What Johnston Carmichael does

Johnston Carmichael LLP is Scotland's largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants, founded in 1936 and approaching its 90th anniversary in 2026. The firm operates 11 UK offices across Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Elgin, Forfar, Glasgow, Inverness, Inverurie, London, Newcastle, and Stirling, employing between 501 and 1,000 staff (with 200+ based in the Glasgow office alone). It is structured as an independent, privately-held LLP with no parent company and no evidence of external institutional investment.

The firm delivers a full-spectrum professional services portfolio spanning Audit & Assurance, Corporate and Personal Tax (including VAT, property taxes, and trust & inheritance), Business Advisory, Corporate Finance, Consulting, Payroll, Restructuring & Insolvency, and International Expansion support. Sector specializations include Energy (anchored in Aberdeen), Construction & Property, Rural/Agriculture, and Technology & Life Sciences. In December 2025, the firm became the first in Scotland to partner with Sage to provide and implement Sage Intacct cloud accounting software, enabling technology-enabled outsourced finance solutions featuring AI-powered automation and real-time reporting dashboards for SME and mid-market clients.

Revenue is generated through professional services engagements with custom, scope-based pricing on multi-year contracts, supplemented by managed services revenue from the Digital Solutions stream. The go-to-market model is sales-led, leveraging direct relationship-building through 11 physical offices, sector heads, thought-leadership content, and the Sage channel partnership. Customer mix is dominated by SMEs and mid-sized UK organizations, with select enterprise clients including investment trusts such as Albion Technology & General VCT PLC and Albion Crown VCT PLC, alongside case-study SMB clients including Nc'nean Distillery and Castlecraig Farm.

Name

Johnston Carmichael

Legal name

Johnston Carmichael LLP

Website

https://jcca.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Johnston Carmichael is Scotland's largest independent chartered accountancy firm, founded in 1936, delivering audit, tax, advisory, and corporate finance services across 11 UK offices to SMEs, mid-sized organizations, and select enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chartered Accountancy and Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Audit & Assurance Services (BPAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outsourced Finance & CFO Services (BPAHABAE), Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting Advisory (GAAP/IFRS) (BPAHABAF)

Keywords

• Chartered accountancy services
• Audit and assurance
• Corporate tax advisory
• Business advisory consulting
• Corporate finance advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Aberdeen

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Audit & Assurance Services: Statutory audit services, audit and assurance engagements for various entity types including public interest entities, financial services, and owner-managed businesses.
2. Tax Services: Corporate tax, VAT and indirect tax, personal taxes, international expansion tax advisory, property taxes, trust and inheritance.
3. Business Advisory: Strategic advisory, consulting, restructuring and insolvency, payroll services, corporate finance, and growth advisory for SMEs and mid-sized organizations.
4. Digital Solutions: Technology-enabled finance solutions through Sage Intacct partnership, providing outsourced finance and cloud accounting services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Johnston Carmichael is the largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants in Scotland, providing audit and assurance, tax, business advisory, corporate finance, payroll, restructuring and insolvency, and personal financial planning services to SMEs, mid-sized organizations, and individuals across 11 UK offices. Through a strategic partnership with Sage, the firm is the first in Scotland to provide and implement Sage Intacct cloud accounting software, embedding AI-powered automation and real-time reporting into client engagements for ambitious growing businesses.

Product overview

Johnston Carmichael offers a unified professional services portfolio combining audit and assurance, business advisory, consulting, corporate finance, tax services (corporate, personal, VAT), payroll, restructuring, and digital solutions. The firm has partnered with Sage to offer Sage Intacct cloud accounting implementation services to SMEs, marking the first such partnership in Scotland. Services are delivered across 11 UK locations (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Elgin, Forfar, Glasgow, Inverness, Inverurie, London, Newcastle, and Stirling) to ambitious businesses, with sector specializations including energy, rural/agriculture, construction, technology and life sciences. The firm also provides personal finance services including investment planning, pension planning, personal taxes, property taxes, and trust & inheritance services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audit & Assurance Statutory audit and independent examination of financial statements for SMEs, mid-sized organizations, public interest entities, and investment trusts, with particular expertise in the energy sector and dual UK/US reporting standards.
• Business Advisory Strategic consulting helping businesses navigate challenges, drive growth, and optimize operations across multiple sectors.
• Consulting Professional advisory services addressing business challenges and transformation opportunities for SMEs and mid-sized organizations.
• Corporate Finance Advisory services for mergers, acquisitions, disposals, and capital raising activities.
• Corporate Taxes Corporate tax planning, compliance, and advisory services including international expansion support.
• Digital Solutions (Sage Intacct Implementation Services) Technology-enabled outsourced finance and cloud accounting implementation services delivered through the firm's Sage partnership, targeting SMEs and mid-sized organizations with AI-powered automation and real-time reporting dashboards.
• International Expansion Advisory services for businesses expanding internationally, including cross-border tax and regulatory expertise.
• Payroll Payroll processing and administration services for businesses of all sizes.
• Restructuring & Insolvency Corporate recovery and insolvency services for businesses facing financial difficulties.
• VAT & Duty VAT planning, compliance, and dispute resolution services including customs duty matters.
• Investment Planning Personal financial advisory services for investment portfolio management and financial planning for individuals.
• Pension Planning Retirement planning and pension advisory services for individuals and businesses.
• Personal Taxes Individual tax planning and compliance services including self-assessment returns.
• Property Taxes Advisory services for property-related taxation including capital gains tax and stamp duty.
• Trust & Inheritance Estate planning, trust administration, and inheritance tax planning services for individuals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.74% shareholder approval for audited accounts (Albion Technology & General VCT)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SagecoreTechnology or Integration · 9 December 2025Johnston Carmichael partnered with Sage to become the first firm in Scotland to provide and implement Sage Intacct, a cloud accounting software designed for high-performing SMEs and mid-sized organizations. The software offers AI-powered automation, real-time reporting dashboards, and advanced financial management tools aimed at streamlining processes, enhancing visibility, and supporting business growth. The partnership enables the firm to offer a fully integrated outsourced finance solution combining Sage Intacct's platform with the firm's financial expertise.
• Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Johnston Carmichael sponsored the 42nd Energy Transition Report commissioned by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce. The report examined impacts of the Energy Profits Levy on North Sea investment and jobs. The firm contributed expertise to energy sector research alongside fellow sponsor D2Zero.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Azets: Scandinavian-owned (EQT-backed) UK accountancy and advisory group with deep Scotland and Northeast England presence, offering audit, tax, advisory, and outsourced finance — directly comparable to Johnston Carmichael in geography, client mix, and service portfolio.
• BDO UK: Mid-tier UK accounting network providing audit, tax, and advisory to SMEs and mid-market clients — directly comparable in target market and service mix, though operating at significantly larger national scale.
• Grant Thornton UK: Global mid-tier accounting network with strong UK presence serving mid-market and listed entities with audit, tax, and advisory services — directly comparable in client profile and service lines.
• Mazars UK: International mid-tier accounting firm offering audit, tax, and advisory across the UK — direct competitor for mid-market and SME mandates with comparable sector coverage.
• RSM UK: Global mid-tier network with substantial UK operations providing audit, tax, and consulting to mid-market companies — comparable client base, especially for owner-managed businesses.
• Crowe UK: Top-10 UK accounting and advisory firm with mid-market and SME focus — closely comparable service portfolio and target segments to Johnston Carmichael.
• Saffery Champness: Top-20 UK independent chartered accountancy firm serving private clients, SMEs, and listed entities — comparable independent partnership model and service mix.
• MHA: UK top-15 accounting and advisory network with strong SME and mid-market orientation — comparable service lines including audit, tax, and business advisory.
• Moore Kingston Smith: UK member of the Moore Global Network providing audit, tax, and advisory to mid-market and not-for-profit clients — comparable independent mid-tier positioning.
• PKF Smith Cooper: UK mid-tier chartered accountancy firm with audit, tax, and advisory services across the Midlands and other UK regions — comparable in scale and service mix to Johnston Carmichael.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JC_Accountants
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/JCAccountants
• Facebookfacebook.com/JohnstonCarmichael
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/johnston-carmichael-chartered-accountants-and-business-advisers
• Instagraminstagram.com/johnston_carmichael

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Johnston Carmichael