New CIOT Council Member: Peter Coulthard, MA (Cantab), CA CTA

Peter trained as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young in tax and became a CIOT member in 2012, receiving multiple awards for exam performance. After two years in a UK-based family office/PE venture, he returned to EY in 2014, working in Transaction Tax on corporate transactions and supporting the creation of EY’s UK Family Office practice.

Over the past 12 years, he has focused on large corporate M&A transactions with a UK and international scope. He became a Partner in 2021 and now specialises in complex cross-border M&A tax matters. He also leads EY’s Global Transaction Tax Advisory Centre of Excellence and is the UK Fintech Tax and Law Leader.

Peter has been involved with the CIOT Examinations Committee since 2018 and is currently Vice-Chair. He chaired the CTA Review Working Group, which developed the new CTA qualification launching in 2028, and was the first Vice-Chair of the CIOT New Tax Professionals Committee (now The Future of Tax Professionals Committee) and helped found the CFE New Tax Professionals Ad Hoc Committee.

Outside work, Peter has been heavily involved in rugby union refereeing, including senior administrative roles. He recently stepped down as General Secretary of the London Society of Rugby Football Union Referees after nearly a decade. He remains active in refereeing governance and enjoys travel, reading and time with his family and their Greek rescue dog, Elvis.