Simpkins Edwards LLP

What Simpkins Edwards LLP does

Simpkins Edwards LLP is a chartered accountancy and business advisory firm founded in 1968 in Devon, South West England, operating as a private limited liability partnership with no parent company or external investment. The firm employs roughly 127 partners and staff across six Devon offices (Exeter headquarters, Barnstaple, Bovey Tracey, Honiton, Okehampton, Holsworthy) and serves a distributed book of business and individual clients concentrated in the South West and broader UK. Its service portfolio spans corporate tax, audit (delivered via the separately registered network firm Simpkins Edwards Audit LLP), business advisory, payroll, VAT, corporate finance advisory, personal tax, capital gains and inheritance tax, trusts and estates, expat tax, HMRC enquiry representation, probate and estate administration (ICAEW-licensed), and litigation support, with deep sector specialisations in agriculture, healthcare/GP practices, dentistry, food and drink, charities, and family-owned businesses.

The firm's technology stack is built on third-party cloud accounting platforms — Sage, Xero, QuickBooks Online, Receipt Bank/Dext — accessed through an in-house Client Portal (AccountantSpace) that supports secure document exchange, VAT submissions, and real-time data synchronisation. Back-office production uses Wolters Kluwer CCH and BDO P11d Enterprise, with payments processed via WorldPay and GoCardless. The Making Tax Digital offering provides cloud-based compliance tooling for VAT and income tax. The firm generates revenue primarily through time-and-materials professional services billing across compliance and advisory mandates, supplemented by managed payroll, an annual subscription-based Tax Investigation Protection product underwritten by Abbey Tax Protection, and probate fees structured in fixed-fee tiers (£2,000–£17,000 including VAT depending on estate complexity).

Commercial distribution is overwhelmingly direct and relationship-led: face-to-face consultations across the six offices, supplemented by SEO-driven website lead generation, a Knowledge Hub with bi-annual sector-specific Addition magazines, email newsletters via Mailchimp, and referral-based client acquisition. The firm has no app, no API, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. Recent strategic emphasis has been on senior talent acquisition (Paul Williamson in 2022, Michael Hesketh in 2026), employer brand building (2025 Accounting Excellence Employer of the Year), and channel modernisation through the client portal and digital payments infrastructure.

Name

Simpkins Edwards LLP

Legal name

Simpkins Edwards LLP

Website

https://simpkinsedwards.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Simpkins Edwards LLP is a chartered accountancy and business advisory firm founded in 1968, serving business and individual clients across Devon and the wider UK through six offices, with specialisations in agriculture, healthcare, dentistry, and owner-managed businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chartered Accountancy Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting Advisory (GAAP/IFRS) (BPAHABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Estate & Probate Administration Services (FSAEAKAD), Fixed Assets Accounting (Capitalization, Depreciation, Asset Register) (BPAAAGAF), Estate & Legacy Planning Advisory (FSAEAAAG), Estate, Gift & Trust Valuation (BPAHANAL)

Keywords

• Chartered accountancy services
• Corporate tax advisory
• Probate estate administration
• Agricultural accounting
• Business advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accountancy and Tax Services: Core professional services revenue from providing accountancy, tax compliance, and advisory services to business and individual clients
2. Payroll Processing: Managed payroll services including pension auto-enrolment and RTI compliance
3. Probate Services: Non-contentious probate work licensed by ICAEW, with fee estimates based on anticipated time input and hourly rates
4. Tax Investigation Protection: Tax investigation protection service with premiums starting at £49.35 + VAT for individuals and £99.70 + VAT for businesses

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Simpkins Edwards LLP is a firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers providing accountancy, tax compliance, tax planning, audit, corporate finance advisory, payroll, VAT, probate and estate administration services to businesses and individuals across the South West of England and the wider UK. The firm holds an ICAEW non-contentious probate licence and an AISMA medical-accounting affiliation, and delivers services through six Devon offices supported by a cloud-based client portal and cloud-accounting integrations.

Product overview

Simpkins Edwards LLP is a firm of Chartered Accountants offering a comprehensive portfolio of accountancy, tax, and business advisory services. The core offering consists of business services (audit, business advisory, corporate tax, corporate finance advisory, payroll, VAT) and personal services (personal tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, probate, trusts, expat tax, HMRC enquiries, litigation support). The firm specializes in specific sectors including agriculture, healthcare, dentistry, family business, and construction. The client portal and Making Tax Digital services provide digital integration layers connecting clients to cloud accounting platforms including QuickBooks Online, Sage One, and Xero. Additional services include a tax investigations protection scheme and specialized probate administration licensed by ICAEW.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate & Business Tax Services Corporate tax planning, compliance, and advisory for businesses including incorporation, profit extraction, succession planning, tax mitigation, and VAT planning.
• Audit Services Statutory and voluntary audit services for charities, clubs, associations, housing associations, limited companies, pension schemes, and solicitors, delivered through network firm Simpkins Edwards Audit LLP.
• Business Advisory Services Comprehensive business advisory including bookkeeping, payroll, VAT advice, tax planning, dispute resolution, financing assistance, and management accounts for SMEs.
• Payroll Services Managed payroll processing including wage calculations, HMRC submissions, auto-enrolment pensions, statutory payments, and compliance management.
• Corporate Finance Advisory Corporate finance advice covering business acquisition and disposal, finance raising, due diligence, management buy-outs, succession planning, and transaction tax services.
• VAT Services VAT registration, compliance, return preparation, and consultancy services including reliefs optimisation for property development and equipment purchases.
• Personal Tax Services Personal tax compliance and planning including tax returns, capital gains tax planning, inheritance tax planning, trust management, and business succession planning for self-employed, landlords, and retirees.
• Probate & Estate Administration Non-contentious probate services including estate administration, inheritance tax forms, grant of probate applications, asset collection, liability settlement, and trust setup under wills; ICAEW licensed (reference C002500802).
• Capital Gains Tax Services Capital gains tax planning including asset disposal advice, ownership planning, capital loss advice, divorce advice, and relief optimisation.
• Inheritance Tax Services Inheritance tax planning including lifetime gifting, pension contributions, charitable donations, trust setup, and APR/BPR relief review.
• Expat Tax Services Tax services for expatriates covering UK residency status, double-taxation avoidance, tax return filing, and UK tax law compliance.
• HMRC Enquiries Support Representation and support during HMRC tax enquiries, including penalty negotiations, voluntary disclosures, and prior year return preparation.
• Tax Investigations Protection Service Annual insurance-backed tax investigation protection covering professional fees up to £100,000 for self-assessment, corporation tax, VAT disputes, and employer compliance enquiries; underwritten by Abbey Tax Protection.
• Trusts & Estates Services Trust management, estate planning, trustee services, and tax-efficient will advice for asset protection and beneficiary management.
• Litigation Support Expert witness services and forensic accounting support for business disputes, consequential loss, loss of earnings, matrimonial breakdown, professional negligence, and share valuations.
• Agricultural Sector Services Specialist accounting, tax, and advisory services for farming businesses including herd basis election, farmers' averaging relief, APR/BPR, succession planning, and BPS/SFI scheme guidance.
• Healthcare Sector Services Accountancy services for GP practices, consultants, locums, dental practices, care homes, and Primary Care Networks including management accounts, KPI benchmarking, and quarterly strategy meetings.
• Dental Sector Services Specialist accounting for dental practices including management accounts, KPI analysis, benchmarking, tax planning, and practice sale/acquisition support.

Named customers9 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Wolters Kluwer (CCH)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides accounts and tax return production software, internal database and document transfer capabilities for firm operations
• Sage Group plccoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides Sage accounting software and Sage Payroll for cloud bookkeeping and payroll processing services
• Intuit Limited (QuickBooks Online)coreTechnology or IntegrationRecommended cloud accounting provider for bookkeeping and financial management
• Xero LimitedcoreTechnology or IntegrationRecommended cloud accounting platform for real-time online accounting
• BDO LLP (P11d Enterprise)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides P11d preparation software for employee benefits reporting
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides email management, servers and office software for firm infrastructure
• Practice 2 Practice Ltd (DocSAFE)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides document transfer service for secure client document exchange
• Receipt Bank Limited (Dext)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides bank statement and invoice recognition for automated bookkeeping
• Markel CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides tax investigation insurance service and mailing subcontractor
• MailchimpcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmail marketing platform for client communications and newsletters
• GoCardlesscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDirect debit payment processor for client invoice payments
• WorldPaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline payment processor for secure invoice payment 24/7
• AISMA (Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of UK accountancy firms providing expert advice to medical practices, GP practices, and hospital doctors
• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional membership body; firm is ICAEW member and licensed for non-contentious probate work
• Abbey Tax ProtectioncoreTechnology or IntegrationUnderwriter for tax investigation protection service, market leader in providing tax investigations insurance to the accountancy profession

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PKF Francis Clark: South West England-based chartered accountancy firm of comparable scale (~600 staff, multiple offices across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset). Direct peer on regional footprint, full-service accounting/tax/audit/advisory mix, and similar sector specializations including agriculture and private wealth.
• Bishop Fleming: Top 30 UK accountancy firm with strong South West presence (Exeter, Bristol, Taunton, Torquay) and a comparable full-service model covering audit, tax, advisory, and sector specializations. Direct regional competitor with overlapping Devon footprint.
• Albert Goodman: South West accountancy firm headquartered in Taunton with offices across Somerset and Devon. Comparable size and regional focus, serving similar owner-managed business, agriculture, and private client segments — a close direct peer.

Broad incumbents

• MHA: Top 15 UK accountancy and advisory network with strong regional firms across the country. Overlaps with Simpkins Edwards in audit, tax, and business advisory services, and competes for owner-managed businesses and mid-market clients in the South West via member firms.
• Crowe UK: National mid-tier UK accountancy firm offering audit, tax, advisory, and corporate finance services. Comparable business mix with broader geographic coverage; competes for mid-market and corporate clients in the same sectors.
• Moore Kingston Smith: UK Top 20 accountancy and advisory firm serving owner-managed businesses, private clients, and not-for-profits. Comparable full-service offering with similar sector depth in real estate, healthcare, and creative industries.
• Azets: Top 10 UK accountancy and advisory group formed via aggressive consolidation of regional firms. Offers the same audit, tax, advisory, and payroll services as Simpkins Edwards but with national reach and institutional backing — a key competitive and acquisition threat.
• BDO UK: Top 5 UK accountancy and advisory firm serving mid-market and large corporates. Competes with Simpkins Edwards for larger audit and corporate finance mandates in the South West and provides an exit/evolution path reference point for partnership-model firms.
• RSM UK: National mid-tier accountancy and advisory firm with strong owner-managed business and corporate finance practices. Comparable advisory and audit capabilities; competes for the same mid-market and succession-planning clients Simpkins Edwards serves.

Emerging players

• Xero Limited: Cloud accounting platform and partner rather than a direct service competitor, but represents the tech-enabled model that increasingly disintermediates traditional bookkeeping and compliance work — the core volume engine of firms like Simpkins Edwards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SimpkinsEdwards
• Facebookfacebook.com/SimpkinsEdwards

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Simpkins Edwards LLP