We’re delighted to announce that Sophie Hoggard has been promoted to Audit Assistant Manager, working alongside Richard Hall and Tim Bennet to help lead the firm’s audit function.
Sophie has been with WDS for just over two years, working across year-end accounts, audits, and supporting the team with bookkeeping and VAT when needed. Since moving into audit at the start of 2025, she’s built strong relationships with clients across our Elland office and quickly become a trusted member of the team.
Tim Bennet, who Sophie will be working closely with in her new role, has seen her progress first-hand:
“Sophie has really engaged with the audit process since she started working on audits at the beginning of 2025, and has built up good relationships with the Elland audit clients during that time. She was among the first to work with our new audit software and has been proactively working to ensure our new-format audit files are completed to as high a standard as possible.”
What stands out most, according to Tim, is Sophie’s approach to the work itself:
“Sophie has been keen to ensure she understands the ‘why’ when it comes to audit procedures – how each test fits into the audit more widely, and how best to ensure the testing is tailored to each particular client. She is comfortable having open conversations with clients when she’s unsure of something or something doesn’t look right, and despite having had very little audit experience before 2025 is now able to work fairly autonomously on many audit areas.”
In her new role, Sophie will support Richard and Tim in managing the firm’s audit function – from setting up initial planning meetings with clients, to ensuring staff availability, carrying out reviews, and driving continued improvement in audit quality across all six WDS offices.
Sophie says she’s looking forward to the challenge:
“I’m really excited. It’ll be a new challenge and something I can really get stuck into and hopefully make a positive impact. I’m looking forward to working on audits for other offices and learning about the different companies we work for, and seeing how the audit team will develop and continue to grow.”
Her advice for others hoping to progress within the firm is simple:
“If there’s a job or area you’re wanting to work in, have the conversations and see what opportunities are out there.”
Congratulations, Sophie – well deserved!
