside of work, Esmail is a trustee of a few local educational and charitable institutions and likes to get involved within the local community.

Job Titles:

• Managing Partner

Gary was a senior investigating Inspector of Taxes at HMRC for 16 years prior to joining the profession. After leaving HMRC, he has specialised in handling HMRC on client matters, including investigations, enquiries and disputes. During that time, he has provided full litigation and tribunal support, and has an excellent track record with disclosures (onshore and offshore), securing excellent results for clients. Gary's clients have covered the full HMRC spectrum, from high net worth individuals through to some of the largest multi-national corporations and right across the owner-managed and self-employed sectors. Gary believes that there is no HMRC-related matter that he has not seen or has had some experience of. In addition to supporting clients through HMRC investigations, Gary has particular experience in supporting clients to pro-actively assess and understand their ‘tax compliance risk', navigating HMRC's risk-based assessment of large companies and high net worth individuals. He has assisted clients in achieving a ‘low risk' category with HMRC through a combination of skilled negotiation and identifying and undertaking specific remedial action carried out using HMRC methodologies. Additionally, Gary is an accredited expert witness specialising in HMRC, tax, and financial investigation matters. He has been instructed in a number of HMRC criminal prosecution matters and is one of very few ex-HMRC expert witnesses capable of approaching such matters in the full knowledge of HMRC's approaches and practices.

Job Titles:

• Corporate Finance
• Director

Gordon leads the Signature Corporate Finance team. He has over 25 years' experience in the North West corporate finance market, having previously led the BDO North West Corporate Finance team. As head of the team, Gordon leads the project and is focused on ensuring Signature delivers a first class, partner led service. Gordon will also lead engagement and negotiations with potential investors.

Job Titles:

• Corporate Finance
• Director

Ian is a Director in the Signature Corporate Finance team having previously held senior corporate finance roles at a Big 4 London practice and a regional accounting practice. Ian is focused on advising entrepreneurial clients on mid-market business disposals, acquisitions and private equity transactions. Ian has an Economics degree from Nottingham University, is an ICAS qualified Chartered Accountant and holds the joint CISI and ICAEW Corporate Finance designation.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director

Nabil has worked in R&D tax relief over the last decade across numerous industry sectors helping successfully drive corporation tax reliefs for large and SME-sized companies. Nabil helps businesses navigate the R&D tax relief yearly as the legislation evolves to ensure the companies remain both compliant and successful in their pursuit of introducing further resources for innovation whilst also benefiting the overall British economy.

Job Titles:

• Head of Group Strategy

Paul Lupton is the Head of Group Strategy and an Executive member of the Signature Group Advisory Board. He has over a professional career spanning over 30 years, undertaking several senior roles.

Job Titles:

• Chief of Staff

Sarina provides direct support to the CEO and directors, providing oversight and guidance for all divisions within the AMS Group. Some of Sarina's key roles are providing deep operational support, involvement in effective decision-making, managing integral projects for the business and coordinating the execution of strategic initiatives. Having qualified in accounting and achieving a Masters in International Commercial and Financial Law, Sarina is further broadening her knowledge by working towards her MBA at Harvard Business School, studying alongside her role at AMS.

Job Titles:

• Expert in the Field of Research
• R & D Director

Shenal Wijetunge is a seasoned expert in the field of Research and Development Tax Relief, possessing a decade of robust experience spanning both SME and large company schemes. His diverse sectoral experience, which includes life sciences, food and drink, chemicals, consumer products, IT, and oil and gas, has empowered him to secure successful claims for numerous companies. With a technical background in chemical and process engineering and hands on experience in Food and Drinks, FMCG, and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Shenal is uniquely positioned to identify eligible R&D costs, even beyond core R&D centres. His insightful strategies have led to the successful identification and claiming of millions of pounds in tax relief for his clients. Shenal not only holds extensive expertise in R&D tax relief but also excels supporting client through other innovation incentives such as Patent Box and Land Remediation Relief. Outside of his professional career, he a passionate photographer and cricket player. With Shenal, you can expect unparalleled expertise in maximising your tax relief whilst ensuring compliance and auditability, embracing an approach anchored in comprehensive industry knowledge.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director

Sobayha started with PWC. Although Sobayha advises on a wide range of taxes her specialism lies within estate and succession planning. Read More »