Commonwealth Games gold medalist Shirley McIntosh has been appointed as a partner in chartered accountants Saffery Champness’ Inverness office.
Ms McIntosh joins Saffery Champness from RSM where she was a partner and formerly head of tax for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
She brings with her more than three decades of experience advising high-net-worth clients, landed estates and rural businesses across Scotland and elsewhere on tax affairs.
Her background also extends across a range of accounting, tax and succession issues, including advising complex landed estates and family businesses on capital gains and inheritance tax processes, as well as partnerships and trusts.
Ms McIntosh qualified as a chartered accountant in 1990 and since then has worked for major international accounting firms, including Coopers & Lybrand and PwC.
Gold at 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada
Alongside her professional life, Ms McIntosh also pursued a successful career in sport, winning gold and silver medals in shooting at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada.
She also scooped two further bronzes four years later at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.
To add to the medal haul, Ms McIntosh also received the rare accolade of being the flag bearer for Scotland at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Canada.
“It was really exciting,” Ms McIntosh told the Press and Journal adding: “It was because I had won a gold and silver medal and at the time, that was the most successful female Scottish athlete at the Games.”
Picking up shooting medals clearly runs in the family as Shirley’s daughter Jennifer took two golds and a bronze at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, while other daughter, Seonaid secured two bronzes at Gold Coast 2018 in Australia before winning World Championship gold later that year.
Both girls also competed in the Olympics, while Shirley’s husband, Donald was also in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 after starting his shooting career in Elgin where he grew up.
Ms McIntosh was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1995 New Year’s Honours for services to the sport and was later inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.
‘Strong connection’ with the Highlands
Saffery Champness managing partner Matthew Burton said: “Welcoming an advisor of Shirley’s talent and reputation is a landmark moment for our team in Inverness, building on a legacy of providing tax advice and services to our client base in the region.
“This includes some of the largest, most complex and prestigious landed estates and rural businesses in the country.”
Ms McIntosh added: “Saffery Champness has a strong connection with the Highlands and its estates and businesses, built across many years of client service.
“I hope to bring my own perspective on this important market, developed over decades of advising individuals and businesses in Scotland on their tax affairs.”
The new partner still shoots domestically “just for fun” and has joined the Clachnacuddin Smallbore Rifle Club with her husband.
History goes back to 1855
Saffery Champness is an adviser to private clients and their business interests, providing accountancy, tax, audit, business advisory, trust and fiduciary services.
Founded in 1855 by Joseph John Saffery, it is currently the 15th largest accountancy firm by UK fee income.
