A leading local accountancy expert has been appointed chairman of an influential network of firms specialising in the medical sector.
Deborah Wood, partner at MHA Moore and Smalley, was announced as chairman of the Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants (AISMA) on May 18.
AISMA is a network of UK accountancy firms specialising in the medical and healthcare sector which share knowledge, liaise with a number of government departments on key medical accountancy issues and promote the benefits of quality accountancy to doctors and medical practices.
Deborah has been involved with AISMA since it was established in 1995 and previously held the role of vice chair.
She said: “It has been a pleasure to work with and on behalf of AISMA over the past 25 years and I’m looking forward to what the next 25 hold for the organisation.
“As chairman, I would like to ensure that we continue developing the excellent relationships we have built with the British Medical Association, HMRC, NHS Pensions, NHS England/NHS Improvement, PCSE and their respective bodies and representatives in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“This will allow us to represent the views of all clients of AISMA member firms for the long term sustainability of general practice and to promote the benefits of having high quality, highly knowledgeable specialist accountants and advisors available to work with GPs and their practices.
“A key area of my role in AISMA to date has been to support the training needs of our member firms and I am keen to ensure this hugely beneficial programme continues.”
Deborah is resident partner at MHA Moore and Smalley’s Blackpool office and leads the firm’s specialist healthcare services department. She is also chairman of the Moore and Smalley partnership.
Using her expertise, she has led AISMA’s representation of the sector on a range of key issues particularly relating to the complexities of the NHS pension scheme. This has included responding to government consultations regarding the pension tax charge implications of annual allowance taper rules which were finally addressed in the last budget.
