What Moore Kingston Smith does

Moore Kingston Smith is a UK-headquartered accounting and business advisory firm operating as a limited liability partnership (LLP), tracing its origins to 1923. Following a March 2023 private equity investment from Waterland, the firm has executed an aggressive consolidation strategy that has grown it to 1,600+ professionals and 120+ partners across nine UK offices and an Ireland regional headquarters. Its core offerings span audit and assurance, corporate and private client tax, corporate finance (deal advisory, transaction services, debt advisory), advisory services (digital transformation, ESG, forensic accounting, restructuring and insolvency, R&D tax), outsourced accounting and payroll, HR consultancy, global mobility, employer services, and financial planning. Legal services are provided via partner firm Moores GDL Law. The firm also operates a dedicated business growth programme branded MooreMentum.

The firm serves mid-market and enterprise clients across 16 industry verticals, with documented specialisation in charities, education, media and entertainment, real estate and construction, financial services, private equity, maritime, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, technology, and sports. Corporate finance activity is concentrated in deal values between £5m and £150m, with £1bn+ in advised media deal value and 90+ media transactions completed since 2020. International reach is provided through the Moore Global network spanning 100+ countries, supported by an in-house India Group and Europe Group. The firm is PE-backed by Waterland and has completed at least eight acquisitions or mergers since April 2023, including Pilot Financial, Moore Ireland, Shipleys LLP, Augustine Financial Planning, CBW Recovery, CMIS Independent Financial Advisors, Moore Clearcomm, and Moore South.

The business model is professional services delivery via partner-led engagements with bespoke quote-based pricing. Go-to-market is direct, partner-led relationship selling supported by thought-leadership content (sector surveys, M&A reports, webinars, Enterprise Hub). Revenue is diversified across audit, tax, advisory, corporate finance, and outsourcing streams, with no named anchor client dominating disclosed metrics. Technology investment includes AI adoption for internal productivity and a partnership with mid-market finance software provider iplicit to serve clients' digital transformation needs.

Name

Moore Kingston Smith

Legal name

Moore Kingston Smith LLP

Website

https://mooreks.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Moore Kingston Smith is a UK-headquartered accounting and business advisory LLP serving mid-market and enterprise clients across 16 sectors with audit, tax, corporate finance, and outsourced services, backed by Waterland Private Equity since 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting and Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Outsourced Finance & CFO Services (BPAHABAE)

Keywords

• Accounting and audit services
• Corporate finance advisory
• Business tax planning
• Transaction advisory services
• Outsourced accounting solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services: Comprehensive accounting and business advisory services including audit, tax advisory, corporate finance, and business consulting delivered through partner-led engagements.
2. Audit Services: Statutory audit services, donor funded services, and third-party assurance for commercial and nonprofit organisations.
3. Tax Services: Corporate and business tax, private client tax advisory, R&D tax relief, and international tax services.
4. Corporate Finance & Advisory: Deal advisory, M&A transactions, strategic growth advisory, business valuations, and transaction services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Moore Kingston Smith is a UK-based chartered accountancy and business advisory firm delivering audit, tax, corporate finance, outsourcing, and specialist advisory services to commercial, nonprofit, and private clients. Services are delivered through partner-led engagements across nine UK offices plus Ireland, with international reach through the Moore Global network.

Product overview

Moore Kingston Smith is a UK-based accounting and business advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services. The firm operates as a multi-disciplinary practice with services organised into five main categories: Advisory (including Corporate Finance, Digital Transformation, and HR Consultancy), Audit and Assurance, Legal (via partner firm Moores GDL Law), Outsourcing (accounting and payroll), and Tax Services (corporate and private client). Key specialist offerings include MooreMentum business growth advisory, M&A transaction services with dedicated sell-side and buy-side teams, ESG and sustainability advisory, and nonprofit sector expertise. The firm serves sectors including charities, education, financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, media, private equity, real estate, technology, and maritime, with access to the international Moore Global network for cross-border work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MooreMentum: Business growth services offered by Moore Kingston Smith
• Enterprise Hub
• Tax Club
• Entrepreneurs' Club
• SALT (St Albans Last Tuesday)

Products and services

• Audit Services Comprehensive audit and assurance services for commercial and nonprofit organisations, including statutory audits, FRS 102 compliance, and donor-funded services.
• Corporate Finance M&A advisory, sell-side and buy-side services, deal structuring, and strategic growth advisory for mid-market companies with valuations between £5m and £150m.
• MooreMentum Business Growth Services Business growth advisory programme designed to help clients accelerate growth and maximise business value.
• Tax Services Business and corporate tax advisory, private client tax services, M&A tax, and international tax planning.
• Outsourced Accounting Services Complete outsourced accounting function providing bookkeeping, management accounts, and financial reporting.
• Payroll Services Full-service payroll management including payrolling benefits in kind, global mobility support, and real-time information reporting.
• Financial Planning Personal financial planning and wealth management services for individuals and business owners.
• Forensic Accounting Investigation and analysis of financial information for legal proceedings, disputes, and fraud investigation.
• Restructuring & Insolvency Corporate restructuring, insolvency advisory, and turnaround services for businesses in financial difficulty.
• Risk Advisory Enterprise risk management, internal controls, and governance advisory services.
• Sustainability & ESG Services Environmental, social, and governance advisory including carbon reporting, sustainability strategy, and ESG compliance.
• Research & Development (R&D) Tax Relief R&D tax credit claims and advisory for innovative businesses in technology and other sectors.
• Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT) Advisory services for business owners transitioning to employee ownership through EOT structures.
• Employer Services Comprehensive HR and employment services including recruitment, employment contracts, and employee benefits administration.
• Global Mobility International assignment support, visa and immigration services, and cross-border tax planning for globally mobile employees.
• Family Business Services Succession planning, governance, and tax planning tailored for family-owned businesses.
• Nonprofit Advisory Specialised services for charities, education institutions, and trade associations including governance and regulatory compliance.
• HR Consultancy Human resources advisory covering talent management, organisational design, and HR compliance.
• Valuation Services Business valuations for transactions, tax planning, financial reporting, and dispute resolution.
• Transaction Services Financial and tax due diligence, working capital analysis, and reporting accountant services for M&A transactions.
• Debt Advisory Debt restructuring, refinancing, and capital-raising advisory including real estate finance and leveraged lending.
• Digital Transformation Technology consulting to help businesses modernise operations through digital solutions.
• Legal Services Business and corporate legal services provided through partner firm Moores GDL Law, including M&A legal support.
• Donor Funded Services Audit and assurance services tailored to organisations receiving donor funding, including compliance and reporting requirements specific to funded programmes.
• International Services Cross-border advisory, tax, and audit services delivered through the Moore Global network covering 100+ countries including Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and India.
• Third-Party Assurance Independent third-party assurance engagements providing confidence to stakeholders on financial and non-financial reporting.
• Tax – Private Client Private client tax advisory and compliance for individuals, business owners, and high-net-worth clients.
• Tax – Business & Corporate Business and corporate tax compliance, planning, and advisory for commercial organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• £1bn+ total deal value advised on since 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TechstarsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2018Appointed as inaugural global accountancy partner alongside Aprio, providing accounting services support to Techstars portfolio companies.
• Moore Global NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network affiliation providing global reach across 100+ countries. Enables cross-border transaction support, international client referrals, and access to overseas expertise for clients expanding internationally.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BDO UK: BDO UK is a top-10 UK accounting and advisory firm with a similar mid-market enterprise focus spanning audit, tax, corporate finance, and outsourcing. It is comparable to Moore Kingston Smith in service mix and target client base, but is substantially larger and competes for the same PE-backed mid-market mandates.
• RSM UK: RSM UK is a mid-tier audit, tax and consulting firm with a strong entrepreneurial and PE client base across the UK. It competes head-to-head with Moore Kingston Smith for mid-market audit, M&A advisory, and outsourcing work and shares the same partner-led delivery model.
• Grant Thornton UK: Grant Thornton UK is one of the largest mid-tier accounting firms offering audit, tax, advisory and corporate finance to mid-market clients. Comparable to Moore Kingston Smith in service breadth and PE/mid-market client focus, though significantly larger.
• Mazars UK: Mazars UK is an international audit, tax and advisory firm with a strong mid-market and PE practice. It overlaps with Moore Kingston Smith in audit, tax, corporate finance and outsourcing, and competes for cross-border mid-market mandates.
• Forvis Mazars (Global): Forvis Mazars is the global mid-tier accounting and advisory network of which Mazars UK is a member. Comparable in international footprint and service breadth, competing with Moore Kingston Smith's Moore Global network affiliation for cross-border mid-market work.

Direct peers

• Crowe UK: Crowe UK is a mid-tier accounting, audit and advisory firm serving entrepreneurial and mid-market clients. Closely comparable to Moore Kingston Smith in size tier, sector coverage, and partner-led service model, competing for the same PE and entrepreneurial business mandates.
• MHA MacIntyre Hudson: MHA is a UK top-20 accountancy group providing audit, tax, advisory and outsourcing to mid-market and entrepreneurial clients. Closely comparable in scale, service mix and target segment, and similarly PE-backed and acquisitive.
• PKF Smith Cooper: PKF Smith Cooper is a UK mid-market accounting and advisory firm offering audit, tax, corporate finance and recovery services. It competes with Moore Kingston Smith in the East Midlands/South region and across PE-backed mid-market deals.
• Saffery Champness: Saffery Champness is a UK top-20 chartered accountancy firm serving private clients, entrepreneurial businesses and PE. It is highly comparable to Moore Kingston Smith in partner-led mid-market advisory, private client tax and corporate finance services.
• HaysMac LLP: HaysMac is a London-based mid-tier accountancy and advisory firm with strong corporate finance, tax and audit capabilities. Comparable to Moore Kingston Smith in size, sector specialisms and mid-market PE/entrepreneurial client base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moore-kingston-smith
• Xx.com/MooreKSLLP

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Moore Kingston Smith