Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has appointed a new partner at its Bristol hub.

The national firm said the appointment of Phil Duma will strengthen its South West presence and national financial capability. Mr Duma brings over 20 years of experience advising entrepreneurial owner-managed businesses and private equity investors across the South West region, with a particular focus on the financial services sector. He joins from PwC and will be based in the firm’s Bristol hub.

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Mr Duma said: “The South West is a fantastic region, with entrepreneurial business owners at the heart of the local economy and deals market. BDO has an exceptional reputation for delivering a high-quality, partner-led service and I’m delighted to be joining such a strong and dynamic team, strengthening our position as a leader in the market.”

Derek Neil, head of transaction services at BDO, added: “Phil’s appointment is reflective of our ongoing strategic investment in talent in the South West. It has been another very active year for BDO in the region and a key aspect of our strategy is to build high quality local capacity to match the pace of business growth and opportunity we see in important regional markets.

“Financial services is also a key strategic focus for the firm and our investment in high quality advisory expertise enables us to help our clients navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments.

“Phil joins a market leading financial services transactions team that has advised on £3bn of deal value over the last two years and brings a great deal of experience with him. I have no doubt he will be a valuable addition to both our South West and financial services teams.”