Accountancy firm Kingston Smith has announced that Nick Brooks is stepping down, to be replaced by Neil Finlayson as the firm’s head of not-for-profit.

Nick Brooks (pictured), who has led the not-for-profit team for the past 20 years, said: “I am delighted to be handing over the reins to Neil, who I have worked closely with for many years and who I know will continue to lead the NFP group from strength to strength.”

Brooks said he is going to be focusing more on Kingston Smith’s consultancy services to the sector and on his sector commitments including the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and the Institute of Fundraising.

Finlayson has worked with a wide range of charities for more than 25 years, and helped to establish the MSc in Charity Finance, Grant-making and Fundraising course at Cass Business School at City University. He was also a founding member of Charity Finance Directors’ Group, now known as the Charity Finance Group.

On his appointment he said: “I am excited by the opportunity to lead this fantastic team at such a key time of growth for Kingston Smith. The sector is facing unprecedented challenges, with tougher fundraising regulations and a greater focus on charities being able to demonstrate their impact. With our unique fundraising offering and holistic range of NFP services including impact reporting, I am confident that we are ideally placed to support clients to meet these challenges.”