Julie Patterson is stepping down from her role as regulatory affairs director for investment funds and retail at the Investment Management Association, to join accountancy and professional services firm KPMG.

Patterson has been appointed to KPMG's European investment management practice as a director, KPMG said in a statement. She will be based in London and is due to start with KPMG at the end of the summer.

She will work alongside Charles Muller in KPMG’s EMA financial services regulatory centre of excellence, covering the investment management sector.

Patterson has been at the IMA for over 15 years. She has played a significant role in shaping and influencing legislation and regulation affecting the investment management industry, especially in relation to the increasing volume of rules emanating from the EU.

“Julie is a fantastic addition to our business and we are very excited to welcome her to KPMG.  She has an outstanding reputation in the industry and has played a significant role in influencing the regulatory agenda during her 15 years with the Investment Management Association,” said Tom Brown, global head of investment management at KPMG.

“As our clients enter the implementation stage of the regulatory journey - and there is a further drive across Europe toward greater investment and product protection - we are delighted to have Julie on board during this period of change,” he added.

Last month, the chairman of accountancy and professional services firm KPMG, Jurgen van Breukelen, stepped down following the launch of a criminal investigation into the firm for suspected tax fraud involving the building of its new headquarters.

Earlier this year, a formal investigation was launched by Dutch authorities for suspected tax fraud into a joint venture with a building firm involved in the construction of KPMG's new Amstelveen headquarters.

The public prosecution office said in a statement in April that the investigation was focusing on fake bills supplied by the building firm to boost costs with the aim of reducing KPMG's tax bill.

Prosecutors said that they had searched a number of sites as part of the investigation and also interviewed two unnamed directors of the company.