Cooper to leave E&Y

Prominent tax accountant Frank Cooper is planning to establish a boutique advisory practice after he leaves his current position at Ernst & Young in July.

Mr Cooper said the new firm would target individuals, large private companies and smaller public companies.

“It will focus on very strong personal advice with a strategic, business advisory element,” he said.

Mr Cooper has been a partner with Ernst & Young for three years and before that spent 28 years with Andersen, where he was managing partner of the Perth practice.

He said establishing his own practice would also make it easier to take up board director positions.

“I think Perth has a small number of really good board positions,” he said.

“I will have more flexibility to look at those sorts of things in a small firm. That was probably one of the main drivers for me.”

Ernst & Young managing partner Michael Minosora said existing staff in the firm’s corporate tax consulting practice, which has about 10 partners and 150 staff, would cover the loss of Mr Cooper.

Of the seven Andersen partners that joined EY in mid 2002, only three – Harold Payne, Rob Kirkby and Gavin Buckingham – will remain in the new financial year.