Scrutton Bland has strengthened their Business Advisory team with the appointment of Ben Cussons as Director. Ben has been with Scrutton Bland since 2011 and has a large portfolio of clients across the region.

Ben specialises in providing targeted business finance advice to clients of all sizes, in particular regarding those operating in the construction industry. With a family background in the building trade, and a father who ran his own construction business, Ben has hands-on experience of what is involved in running a business.

“I understand the stresses and problems that business owners are facing at the moment,” says Ben. “More importantly I can bring in the professional expertise of our teams to help with digital accounting, tax filing, year-end accounting, tax planning and strategic advice.” Ben is also part of the team delivering Scrutton Bland’s cloud-accounting services to businesses, helping them to move from traditional paper-based accounting to digital bookkeeping – a cost-efficient service that has been very popular with local businesses grappling with the requirements of the government’s Making Tax Digital initiative.

Scrutton Bland’s Business Advisory team is based across their Ipswich, Colchester, Cambridge and Diss offices, and Ben will be spending much of his time in the Diss office. “I know that the Scrutton Bland in Diss (formerly known as Merrick Hill) have a fantastic reputation for their insurance services,” says Ben. “I want to bring in more of our accountancy expertise alongside all that insurance knowledge, so we can offer a more rounded service to our clients in south Norfolk and north Suffolk.”

Outside of work Ben is heavily involved in the local football club at Scole, and has been putting his building skills to good use by renovating his house in Diss.

Jason Fayers, Scrutton Bland’s Managing Partner commented: “This appointment is very well deserved – our Business Advisory team has developed and grown in recent years and shows our commitment to growth in the region.”

James Tucker, Business Advisory Partner at Scrutton Bland added: “Ben’s knowledge and experience has helped build up a large portfolio of Business Advisory clients of all sizes, and he has an excellent record of delivering constructive advice in a way which is both considered and practical. I am delighted that he has reached director level with Scrutton Bland.”