* Double housing win for accountancy firm

The Birmingham office of accountants and business advisers Mazars has picked up two new contracts with housing associations.

The firm has been awarded three year external audit appointments by Flagship Housing Group and Monmouthshire Housing Association.

And in another coup, the firm has been joined by the former Audit Commission’s housing inspectorate team, headed by Deborah Good, former head of housing and lead housing inspector – to be spread across the Birmingham, London and Bristol offices.

Glen Jones, Birmingham partner and UK head of housing sector services, said: “We are very pleased to have won both contracts. They will be handled out of our Birmingham office.

“Flagship is a very significant gain while Monmouthshire extends our housing sector work across Wales.”

Norwich-based Flagship Housing Group owns, manages and provides over 21,500 homes to people across East Anglia. A not-for-profit organisation, it also provides homes and services for older and more vulnerable people, and accommodation and training opportunities for 16-25 year olds.

Monmouthshire Housing Association, based in Mamhilad, was established in 2008 through a large scale voluntary transfer of the housing stock of Monmouthshire County Council. The association manages and maintains around 3,600 homes and 290 leasehold properties, as well as large numbers of garages and other land around and within its estates.

Mr Jones said: “Housing associations are a speciality sector which we continue to look to extend and grow.”

And he added: “We extend a welcome to the former Audit Commission housing inspectorate team. Their choice of Mazars shows the strength of our housing sector offer which will receive a further boost as a result.”

Ms Good’s team will be utilising their expertise across a number of areas including sharpening the focus on value for money.

She said: “Making the best use of the four million social rented homes and the private sector stock including greater mobility between the sectors is a key objective of Government policy.

“We have expertise in allocating homes, bringing empty properties back into use, addressing under and over occupation, providing more efficient and effective homelessness services and maximising the impact from resources and partnerships for both private and public sector housing.

“Many organisations are keen to better understand the likely impacts of both new policies and trends on people and places. Our analysis and research can provide support to fit your needs.”

* Catalyst adds new deal-maker

Catalyst Corporate Finance, the award-winning international corporate finance firm has recruited Simon Gillott to its deal making team.

The firm said this latest appointment is a reflection of its success over the last 12 months and how positively it views the current year, with three deal completions already in 2012.

Mr Gillott is a management graduate from the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology. As part of his degree he spent a year at Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Bordeaux in France. He joins Catalyst from KPMG where he gained his ACA in 2008.

Post-qualification, Mr Gillott gained experience in corporate finance advising on both buy and sell-side transactions, with a focus on the mid-market.

Managing partner Andy Currie said: “We continue to attract top quality candidates as we invest in our business. I am delighted that Simon has joined Catalyst.

“He will be an excellent addition to the team as we continue to win work throughout the UK.”