Based in the firm’s Edinburgh office, Mr Garside will support Scottish businesses seeking commercial, strategic finance packages, including invoice financing, asset-based lending and raising new or additional finance.

He joins Azets from Skipton Business Finance and brings extensive experience from a financial services career that includes senior roles at Virgin Money (Clydesdale Bank), Barclays Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest.

Greig McKnight, regional managing director for Azets in Scotland, who specialises in audit and assurance, said: “The appointment of Matt as a debt advisory director here in Scotland reflects the increased demand from businesses for structured finance packages that can lessen cost pressures and unlock new opportunities.”

The appointment forms part of a wider growth strategy that has seen the firm’s UK debt advisory team expand from seven to ten members, with a second director, Lyle Ammon, also joining to cover the South of England.