Ece Akser

I am a Tax Partner at BDO and part of a team specialising in Innovation and R&D incentives, which includes Patent Box and Grants. Since 2006, I have been predominantly involved in helping companies with R&D tax incentives for over 19 years, during that time managing claims for hundreds of businesses resulting in significant benefit to my clients. During this I have worked with the full range of companies, form start-ups through to large, multi-jurisdictional corporates.

I work closely with my clients and nurture these relationships to ensure they have what they need in respect innovation incentives but also their wider business Having graduated from Imperial College, London with a MEng and PhD in Material Science & Engineering, I worked at Procter & Gamble as a Senior Scientist for over 5 years before becoming an R&D practitioner. This experience gives me unique insight into R&D challenges companies face.

Within the Innovation and R&D Incentive Team, I am responsible for the Manufacturing & Industrials, Life Sciences, and Healthcare sectors. During my time as an R&D practitioner, I've worked across various sectors, including Manufacturing, Engineering, Automotive, Renewables, Infrastructure, Construction, Oil & Gas, Lifesciences and Automotive, to name a few.

With work-life balance becoming increasingly important for all of us, I have a newfound love of walking and love getting out with a good historical podcast – it's an opportunity to reflect, consider and recharge my mental batteries.