Search: financial focus

Pre-tax profit at Clydesdale Bank increased 53 per cent to £133 million in the six months to March according to new figures released as the Glasgow-based bank searches for a new owner. The bank is to be demerged from its parent, the National Australia Bank (Nab), through a flotation on the London S

Jim Brown Royal Bank of Scotland has announced that John Maltby will step down from his role as chief executive at Williams & Glyn, the challenger bank that RBS was forced to create as a result of rules relating to its Government bail-out at the height of the financial crisis.

Murray Shaw Law firm Gillespie Macandrew has announced major changes to its leadership team, with Murray Shaw becoming chairman and Chris West taking over as chief executive from Ian Turnbull.

Johnston Carmichael is to enhance its integrated employment solutions offering with the strategic appointment of Richard Britten. Mr Britten (pictured), a seasoned tax and national insurance professional, has accumulated more than 20 years’ experience in international tax and employment taxation w

Former employees of BGL Contracts Ltd are preparing to commence a protective award claim following the company's collapse into administration and the loss of jobs. BGL Contracts Ltd, a Glasgow-based electrical fit-out contractor providing subcontracting services to clients across the leisure, hospit

Professional services firm, AAB, has announced the promotion of three directors to partner, effective from 1 July 2026. Natalie Boyle (Glasgow), Graeme Robertson (Aberdeen) and Gregor McCallan (Aberdeen) have each been promoted to partner. The promotions are part of over 70 progressions for team mem

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) has announced the winners of its annual CA Rising Stars competition, recognising the brightest young talent from across the global accountancy profession. At a prestigious awards ceremony at London’s Oxo Tower, Jemima Jacobs CA –

A growing number of Scottish businesses say trading conditions are deteriorating, according to fresh data from MFMac’s business sentiment tracker, The View. The biannual survey of Scottish corporates found that one quarter (25%) of respondents said their most recent financial year had gone wor

New lending data from Funding Circle has signalled a shift in how SMEs use external finance, with borrowing for tax payments, working capital and debt refinancing all rising significantly, while growth-focused lending loses ground. The findings, based on analysis of 2025 data, carry practical implic

The Bank of England (BoE) is minded to hold interest rates steady despite the inflationary pressures triggered by the Middle East conflict, as Governor Andrew Bailey confirmed that the withdrawal of anticipated rate cuts has already effectively tightened monetary policy. Speaking at the Reykjav&iacu

Sumer, one of the UK’s largest accounting firms, has paused its potential £1 billion auction despite attracting significant market interest from private equity investors. Founded in 2022 by former KPMG chief operating officer Warren Mead, the firm has rapidly expanded through a consolida

NatWest Group has become the first UK bank to launch a dedicated application to assist homebuyers within ChatGPT. This development allows both existing customers and prospective homebuyers to access tailored mortgage and home-buying guidance directly through the AI platform.

MML Law has advised on the sale of Dundee Press Agency to Hero Media & Entertainment, supporting a significant transition for one of Scotland’s best-known specialist publishing businesses. Founded by Graham Ogilvy more than 40 years ago, Dundee Press Agency has grown into a major publishin

Lloyds Banking Group has completed the first-known experiment into how quantum computing could help to identify money mules, marking a major step in building the skills and technology needed to tackle economic crime in the future. Lloyds Banking Group conducted an experiment that focused on money mu