Simon Gray | Head of Business | ICAEW

Simon is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and ICAEW member who qualified with KPMG in Nottingham. After many years of volunteering, including District Society President, Chair of the Business Committee and Council Member, he joined ICAEW as Head of Business in December 2021. His background is in the recruitment, careers, membership and inward investment sectors. Simon has started and run his own businesses and served as a Non-Executive Director.

Jake Jones | Finance Manager | NorthEdge

Jake is Finance Manager at NorthEdge Capital LLP. NorthEdge is a lower mid market Private Equity house headquartered in Manchester. NorthEdge manages over £900m of private equity funds aimed at lower-mid market buy-out and development capital transactions in the Technology, Healthcare and Business Services sectors.

NorthEdge understands the engines of the regional economy because it is one.

Having been with NorthEdge since 2014, starting as an Office Administrator, Jake has trained and qualified with NorthEdge, firstly as an AAT and more recently as a Chartered Accountant. Jake has over 7 years’ experience within the Finance function of Private Equity, specialising in Fund Reporting, Management Accounting, Tax reporting and supporting with portfolio monitoring and analysis. Jake heads up a team of three qualified and part-qualified accountants. Jake’s role also encompasses various operational responsibilities across HR, IT, property and insurance.

Nicola Meritt | CEO | Cortus Advisory Group

Nicola Merritt is the visionary CEO and founder of Cortus Advisory Group, a multi-award-winning M&A boutique consultancy renowned for its innovative approach to deal-making. After a successful tenure at KPMG and DSW, Nicola launched Cortus from her spare bedroom with a bold mission to "Do Deals Differently." In just four years, she has grown the firm into a thriving business with six UK offices, eight partners, five distinct service lines, and an enviable client portfolio.

An experienced entrepreneur, Nicola is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of expertise in the M&A sector, combining deep technical knowledge with strategic leadership.

Nicola’s industry impact has been widely recognised: she was named “Changemaker of the Year” by BusinessDesk in 2023 and became the first female in the UK to receive the prestigious “Rainmaker of the Year” award in 2024. She also features in Insider Media’s North West Power Professionals Top 50 and Business Cloud’s Top 200 Northern Leaders.

Passionate about building businesses, delivering exceptional client service, and leading by example, Nicola is dedicated to empowering others to achieve their ambitions and driving excellence in the M&A industry.