Key Points
- Chloe Fisher has joined PKF Smith Cooper as a corporate finance manager in its Midlands team, effective April 2026.
- She will focus on M&A advisory work, supporting growth investment, disposals, debt advisory and acquisitions for management teams across the West Midlands and other regions.
- The appointment comes amid a period of increased deal activity, with the firm’s corporate finance team having completed transactions totalling around £400 million in 2025.
- Fisher started her career in audit at a Big Four firm, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant before moving into mergers and acquisitions.
- Corporate finance partner Darren Hodson said Fisher’s experience advising owner‑managed businesses positions her to “hit the ground running” as the firm expects continued growth in sell‑side mandates, debt advisory and investment work.
- The hire follows wider expansion in PKF Smith Cooper’s transaction services team and reflects a broader momentum in the M&A market across the UK mid‑market.
What is the latest move at PKF Smith Cooper?
Chloe Fisher has joined PKF Smith Cooper as corporate finance manager, strengthening the firm’s Midlands corporate finance team as deal activity continues to rise. As reported by the accountancy publication Accountancy Today, Fisher’s appointment is part of an effort to expand the firm’s M&A advisory offering at a time when the market is seeing renewed momentum.
According to a LinkedIn post by PKF Smith Cooper, Fisher is joining the West Midlands team, where she will work alongside existing partners and senior managers on a range of corporate finance assignments. The firm’s own update notes that the addition of a senior deals professional comes as the corporate finance team has completed transactions totalling around £400 million in 2025, underlining the scale of activity Fisher is stepping into.
What will Chloe Fisher do in her new role?
In her new role as corporate finance manager, Chloe Fisher will support PKF Smith Cooper’s M&A advisory work, focusing on growth investment, disposals, debt advisory and acquisitions. As outlined by Accountancy Today, her responsibilities will include advising management teams across the West Midlands and other regions, helping them navigate complex transactions and capital‑structure decisions.
A LinkedIn post by PKF Smith Cooper explains that Fisher will contribute to the firm’s mid‑market advisory offering, particularly for owner‑managed and privately owned businesses. The firm flags that her experience in advising such clients will be put to immediate use as it expects to see further growth in sell‑side mandates, debt advisory, acquisition support and investment‑related work over the coming months.
Why is this hire significant for the Midlands market?
The appointment of Chloe Fisher is being framed by covers in Accountancy Today and regional business title The Business Desk as a sign of strengthening momentum in the Midlands corporate finance and M&A space. With more than £400 million in completed transactions in 2025, PKF Smith Cooper’s corporate finance team is entering 2026 with a busy pipeline, and Fisher’s hire is intended to help meet rising client demand.
According to The Business Desk, the firm is positioning itself to capitalise on “a wave of mid‑market activity”, including both domestic and cross‑border transactions, by bolstering its senior‑level bench. Corporate finance partner Darren Hodson is quoted by Accountancy Today as saying: “We are delighted to welcome Chloe to the team. As market activity continues to strengthen, we have a busy year ahead and Chloe’s experience in advising owner‑managed businesses means she will be able to hit the ground running.”
What is Chloe Fisher’s background?
Chloe Fisher began her professional career in audit at a Big Four firm, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant, before moving into mergers and acquisitions. As detailed in PKF Smith Cooper’s internal LinkedIn announcement, this early experience in audit and corporate reporting gave her a strong foundation before she transitioned into deal‑oriented work.
Her later career has focused on M&A advisory, where she has worked with owner‑managed businesses and mid‑market companies, helping them through transactions, valuations, and capital‑raising exercises. Accountancy Today notes that this background aligns closely with the type of client base PKF Smith Cooper is targeting in the Midlands, and is why senior leaders believe she will be able to integrate quickly into the existing team.
How does this appointment fit into PKF Smith Cooper’s growth strategy?
The recruitment of Chloe Fisher follows broader expansion within PKF Smith Cooper’s transaction services and corporate finance functions, as highlighted by coverage in Accountancy Today and The Business Desk. Earlier communications from the firm have pointed to investment in talent across audit, tax and corporate finance, including a record number of promotions in 2023, which signals an ongoing strategy of strengthening senior‑level expertise.
According to The Business Desk, the Midlands firm is aiming to become a go‑to adviser for mid‑market transactions in the region, particularly for companies looking to sell, raise growth capital or refinance. A LinkedIn update by PKF Smith Cooper notes that Fisher joins at “a time of great momentum and growth” for the corporate finance team, suggesting that her role will be central to scaling deal‑support capacity.
What does this mean for clients and professionals in the region?
For clients, the arrival of Chloe Fisher at PKF Smith Cooper signals access to a senior‑level M&A and corporate finance specialist with Big Four‑trained technical grounding and hands‑on deal experience. As reported by Accountancy Today, the firm is positioning her to support management teams on both strategic and execution‑level decisions, including structuring deals, managing due diligence, and engaging with investors and lenders.
For professionals in the region, the move highlights a tightening labour market for corporate finance and transaction‑advisory talent, where firms are actively recruiting senior practitioners to support a growing deal pipeline. Those looking to build or switch into roles in M&A, financial advisory or corporate finance may benefit from targeted upskilling, particularly in areas such as valuation, deal structuring and cross‑border advisory, which are increasingly in demand among mid‑market advisers like PKF Smith Cooper.
For those aiming to enter or advance in transaction‑focused roles, corporate finance and financial advisory training can help bridge the gap between technical accounting skills and live deal environments, equipping professionals with the frameworks they will encounter in firms like PKF Smith Cooper.