THE Southampton office of accountants and business advisory firm Mazars has added to its base of in-house experts with the appointment of a senior tax manager.

Richard Meller, 29, from Verwood in Dorset, has a degree in accountancy and is a qualified chartered accountant.

He has also passed the gruelling Chartered Tax Advisor exams and boasts seven years experience as a corporate tax manager.

He will divide his time between the firm's two south coast offices in Southampton and Poole.

Richard said: "My role is to help support the portfolio of Mazars' clients in Hampshire who have more complex tax affairs which can arise in matters such as company acquisitions and disposals. The work is extremely stimulating because of the varied client portfolio and the fact that no two days are the same as tax issues are often so unique."

Zoe Huxtable, director at Mazars in Southampton, said: "We are delighted to have a specialist of Richard's calibre joining our firm."