SMP Group, Isle of Man, joins Russell Bedford International

LONDON, ENGLAND, June 08, 2011 (Press-News.org) SMP Group Limited has been appointed as the first Isle of Man member of the Russell Bedford International global accounting network.

The SMP Group is one of the largest trust and corporate services providers on the Isle of Man. SMP employs over 130 people and has over 3000 trust and corporate structures under management, clients in over 80 different countries and structures settled or incorporated in 60 international jurisdictions.

The group provides global trust and corporate services, accountancy, internal audit, tax and VAT consultancy, audit (through Matthew Edwards & Co., an independent firm of Chartered Accountants), fund administration and consultancy services in relation to e-commerce and e-gaming.

SMP was formed following a management buyout from the Fortis Intertrust Group (part of Fortis bank) in 2007 and has roots stretching back to 1980. The group is now independent, wholly owned by its seven executive directors and senior management team.

Steve McGowan is the Chairman of SMP. He has been with the company for twenty five years and specialises in international corporate structuring, business management and corporate governance.

Mark Denton is the Managing Director of SMP and has been with the company for over twenty years. During this time he has been responsible for a number of key areas including client services, compliance, operations and HR.

Paul Eckersley is a Chartered Accountant and has been Finance Director of SMP since 2002.

Martin Derbyshire is the Director responsible for Client and In-house Services. He spent four years with one of the larger international accounting firms prior to joining the business in 1994.

Oliver Peck joined the business as Trust Director in 2004. He was previously Managing Director of another trust company and had nine years with a major bank in both Dubai and London.

Justin Scott qualified as an ACA and CTA with one of the Big-4 in London prior to joining the business in 1998. He is now Tax Director and is responsible for both tax consultancy and tax compliance.

Stephen Turner is the Accounting Director responsible for accounting services. Stephen is an FCA who joined the business in 1998 following six years at one of the Big-4 and two years in industry.

David Hudson is the group's Business Development Director and has specific responsibility for the development of Specialist Services. David joined the business in 2005 and was promoted to the Board in January 2011.

Nigel Morris is the Principal of Matthew Edwards & Co. Nigel is an FCA and is responsible for the provision of audit services to a wide range of clients including the clients of SMP Group. He joined Matthew Edwards & Co. in 1998 after qualifying at one of the Big-4.

On the announcement of his group's new affiliation, SMP Chairman Steve McGowan commented, "We are delighted to become a member of Russell Bedford International. We look forward to working with other Russell Bedford member firms around the world and to extending the services of SMP Group to the network."

For further information, contact Stephen Turner on +44 1624 683216. Alternatively, visit the websites at http://www.smppartners.com and http://www.russellbedford.com .

Note to Editors

Established in 1983, Russell Bedford International is a global network of independent firms of accountants, auditors, tax advisers and business consultants.

Ranked amongst the world's leading accounting and audit networks, Russell Bedford is represented by some 460 partners, 5000 staff and 200 offices in more than 80 countries in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

All Russell Bedford affiliates are well-established firms offering international business advice and services to local and multinational clients.  Most provide a full range of services comprising accounting, auditing, tax advice, general business guidance and financial consulting.  In addition, many have special expertise in particular fields, such as international taxation or information technology.

In January 2008 Russell Bedford International was named one of the first 17 full members of the IFAC Forum of Firms after reporting it had implemented a globally coordinated quality assurance programme, committed to the use of International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), and met other specific ethics requirements.