What Dains Accountants does

Dains Accountants is a UK-and-Ireland chartered accountancy and business advisory group, founded in Birmingham in 1926 and now operating from more than 30 locations with over 1,000 professionals. The firm serves owner-managed businesses, mid-market companies, large corporates (PLCs), charities and not-for-profits, high-net-worth individuals, and sector specialists in healthcare, agriculture, property, manufacturing, and recruitment. Its service portfolio spans accounting and business advisory, statutory audit and assurance (delivered through multiple regulated entities including Dains Audit Limited, Magma Audit LLP, HSKSG Audit Limited, William Duncan + Co (Audit) Ltd, and McInerney Saunders Audit), corporate and personal taxation, corporate finance (M&A advisory, due diligence, valuations), business recovery and insolvency, forensic accounting, payroll, probate, R&D tax relief, and digital transformation.

The underlying technology is a partner-led professional services model augmented by cloud accounting platforms — Dains is a Xero Platinum Partner and winner of Xero's 2024 National Partner of the Year award, and integrates Dext for receipt and invoice automation, alongside CRM, payroll, inventory, and e-commerce platform integrations for clients. Service delivery is standardised through 'The Dains Way' proprietary methodology (Discovery, Learning, Expert implementation, Agile solutions, Collaborative challenge). The business makes money through professional services fees, typically project-based, quote-driven, and often delivered under multi-year engagements; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led via partner-led field teams, supported by sector-specific content, events, and thought leadership.

Dains is private equity-backed by IK Partners (since 2022), which has funded an aggressive acquisition programme: 16 deals since 2021 including Consilium and Condies (Scotland), Barnes Roffe (London/South East), HURST (North West), McInerney Saunders (Ireland, trading as Dains Ireland), TBAT Innovation and GHE (innovation funding), CRS VAT and PSTAX/S3TAX (public sector), and Isosceles (fractional CFO). Group revenue exceeded £70 million as of June 2024, and the group operates through a multi-entity structure retaining many acquired brand identities (HURST, Barnes Roffe, Curo, William Duncan, Opto Group) alongside the unified Dains brand.

Name

Dains Accountants

Legal name

Dains Accountants Limited

Website

https://dains.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Dains Accountants is a UK-and-Ireland chartered accountancy and business advisory group with 1,000+ professionals across 30+ locations, serving owner-managed businesses, mid-market companies, large corporates, charities, and HNW individuals with audit, tax, corporate finance, business recovery, R&D, and digital transformation services. PE-backed by IK Partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting and Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)

akta.pro primary industry

Estate, Gift & Trust Valuation (BPAHANAL)

Keywords

• Accounting services
• Audit assurance
• Tax advisory
• Corporate finance
• Business advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Lichfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accounting and Business Advisory Services: Core professional services providing accounting, bookkeeping, financial reporting and business advisory to owner-managed and mid-market businesses. Revenue generated through professional service fees.
2. Audit and Assurance Services: Audit services provided through multiple regulated entities (Dains Audit Limited, Magma Audit LLP, HSKSG Audit Limited) for UK statutory audits and assurance engagements.
3. Taxation Services: Corporate tax, personal tax, employment taxes, VAT and customs, R&D tax relief, and private client tax planning services.
4. Corporate Finance Services: M&A advisory, business sales, acquisitions, due diligence, valuation, and succession planning services for business owners.
5. Specialist Advisory Services: Business recovery, forensic accounting, payroll services, probate services, customs and VAT, innovation funding (R&D grants), and international advisory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dains Accountants is a chartered accountancy and business advisory firm providing accounting, bookkeeping, statutory audit, corporate and personal taxation, corporate finance (M&A advisory, due diligence), business recovery and insolvency, forensic accounting, payroll, probate, customs and VAT, R&D tax relief, and digital transformation services. It serves owner-managed businesses, mid-market companies, large corporates, not-for-profits, and high-net-worth individuals across more than 30 UK and Ireland locations under multiple trading brands including Dains, HURST, Barnes Roffe, Curo, TBAT Innovation, GHE, Isosceles, and Opto Group.

Product overview

Dains is a national accountancy and advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services across accounting, audit, taxation, corporate finance, business recovery, and digital transformation. The firm operates as a unified advisory group supported by multiple regulated entities including Dains Audit Limited, Magma Audit LLP, Magma Partners Limited (tax advisory), and Dains Probate Limited. The service portfolio includes core offerings (Accounting & Business Advisory, Audit, Tax, Corporate Finance) supplemented by specialist services (VAT & Customs, Business Recovery, Forensic Accounting, Payroll, Probate, International) and advisory practices (Employment Services, R&D Tax Relief, Digital Transformation, Private Client). The group has expanded significantly through acquisitions, integrating brands like HURST (North West accounting), Barnes Roffe (London/South East), TBAT Innovation and GHE (innovation funding advisory), Isosceles (fractional CFO services), Opto Group/PSTax/S3Tax (public sector VAT), and CRS VAT (NHS specialist), while maintaining regional identities including Dains Scotland and Dains Ireland. Services are delivered across more than 30 UK and Ireland locations to individuals, private companies, large corporates, and not-for-profit organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accounting and Business Advisory Services Core accounting, bookkeeping, and business advisory services including management accounts, budgeting, cashflow forecasting, and financial reporting for owner-managed and mid-market businesses.
• Audit and Assurance Services Statutory audit and assurance services provided through multiple regulated entities including Dains Audit Limited, Magma Audit LLP, HSKSG Audit Limited, and William Duncan + Co (Audit) Ltd.
• Taxation Services Corporate tax, personal tax, employment taxes, VAT, customs, R&D tax relief, inheritance tax planning and private client tax services delivered through Magma Partners Limited (regulated by CIOT).
• Corporate Finance Services M&A advisory, business sales, buy-outs, acquisitions, fundraises, valuation, financial due diligence and succession planning services for ambitious businesses.
• Business Recovery Services Insolvency and business recovery services provided by William Duncan (Business Recovery) Ltd, registered with ICAS and the Insolvency Practitioners Association.
• Customs and VAT Services VAT planning, compliance, and customs advisory services including support for international trade and EU customs regulations, delivered via Opto Group (PSTAX, S3TAX), CRS VAT, and Magma Partners Limited.
• Forensic Accounting Services Forensic accounting and investigation services for dispute resolution, fraud investigation, and litigation support.
• Payroll Services Payroll processing, employment tax advice, and payroll system integration services.
• Probate Services Non-contentious probate services provided by Dains Probate Limited, licensed by ICAEW.
• International Services Cross-border advisory services delivered through AGN International partnership, supporting UK and Ireland clients with international operations across 100+ countries.
• Research and Development Tax Relief R&D tax credit advisory services helping businesses claim tax relief on qualifying research and development expenditure, expanded via TBAT Innovation and GHE acquisitions.
• Digital Transformation Services Cloud accounting implementation, software integration, and process automation services helping businesses modernise their finance functions using Xero, Dext and other platforms.
• Private Client Services Personal financial planning, estate planning, inheritance tax mitigation, and trust structuring services for high-net-worth individuals and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Group revenues exceeding £70 million
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationXero Platinum Partner and winner of Xero's National Partner of the Year Award. Dains implements Xero cloud accounting for clients, provides migration services, and promotes digital accounting best practices. Xero is primary cloud accounting platform.
• DextcoreTechnology or IntegrationPreferred expense capture and automation platform integrated with client accounting systems. Dext automates receipt processing, invoice data extraction, and integration with Xero and other accounting platforms.
• AGN InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational accounting and advisory network providing Dains with cross-border capability across 100+ countries. Enables Dains to serve clients with international operations through vetted global network of firms.
• Kreston GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational accounting network through Consilium/Dains Scotland membership, providing additional international reach for Scottish clients.
• IsoscelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFractional CFO and outsourced services partner within Dains Group ecosystem. Provides iFD (fractional CFOs), iPeopleHR (HR/payroll), iCount (cloud accounting for startups), iReport (business intelligence). Complementary to Dains advisory services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RSM UK: RSM UK is a leading mid-tier audit, tax, and consulting firm focused on owner-managed businesses and mid-market corporates. Directly comparable to Dains in target market, service portfolio (audit, tax, corporate finance, business recovery), and UK regional office model.
• Grant Thornton UK: Grant Thornton UK is a top-5 mid-tier accountancy firm serving mid-market companies with audit, tax, and advisory services. Closely comparable to Dains in market positioning, with a broader international network but similar focus on ambitious mid-market UK businesses.
• Mazars UK: Mazars UK is a top-tier mid-market accountancy firm offering audit, tax, and advisory services. Directly comparable to Dains in service breadth and mid-market focus, with similar sector specialist teams and a PE-style growth ambition, though at larger scale.
• Moore UK: Moore UK is a top-15 mid-tier accountancy network serving owner-managed and mid-market businesses. Directly comparable to Dains in customer focus and service mix, with a similar model of regional partner-led practices aggregated under a national brand.
• PKF Smith Cooper: PKF Smith Cooper is a UK mid-tier accountancy firm focused on owner-managed businesses and SMEs across the Midlands and beyond. Highly comparable to Dains in target customer profile, regional mid-market focus, and growth-by-acquisition strategy.
• MHA MacIntyre Hudson: MHA is one of the UK's largest mid-tier accountancy groups serving mid-market and owner-managed businesses. Closely comparable to Dains in PE-style rollup strategy, regional office model, and full-service offering across audit, tax, and advisory.
• BDO UK: BDO UK is one of the largest mid-tier chartered accountancy firms in the UK, providing audit, tax, and advisory services to mid-market and owner-managed businesses. Highly comparable to Dains in target customer base, service mix, and PE-backed growth ambitions, though at significantly larger scale.
• Crowe UK: Crowe UK is a mid-tier accountancy and advisory firm serving ambitious mid-market and owner-managed businesses with audit, tax, corporate finance, and consulting services. Highly comparable to Dains in size, customer base, and full-service model.
• Haines Watts: Haines Watts is a UK mid-tier accountancy group focused on owner-managed businesses, SMEs, and not-for-profit organisations. Comparable to Dains in target customer base, service portfolio, and regional office network across the UK.
• Bishop Fleming: Bishop Fleming is a regional UK accountancy firm serving owner-managed businesses and mid-market clients across the South West and Wales. Comparable to Dains as a regional mid-tier practice with audit, tax, and advisory services, though smaller in scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzl3oCANp488Es2cb4mY_Zg
• Facebookfacebook.com/DainsLLP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dains-llp
• Xx.com/DainsLLP

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A7 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Dains Accountants