PKF Smith Cooper

What PKF Smith Cooper does

PKF Smith Cooper is a privately held, partner-led UK accounting and business advisory firm founded in 1985 and headquartered in Derby. Operating from six offices across the Midlands (Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, Ashbourne, Telford, and Hereford), the firm delivers a full-service portfolio spanning audit and assurance, corporate and personal tax advisory, VAT and employment tax, corporate finance and M&A, transaction and advisory services (due diligence, valuations, financial modelling), business recovery and restructuring, and outsourced bookkeeping and management accounting. Its primary client base comprises owner-managed businesses, SMEs, and mid-market companies, supplemented by academies, charities, public sector bodies, and UK subsidiaries of overseas companies.

The firm operates through two group subsidiaries: PKF Smith Cooper Systems, the UK's leading Sage specialist offering Sage 200 and Sage Intacct with approved third-party integrations, and PKF Infuse, a Midlands-based IT managed service provider with over ten years' regional experience. Technology partnerships include Xero (Global Partner since 2020), Dext for automated receipt capture and transaction matching, and Syft for AI-powered financial reporting and multi-entity consolidation. Distribution is primarily direct, partner-led, and relationship-driven, supported by content channels including the Advisory Hour webinar series, the Summed Up podcast, a news and insights blog, and an email newsletter.

Revenue is generated predominantly through professional services fees (quote-based, annual cadence), supplemented by transaction fees in the M&A practice, subscription revenue from PKF VAT Assist (quarterly packages from £200 per hour), and managed services revenue from PKF Infuse. The firm is a member of the PKF Global network operating in 150 countries, enabling cross-border advisory and referral flow. In 2025, the corporate finance team completed £400m of total deal value, ranking second most active in the Midlands and sixth in the UK, while PKF Smith Cooper Systems recorded £10m turnover with 45% growth in its Sage Intacct division. A stated five-year plan to double in size is supported by recent acquisitions (BLB Advisory in April 2024) and senior leadership hires in corporate tax and M&A advisory.

Name

PKF Smith Cooper

Legal name

PKF Smith Cooper

Website

https://pkfsmithcooper.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

PKF Smith Cooper is a privately held UK Midlands-based accounting and advisory firm offering audit, tax, corporate finance, business recovery, and outsourced services to owner-managed businesses, SMEs, and mid-market companies across six offices and via the PKF Global network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting and Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Outsourced Finance & CFO Services (BPAHABAE)

Keywords

• Accountancy and audit services
• Tax advisory and compliance
• Corporate finance advisory
• Business recovery and restructuring
• Outsourced bookkeeping and payroll

Headquarters

HQ city

Derby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Audit and Assurance Services: Statutory audit services for corporations, academies, charities, and partnerships including internal audit capabilities
2. Tax Advisory and Compliance: Corporate tax, personal tax, VAT & indirect tax, employment tax, R&D tax incentives, capital allowances, and Making Tax Digital compliance services
3. Business Services and Accounting: Bookkeeping, management accounting, company secretarial, statutory accounts production, and business start-up support services
4. Corporate Finance and M&A: Mergers and acquisitions advisory, business valuations, disposals, buyouts, growth finance, and exit strategy services. Completed £400m total deal value in 2025
5. Transaction and Advisory Services: Buy-side due diligence, vendor due diligence, bank and refinancing due diligence, and wider advisory support including valuation and financial modelling
6. Business Recovery and Restructuring: Insolvency services, business recovery advisory, and restructuring support for companies, partnerships, and individuals
7. PKF VAT Assist Subscription: Premium consultancy service providing on-demand access to VAT and indirect tax expertise with quarterly subscription packages starting from £200 per hour
8. IT Managed Services (PKF Infuse): IT support and consultancy services for businesses across the region

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PKF Smith Cooper provides a full range of accountancy, audit, tax, corporate finance, transaction advisory, business recovery and restructuring, private client, and outsourced services to owner-managed businesses, SMEs, mid-market corporates, public sector bodies, charities, and UK subsidiaries of overseas firms across the Midlands region. The firm also delivers technology solutions through its PKF Smith Cooper Systems division (Sage 200 and Sage Intacct), cloud accounting via its Global Xero Partnership, and IT managed services through PKF Infuse.

Product overview

PKF Smith Cooper is a multi-award winning accounting and business advisory firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional services and technology solutions. The core offering includes audit, business services, tax services (corporate, personal, VAT, employment), corporate finance, transaction and advisory services, business recovery and restructuring, private client services, and outsourced services. The firm distributes technology products through its PKF Smith Cooper Systems division (Sage 200, Sage Intacct), maintains a global Xero partnership for cloud accounting, and offers specialist tools including PKF VAT Assist for indirect tax consultancy and Syft for AI-powered financial reporting. Advisory content is delivered through the Advisory Hour webinar series and Summed Up podcast. PKF Infuse provides IT managed services as part of the group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PKF Infuse: IT Managed Service Provider offering IT support and consultancy to businesses
• PKF Smith Cooper Systems
• PKF VAT Assist

Products and services

• Audit and Assurance Services Statutory audit and assurance services including external audit and internal audit for corporations, academies, charities, and partnerships, with focus on building knowledge and understanding of client businesses beyond compliance.
• Tax Advisory and Compliance Services Corporate tax, personal tax, VAT & indirect tax, employment tax, R&D tax incentives, capital allowances, and Making Tax Digital compliance services for owner-managed businesses, SMEs, and larger enterprises.
• Corporate Finance and M&A Advisory Mergers and acquisitions advisory, business valuations, disposals, buyouts, growth finance, and exit strategy services, with deal capabilities up to £150m and partnerships with private equity funders.
• Transaction and Advisory Services Buy-side due diligence, vendor due diligence, bank and refinancing due diligence, and wider advisory support including vendor assist services, valuation, and financial modelling.
• Business Recovery and Restructuring Insolvency services, business recovery advisory, and restructuring support for companies, partnerships, and individuals/sole traders, including rescue transactions.
• Business Services and Outsourced Accounting Bookkeeping, management accounting, company secretarial, statutory accounts production, payroll, and business start-up support services tailored to owner-managed businesses.
• Private Client Services Personal tax compliance, personal tax advice, and specialist farms and landed estates advisory for high-net-worth individuals and rural businesses.
• PKF VAT Assist Subscription-based consultancy providing on-demand access to indirect tax expertise covering compliance, international supply chain matters, land and property VAT, and input VAT treatment.
• Internal Audit Services Independent, objective assurance services evaluating risk management, internal controls, and governance processes, providing practical forward-looking insight for better decision-making.
• PKF Smith Cooper Systems (Sage Solutions) Group division providing Sage 200 and Sage Intacct software solutions plus Sage-approved third-party integrations, implementation, training, and managed support for the SME market.
• PKF Infuse (IT Managed Services) IT support and consultancy services including regular system reviews and business process optimization for businesses across the Midlands region.
• Xero Cloud Accounting Services Cloud-based accounting implementation, training, support, and advisory services using Xero as the software of choice for small and medium-sized businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• £400m total deal value completed in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, supporting and minor.

• XerocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Global Xero Partner since 2020, providing cloud-based accounting solutions. PKF Smith Cooper recommends Xero as their software of choice for small and medium-sized businesses, offering implementation, support, and integration services.
• PKF GlobalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPKF Smith Cooper is the home of PKF in the Midlands and active member of PKF Global, operating in unison across 150 countries. The partnership enables local expertise with extensive territorial knowledge, providing audit, accountancy, tax, and advisory services aligned with international expectations and market needs.
• SagecoreTechnology or IntegrationPKF Smith Cooper Systems is the UK's leading Sage specialists, offering Sage 200 and Sage Intacct solutions along with approved third-party integrations. The partnership provides integrated software solutions to the SME market.
• DextsupportingTechnology or IntegrationDext integration implemented for automated publishing and transaction matching, enabling clients to capture, store, and manage receipts, bills, and invoices through seamless integration with cloud accounting platforms.
• SyftsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSyft interactive reporting tool integrated for AI-powered financial reporting, providing visual reports, dashboards, and consolidation tools for multi-entity financial data analysis.
• PKF Smith Cooper SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company and UK's leading Sage specialists providing integrated software solutions including Sage 200 and Sage Intacct to the SME market, combining customer service with technical expertise.
• PKF InfusesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company and Midlands-based IT Managed Service Provider with over 10 years' experience providing IT support and consultancy to businesses across the region.
• Mulberry AdvisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Nap Gagh of Mulberry Advisors for developing the UK waste sector insight report, identifying deal activity and investment appetite across the sector.
• Flint BishopminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal advisors to sellers in the Martyn Barratt Transport administration, working alongside PKF Smith Cooper's business recovery advisory services.
• FreethsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal advisors to purchasers in the Martyn Barratt Transport acquisition, collaborating with PKF Smith Cooper on job-saving rescue transactions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BDO UK: BDO UK is a top-tier mid-market accounting and advisory network directly comparable to PKF Smith Cooper in serving UK SMEs, owner-managed businesses, and mid-market corporates with audit, tax, and corporate finance services. As a Tier-2 incumbent, BDO is the most relevant benchmark for scale and service-line breadth.
• Grant Thornton UK: Grant Thornton UK is a leading mid-market audit, tax, and advisory firm serving owner-managed businesses and mid-market corporates - the same core client base as PKF Smith Cooper. Competes head-to-head for Midlands M&A, transaction, and advisory mandates.
• RSM UK: RSM UK is a top-tier mid-market accounting and advisory firm with strong SME and owner-managed business focus. Directly competes with PKF Smith Cooper in audit, tax, corporate finance, and recovery services for the same regional and sector-specific client base.
• Mazars UK: Mazars UK is a mid-market audit, accountancy, tax, and advisory firm with a similar client mix to PKF Smith Cooper. Operates a regional office model and competes for the same owner-managed and mid-market mandates including M&A advisory.
• Crowe UK: Crowe UK is a mid-market accounting and advisory firm serving owner-managed businesses and mid-market corporates with audit, tax, and corporate finance services. Direct competitor in the same client segments as PKF Smith Cooper.

Direct peers

• Moore UK (Moore Kingston Smith): Moore UK is a regional mid-tier accounting network serving owner-managed businesses and SMEs with audit, tax, and advisory services. Closely comparable as a network-affiliated regional firm of similar scale to PKF Smith Cooper's Midlands operation.
• MHA (formerly MacIntyre Hudson): MHA is a UK Top 10 accountancy network providing audit, tax, and advisory to owner-managed businesses and mid-market clients via regional firms. Strong overlap in service mix, client profile, and regional delivery model with PKF Smith Cooper.
• Dains Accountants: Dains Accountants is a Midlands-based regional accounting and advisory firm directly comparable to PKF Smith Cooper in geographic focus, owner-managed business orientation, and full-service audit/tax/advisory offering. Head-to-head competitor for the same Midlands client pool.
• Bishop Fleming: Bishop Fleming is a regional UK accounting and advisory firm with strong owner-managed business and SME focus. Comparable in scale and mid-tier service offering to PKF Smith Cooper, particularly competing for regional advisory and corporate finance mandates.
• Haines Watts: Haines Watts is a regional UK accounting and advisory firm focused on owner-managed businesses and SMEs. Highly comparable service mix and client profile to PKF Smith Cooper with similar mid-tier positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/00cg3jI3JKS8VEd72Ow0EZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pkf-smith-cooper
• Xx.com/PKFSmithCooper
• Facebookfacebook.com/PKFsmithcooper

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 PKF Smith Cooper