Mr Dean joins the accountancy and business advisory firm, bringing his 20 years of experience in private client tax. A Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) member, he also advises on a range of tax matters including residence, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, employment taxes, business tax issues, property taxes and share remuneration.

He is highly experienced in supporting family businesses and ensuring they have the most appropriate structures for both trading and succession. He also has a deep knowledge of the tax issues surrounding high value property ownership, investment and succession planning.

Mr Dean said: “Over the course of my career, I’ve watched Johnston Carmichael grow to become a highly successful firm with a great client base – and excitingly, it has the potential to grow even further.

“The firm’s reputation for doing the right thing for its people, clients and communities was also a major attraction and I look forward to working with various teams across the country. I’ve already been round many of the firm’s offices and I’ve had a great time meeting new people.”

Mr Dean, who sits on the ICAS Private Client committee and has held roles in the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) in the past, will play a leading role in supporting clients through a dynamic and evolving tax landscape. At the end of 2025, following widespread industry concern about reforms announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget, the UK government increased the new cap on 100% agricultural and business property reliefs (APR/BPR) from £1m to £2.5m. The changes are effective from April 2026.

He added: “There have been some huge tax changes over the last 12-18 months, especially for UK residents with non-domicile status and around inheritance tax, which saw further important reforms announced at the end of 2025.

“As the rules continue to evolve, it is vital that clients get advice on the best route for them to take, and even those who already have plans in place should make sure they are reviewing them regularly.”

Alex Docherty, tax partner and head of private client tax at the firm, said: “Alan joins our team at a crucial time, and we welcome the expertise he has in supporting both individuals and businesses.

“It’s never been more important for our clients to monitor and manage their tax affairs, and this is reflected in growing demand for our services across the UK.”

Alan is among a trilogy of new private client tax hires at Johnston Carmichael, with Gillian Pringle and David Smith joining as senior tax managers in Glasgow and Edinburgh respectively.

Johnston Carmichael has further invested in several strategic private client team promotions. In December 2025, Nicola Sargeant, based in Forfar, was promoted to Private Client Tax Director to strengthen the firm’s rural business offering. In 2024 Max Chassels became Private Client Tax Partner in Aberdeen and Chris Hodgson joined the team as Private Client Tax Director in Newcastle.