Smith & Williamson joins Sigma Partnership
Smith & Williamson, the accountancy and financial services group, will join operational due diligence specialist, Sigma Partnership and its consortium, which provides independent and bespoke legal and operational due diligence of alternative investment managers and their funds to institutional investors.
“We are delighted to be involved with Sigma Partnership, and be part of the consortium,” commented Natasha Lee, director of Assurance & Business Services at Smith & Williamson and head of its Financial Services & Markets Group. “The consortium will provide institutional investors with fee certainty, independence, relevant skills and expertise, added-value and professionalism that will be subject to rigorous standards of professional conduct and oversight.”
“Smith & Williamson provides a unique range of services ranging from accounting and auditing to investment management and private banking. We aim to offer a holistic service to our clients, meeting all of their needs and expectations. Sigma Partnership’s philosophy matches our firm’s culture and values and we are pleased to have joined a group whose ethos closely mirrors our own.”
The consortium provides in-depth coverage of legal, financial and accounting, tax, regulatory and compliance, risk management, corporate governance and internal control functions.
Sigma Partnership has brought together a multi-disciplinary team from a number of specialist international law firms and top tier global audit firms. Other members of the consortium include, DLA Piper, Norton Rose, Kaye Scholer, BDO and UHY Hacker Young, as well as specialist law firms in Ireland, Luxembourg, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the United States.
Matthew Crisp, partner at Sigma Partnership, said: “We are pleased to welcome Smith & Williamson to the consortium and look forward to their expertise when providing this unique and independent service to institutional investors. The consortium is bound by professional ethics and accepts responsibility for its findings providing institutional investors with added assurance.”
Sigma Partnership is planning a formal roll-out of the consortium in a series of invitation-only events to be held in London, Luxembourg, New York City and the Middle East in early 2010. Pricing structures for each engagement will be agreed on a case-by-case basis to reflect the bespoke nature of the engagement.
For more information contact:
Natasha Lee, director of Assurance and Business Services on 020 7131 4407
Email Natasha Lee
PR enquiries to:
Kate Harrison/ Jess Koslow 020 7131 4228/ 4264
Disclaimer
By necessity, this briefing can only provide a short overview and it is essential to seek professional advice before applying the contents of this article. No responsibility can be taken for any loss arising from action taken or refrained from on the basis of this publication. Details correct at time of writing.
Note to editor
Smith & Williamson is an independent professional and financial services group employing around 1,500 people. The group is a leading provider of investment management, financial advisory and accountancy services to private clients, professional practices and mid-to-large corporates. It operates from offices in London, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Glasgow, Guildford, Salisbury, Southampton and Worcester. Nexia Smith & Williamson is the audit practice of Smith & Williamson and is an independent company.
Smith & Williamson Limited
Regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. A member of Nexia International
Nexia Smith & Williamson Audit Limited
Registered to carry on audit work and regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of Investment business activities. A member of Nexia International
About Sigma Partnership
Sigma Partnership, a member firm of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, is the premier firm providing comprehensive compliance, accounting and tax advisory services to financial services firms, particularly hedge fund investment management and securities brokerage firms. Sigma Partnership also provides specialist operational due diligence services to investors. Further information is available at www.sigmallp.com.
