Shorts strengthens Tax team with appointment of new Tax Director

We're delighted to welcome Tom Wotton to Shorts as our newest Tax Director, meaning our Tax Advisory time now includes four tax partners and five tax directors - a level of specialist experience we’re incredibly proud of.

Tom joins us with an impressive background, and it was clear from our first meeting, that he’d be a brilliant fit for our team and for our clients.

Tom brings an established and respected career in practice, having progressed from Trainee to Partner at a respected regional accountancy firm. He’s also spent almost two years working within an M&A advisory business as Finance Director and Exit Partner, helping business owners navigate the emotional and strategic challenges of preparing for an exit.

This blend of practice and industry experience means Tom has seen first‑hand the human and commercial pressures behind big decisions and he knows how to support people through them with clarity, confidence, and empathy.

As Tom puts it, his aim is to give clients “confidence, clarity, and the sense that they have someone in their corner who understands both the technical and the human side of the decision in front of them.” We couldn’t think of a better way to describe how we want our clients to feel when they work with us.

Tom himself is excited about joining Shorts, telling us:

“I’m thrilled to be joining at such a dynamic time for the firm. I’m looking forward to supporting the continued growth of the Tax team and working closely with colleagues and clients to deliver proactive, forward‑thinking tax advice.”

As our Tax Partner, Scott Burkinshaw, put it:

“Tom’s appointment reflects our continued investment in high‑calibre people. His broad experience and high levels of expertise will be great assets to the team.”

Our Tax Advisory team has had an exceptionally busy year so far, and bringing Tom on board strengthens our ability to continue delivering the high‑quality, commercially grounded advice we’re known for.

Introducing Tom as a person

Away from tax, Tom is a big sports fan, although by his own admission, he spends more time watching than playing these days! He also plays the French Horn and enjoys practising his French and Spanish on unsuspecting locals when he’s abroad. We’re already enjoying having him around the office.

Tom’s appointment is another step forward as we continue to strengthen our specialist advisory services. After 135 years as an independent firm, our commitment to building a team of talented, passionate experts is stronger than ever and Tom is a fantastic example of that. We’re delighted to have him with us, and we know our clients will feel the same.