Leading R&D incentives partner joins PKF Cooper Parry

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 30 August 2017

UPDATED: 30 August 2017

Chris Knott has joined PKF Cooper Parry as a tax partner. He is a specialist in R&D tax and other reliefs, and will lead PKF Cooper Parry’s R&D Incentives team across the Midlands.

PKF Cooper Parry - Chris Knott

 

Chris joins from EY Birmingham where he was head of their Innovation Incentives team in the Midlands. He has advised on R&D tax-relief claims and other incentives at Big Four firms for 17 years – since the R&D incentives were introduced.

He is a member of HMRC’s R&D Consultative Committee which means that he is fully engaged with the design and operation of HMRC’s R&D Incentives schemes in the UK. Membership of this Committee is reserved for specialist professionals and inspectors who have the experience required to contribute at this highest level.

Chris also has a first-class honours degree in mechanical and marine engineering, which allows him to speak fluently with both the financial and technical teams at claimant companies. This ability is complimented by his years of experience, and ensures that potential claimant companies, from a wide variety of sectors, obtain all the reliefs and credits they are due, rather than just the obvious qualifying activities. For example, Chris recently advised a well-known automotive company that previously handled its R&D relief claims internally. Chris doubled their claim. He has also advised on claims across an extensive range of sectors, from aerospace to automotive, manufacturing to food and chemicals to printing.

Simon Baines, partner and head of tax at PKF Cooper Parry, said: “Chris’s appointment is a major coup for us. His experience and specialist knowledge will be a huge asset for our clients as there is a massive opportunity for businesses to take advantage of the generous R&D reliefs that are available. Being able to attract Chris, a leading R&D specialist, shows our commitment to offering our clients the very best.’

Chris said: “I’m excited to be joining the fastest-growing and most innovative accountancy firm in the UK. PKF Cooper Parry has an incredible culture where everyone works together without the constraints of egos or individual targets which means that we can focus on providing an amazing service to our clients. From my experience, this is unique within our industry.”

He added: “I’m looking forward to meeting as many businesses as I can across the Midlands to make sure they're claiming all the R&D Incentives that they're due. More often than not businesses are either not claiming at all, or they’re underclaiming, so I will work with them to secure additional funds to reinvest into new and exciting projects.”

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