Forvis Mazars, specialising in audit and taxation services, has named Steve Abbott as the office managing partner (OMP) for its Manchester branch, succeeding Dave Hilton who has held this role for four years.

Hilton will continue with the firm in a new capacity, heading the national corporate finance team.

In the new role, Abbott has been tasked with shaping the firm’s business strategy in Manchester and deepening Forvis Mazars’ footprint in the area.

His priority will be fostering greater collaboration across various service areas, ensuring that businesses and individuals in the region can access all the services they need in a single location.

Abbott will also supervise the local team, now made up of 370 experts, including 18 partners.

In 2020, Abbott joined the company in the role of a Tax Partner. With more than 25 years of expertise, he presently leads Forvis Mazars’ Tax team in Manchester.

He focuses on advising entrepreneurial privately held businesses and smaller publicly listed firms and help them in achieving their expansion goals.

The team at the Manchester office delivers a broad array of services to businesses in the North West, covering areas such as healthcare, corporate finance consultancy, financial due diligence, restructuring, taxation, auditing, and risk advisory.

The company said that the audit practice has progressed in recent years, with increasing focus on public interest entities, privately owned businesses, the public sector, and financial services.

Forvis Mazars Manchester partner and OMP Steve Abbott said: “I’m delighted to be appointed Office Managing Partner for our Manchester office and to be entrusted with building on the growth we have enjoyed over recent years.

“We have a large team of talented people based in Manchester, and I hope to create a positive, collaborative environment which supports and facilitates their growth and development. This will ensure we continue to offer the highest quality of services to our current and prospective clients.”