Member Article

Senior promotions to drive Welsh accountants' expansion

Amanda Kruger has been promoted to Audit Director at Baldwins Accountants on Dunleavy Drive, Cardiff.

She will be responsible for helping to grow the office’s client base while leading the firm’s audit department alongside Director Carol Warburton, which looks after businesses of varying sizes both in the public and private sectors.

Welsh-born Amanda has more than 30 years of accounting and auditing experience.

It is the latest appointment at Baldwins, based at the Counting House in Dunleavy Drive, since they acquired KTS Owens Thomas last year, where Amanda previously spent ten years as a Senior Manager and an Associate Director.

“I have always strived to challenge myself and be the best that I could be” said Amanda. “This has involved taking a strategic approach to my career where I have selected roles to gain as much experience as possible – so I’m very proud and excited to have been given this opportunity.”

When asked about current challenges facing businesses, Amanda mentioned the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) that come into effect on May 25, 2018.

One of the key changes will require businesses to only be able to process people’s data if they have pro-actively opted in with their consent. Businesses found to be contravening the new regulations could face fines, warnings and /or reprimands.

Amanda added: “The impact of businesses not complying with this regulation could therefore be costly if they are not compliant with the new regulations.

“If you’re a business owner and you haven’t started preparations yet then don’t worry, there will be a settling in period after May 25 and it’s important that you can demonstrate that you have a plan in place. An attitude of doing all you can to comply will be much more favourable than a blatant disregard towards the General Data Protection Regulation obligations.”

Baldwins, a CogitalGroup company, is one of the UK’s leading business services groups. Currently, CogitalGroup has 4,700 people operating from 150 offices in seven countries, with revenue in excess of £320 million.

David Owens, Regional Managing Director for the South West at Baldwins, added: “Having somebody of Amanda’s calibre on board is a valuable string to our Cardiff office’s bow.

“Her personal ambition and enthusiasm for her work means she is a fantastic role model for our younger members of staff who are looking to progress in their own careers.

“I look forward to working with Amanda in expanding our Cardiff office’s reach throughout South Wales.”

Meanwhile, in the Baldwins Aberdare office, it was announced that Karra Yanez has been promoted to Assistant Senior Manager.

She has been with the firm for a decade and is widely experienced in providing tax and business planning, book work and year-end accounting support for a wide variety of SMEs across the valleys and South Wales.

Jonathan Rees, Director, Baldwins, said: “Karra’s promotion is a prime example of the success and rapid growth of Baldwins and the huge variety of challenges and opportunities we can offer to talented people with the drive and enthusiasm to advance and develop their career.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .