Begbies Traynor strengthens North East operation with partner promotion

Leading professional services firm Begbies Traynor has promoted Gillian Sayburn to partner, working across the North East.

With 17 years’ experience in insolvency, Gillian has spent the last 10 years working with fellow partner, Gerald Krasner, to lead the development of the firm’s presence in the region, helping to establish Begbies Traynor’s offices in Newcastle upon Tyne and in Teesside. 

A licensed insolvency practitioner and ACCA qualified chartered accountant, Gillian is originally from the North East and joined Begbies Traynor in 1999, spending five years at the group’s head office in Manchester and four years at its Nottingham office before returning to the region. She previously worked for a global accountancy and professional services firm.   

Gillian specialises in corporate rescue and recovery, assisting company directors who are experiencing cash flow and financial problems in their businesses. With experience of working with a wide range of companies including shops, restaurants, bars, training providers, electricians, builders, and manufacturing companies, her experience covers corporate rescue and recovery, business investigations, review work and funding solutions.

Gillian was appointed as chairperson of the ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Northern Counties Panel in 2016.

Julian Pitts, regional managing partner for Begbies Traynor in the North East and Yorkshire, said: “Having worked in the North East for over ten years, Gillian has become well-known among businesses, individuals and professional advisers for her insolvency expertise.  She has played a key role in growing our operation across the region and this promotion is testimony to her commitment and hard work.”

Gillian Sayburn added: “With offices in both Newcastle and Stockton-on-Tees, Begbies Traynor has excellent reach across the North East and we have been able to grow our reputation as an independent rescue, recovery and advisory firm that businesses can trust.

“With ongoing economic uncertainty around Brexit and rising interest rates, businesses are continuing to face some challenging times and need to know there is somewhere they can turn for expert and objective advice.”

Begbies Traynor has offices in Cathedral Buildings on Dean Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, and in Stockton-on-Tees.  The group currently has nine offices and employs around 100 staff in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber.  It offers a full range of professional services including corporate recovery, investigations and risk, forensic accounting advice, property, funding, debt collection and personal insolvency.