Southampton's PKF Francis Clark bolsters VAT and customs team with new director

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Tom Kilkelly

Joe Francis

Southampton-based accountancy firm PKF Francis Clark has strengthened its VAT and customs team through the appointment of director Joe Francis.

Joe will be based at the firm's offices in Southampton and Poole, he brings 20 years of experience in taxation to the role and specialises in indirect taxes.

Joining from Grant Thornton, Joe has spent most of his career with accountancy firms in the Southampton area.

Partner and head of VAT at PKF Francis Clark Simon Anslow said: “We’re delighted that Joe has joined our team. His specialist knowledge will be a great asset to the firm and our clients across a wide range of sectors. This is also a key appointment as we continue to grow the team at our new Southampton office.”

This appointment follows in line with a series of hires made by the firm, including the appointment of Subhash Sreedharan as chief information officer in March.

Commenting on his appointment, Joe said: “Since joining I’ve been really impressed with how tight-knit, friendly and knowledgeable the team is. Simon and I have collaborated on technical tax issues in the past and always got on really well, so I’m looking forward to working together to support clients with a variety of indirect tax matters, including the VAT implications of mergers, acquisitions and other transactions.

“I have a particular interest in the marine sector, where PKF Francis Clark is known for its expertise and has many clients, so the opportunity to do more specialist work in this area was another massive part of the firm’s appeal for me.”

Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022. During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan). His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.