Burgess Hodgson

What Burgess Hodgson does

Burgess Hodgson is a Canterbury-headquartered, ICAEW-regulated accountancy and advisory firm founded in 1938, employing over 150 people across 19 partners and serving owner-managed businesses, real estate investors, mid-market corporates, regulated medical and education organisations, and high-net-worth individuals across Kent, London, and the wider UK. The firm operates a full-service professional services platform spanning accountancy (financial reporting, bookkeeping, outsourced finance, forensic accounting), audit and assurance (statutory, charity, pension, solicitors accounts rules), corporate finance and transaction advisory, comprehensive tax services (business, personal, IHT/trusts, VAT, tax investigations, incentives and reliefs, SEIS/EIS), payroll bureau via the Paycircle platform, and corporate governance and company secretarial services, supplemented by international referral access through the Russell Bedford International network of 375 offices in 110 countries. Its technology stack is third-party rather than proprietary: cloud accounting platforms (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage) for client-facing bookkeeping, Paycircle for payroll (with direct Xero journal posting), and AI-driven data interrogation tools applied selectively within the audit function to enable full-dataset testing rather than sample-based approaches. The business model is traditional professional services with engagement-based pricing, per-payslip payroll pricing, and bespoke quotes for audit and corporate finance, monetising partner-led relationships across recurring compliance (payroll, tax, accounts, secretarial) and episodic advisory (R&D tax credits, capital allowances, transaction support). In June 2025 the firm received its first primary investment from US private equity firm Abry Partners, with Mark Pacitti (former Deloitte Global Leader of Corporate Finance) installed as non-executive Chairman, and in April 2026 completed its inaugural acquisition, Wandsworth Consulting, a specialist capital allowances and R&D tax credit practice, marking the start of a publicly stated buy-and-build consolidation strategy.

Name

Burgess Hodgson

Legal name

Burgess Hodgson Limited

Website

https://burgesshodgson.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Burgess Hodgson is an ICAEW-regulated, Canterbury-based accountancy and advisory firm serving owner-managed businesses, real estate investors, mid-market corporates, and HNW individuals across the UK, with a full-service platform across accountancy, audit, tax, corporate finance, payroll, and corporate governance, now PE-backed by Abry Partners and pursuing a buy-and-build strategy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Accountancy and Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Valuation & Appraisal (BPAHANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESOP & Equity Compensation Valuation (ESOP, options, warrants) (FSAEAHAN), Litigation & Dispute Valuation (damages, shareholder disputes) (FSAEAHAI)

Keywords

• Accountancy services
• Audit assurance
• Tax advisory
• Payroll bureau
• Corporate finance advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Canterbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accountancy and Compliance Services: Traditional accountancy services including financial reporting, bookkeeping, management accounts, and outsourced finance function support delivered remotely by the team
2. Tax Advisory Services: Business tax, personal tax, inheritance tax planning, VAT, tax investigations, SEIS/EIS, incentives and reliefs (R&D tax credits, capital allowances)
3. Audit & Assurance: Statutory audits, solicitors accounts rules audits, charity audits, pension audits, systems and controls reviews
4. Corporate Finance & Advisory: Transaction support, due diligence, succession planning, corporate reorganisations, share incentive schemes
5. Payroll Services: Full payroll bureau services including PAYE, NI, auto-enrolment, with per-payslip fee model
6. Corporate Governance: Company formation, dissolution, confirmation statements, statutory records maintenance, registered office facilities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Burgess Hodgson is a Kent-based accountancy, tax, audit and business advisory firm delivering partner-led professional services to owner-managed businesses, real estate investors, mid-market corporates, medical/education organisations and high net worth individuals across the UK. Its core offerings span accountancy (financial reporting, outsourced finance, forensic accounting, bookkeeping and management accounts), audit and assurance, tax (business, personal, IHT, VAT, investigations, SEIS/EIS, R&D and capital allowance reliefs), advisory (corporate finance, reorganisations, share incentive schemes), payroll bureau services via the Paycircle platform, and corporate governance and company secretarial services. The portfolio was extended in April 2026 with the acquisition of Wandsworth Consulting, a specialist capital allowances and R&D tax credits practice.

Product overview

Burgess Hodgson is a Kent-based accountancy, tax, and business advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services. The core offering spans six main service lines: Accountancy Services (including Financial Reporting, Outsourced Finance Support, Forensic Accounting, and Bookkeeping & Management Accounts), Audit & Assurance, Advisory Services (Corporate Finance, Corporate Reorganisations, Share Incentive Schemes), Tax Services (Business Tax, Personal Tax, Inheritance Tax/Trusts/Estates, VAT, Tax Investigations, Incentives and Reliefs, SEIS/EIS), Payroll Services, and Corporate Governance. The portfolio was expanded through the April 2026 acquisition of Wandsworth Consulting, a specialist tax relief practice focusing on capital allowances and R&D tax credits. The firm serves owner-managed businesses, entrepreneurs, real estate investors, and mid-market corporates across Kent, London, and the wider UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accountancy Services Comprehensive accountancy services covering the full financial cycle from data recording to compliance, including financial reporting, outsourced finance support, forensic accounting, and bookkeeping and management accounts. Designed for owner-managed businesses, mid-market corporates and high-growth companies.
• Audit & Assurance Independent audit and assurance services including statutory audits, solicitors accounts rules audits, systems and controls reviews, fraud susceptibility reviews, internal audit functions, charity audits and pension audits, with AI-driven data interrogation for full-dataset testing.
• Advisory Services Advisory services encompassing corporate finance and transaction advisory, corporate reorganisations, and share incentive schemes, providing guidance for transactions, fundraising, succession planning and complex corporate matters.
• Tax Services Full-spectrum tax advisory covering business tax, personal tax, inheritance tax, trusts and estates, VAT, tax investigations, SEIS/EIS schemes, and incentives and reliefs including R&D tax credits and capital allowances.
• Payroll Services Flexible payroll bureau services using the Paycircle platform, handling PAYE, NI, student loans, auto-enrolment pensions, benefits in kind and RTI submissions. Processes over 1,000 payrolls and 20,000 payslips monthly for clients including academies and recruitment agencies.
• Corporate Governance Corporate governance and company secretarial services including company formation and dissolution, confirmation statements, statutory records maintenance, registered office facilities, articles of association, and share structure management, currently delivered across 3,000 clients.
• Financial Reporting Preparation of statutory accounts for Companies House and shareholder reporting, covering financial statements, accounting standards (UK GAAP to IFRS), notes to accounts, and directors' reports.
• Outsourced Finance Support Remote finance function support providing full-suite finance department capabilities including part-time Finance Director and Financial Controller roles, strategic advice, management information and cashflow reporting, primarily for ambitious companies needing flexible senior finance leadership.
• Forensic Accounting Forensic accounting and litigation support services including business and share valuations, matrimonial proceedings, commercial disputes, loss of profits analysis, and expert witness testimony in court proceedings.
• Bookkeeping & Management Accounts Day-to-day transaction processing, management accounts preparation, budgets and forecasting, cashflow forecasting, and accounting software implementation and training using Xero, QuickBooks or Sage.
• Corporate Finance & Transaction Advisory Transaction support for business disposals, raising finance, due diligence, taxation advice, succession planning, management buy-outs, and transaction accounting, with experience of high-value transactions worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
• Corporate Reorganisations Expert guidance on corporate restructurings including share exchanges, reorganisations of share capital, statutory and non-statutory demergers, trade hive down and hive up, and share issues and structuring.
• Share Incentive Schemes Advisory on share incentive options including Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) schemes, Company Share Option Plans (CSOP), growth share schemes, HMRC valuations, and ERS compliance.
• Inheritance Tax, Trusts & Estates Inheritance tax planning and compliance, trust and estate administration, capital gains tax advice, and intergenerational wealth planning including Family Investment Companies and lifetime gifts.
• VAT Services VAT advisory covering registrations, scheme advice (Cash Basis, Flat Rate), property planning, international transactions, and sector-specific advice for healthcare, fintech and life sciences.
• Tax Investigations Support for HMRC tax investigations and enquiries including self-assessment, corporation tax, PAYE, VAT and inheritance tax matters, prompted and unprompted disclosures, and worldwide disclosure facility.
• Incentives and Reliefs Specialist advice on R&D tax relief, capital allowance claims, creative industry tax relief (film, theatre), video game tax relief, and patent box submissions, with experts possessing over 15 years' experience in R&D tax relief.
• Business Tax Business tax compliance and planning including corporation tax, international tax, incentive schemes (SEIS/EIS, EMI, R&D), mergers and acquisitions tax, and capital allowances optimisation.
• Personal Tax Personal tax services including self-assessment tax returns, capital gains tax planning, residential property CGT returns, high net worth tax advice, and SEIS/EIS relief optimisation.
• SEIS / EIS Services Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and Enterprise Investment Scheme advisory including advance assurance applications, compliance statements, SEIS3/EIS3 certificate preparation, and tax relief optimisation for growth companies and investors.
• Wandsworth Consulting Specialist tax relief practice focused on capital allowances and R&D tax credits, with over 70 years of combined senior team experience from Big Four firms, leading boutique tax specialists and international real estate practices. Now operates as a wholly-owned retained brand within the Burgess Hodgson group.

Quantifiable outcome

• Manages over 1,000 payrolls and processes more than 10,000 payslips each month
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Jason Robinson (Brand Ambassador)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 20262003 Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson appointed as brand ambassador. Robinson will participate in client events and contribute to the firm's thought leadership programme through co-authored content. The partnership leverages Robinson's values of preparation, discipline, and pursuit of excellence in aligning with the firm's brand and client relationships.
• Wandsworth Consulting (Acquired)coreOthers · 22 April 2026Specialist tax practice acquired by Burgess Hodgson focusing on capital allowances and R&D tax credits. Established in 2014, the practice brings more than seven decades of combined experience from its senior team previously at Big Four firms, leading boutique tax specialists, and international real estate practices. Led by Partners Patrick Knight, Jonny Brewster, and Justin Lyon Taylor who joined BH in 2026.
• Russell Bedford InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning global alliance of accountancy firms with 375 offices across 110 countries spanning Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Africa. Every member firm has met rigorous standards of quality, ethics, and client service, enabling Burgess Hodgson to support clients' international growth ambitions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mazars UK: International mid-tier firm with UK presence offering audit, tax, and advisory. Competes with Burgess Hodgson for owner-managed businesses and mid-market corporates, with greater international reach.
• BDO UK: Top-5 UK accountancy and advisory firm with a full mid-market practice. Direct overlap with Burgess Hodgson in audit, tax, corporate finance, and outsourced finance for owner-managed and mid-market clients.

Direct peers

• Kreston Reeves: Kent/South East-based mid-tier accountancy firm with strong private client and SME focus. Strongest direct geographic competitor for Burgess Hodgson in the Kent market.
• RSM UK: Mid-tier UK accountancy and advisory firm of comparable scale, serving mid-market and owner-managed businesses with audit, tax, and consulting services. Closest head-to-head competitor in target segment.
• Moore Kingston Smith: UK mid-tier accountancy firm with comparable headcount, focused on owner-managed businesses, professional practices, and not-for-profits. Closely overlaps in service mix including R&D and specialist tax.
• Crowe UK: Mid-tier UK accounting and advisory network with comparable service breadth including audit, tax, and consulting. Competes for the same mid-market and owner-managed segments.
• PKF UK: UK mid-tier accounting and advisory firm with comparable services in audit, tax, corporate finance. Overlaps in sector specialisms including real estate and professional services clients.
• Bishop Fleming: South West and South East-focused mid-tier firm with similar owner-managed and SME client base. Direct competitor for owner-managed businesses, R&D tax credits, and corporate finance work.
• MHA (MacIntyre Hudson): Top-20 UK accountancy network with strong mid-market focus; competes in audit, tax, and advisory with comparable sector specialisms. Active in M&A-led growth across UK regions.

Others

• MGI Worldwide: International accountancy network of which many UK mid-tier firms are members. Comparable to Burgess Hodgson through its network affiliation model rather than direct competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/burgess_hodgson
• Facebookfacebook.com/BurgessHodgson
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/burgess-hodgson
• Instagraminstagram.com/burgesshodgsonlimited

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Burgess Hodgson