Craufurd Hale

What Craufurd Hale does

Craufurd Hale is a Maidenhead-headquartered firm of chartered accountants and chartered tax advisers founded in 1949. Following its October 2024 acquisition by Wilson Partners, the practice now operates as a constituent brand of Wilson Partners Limited, a multi-office UK chartered accountancy group with seven offices spanning Maidenhead (Berkshire), Cambridge, Sevenoaks (Kent), Woking (Surrey), Plymouth, Oakham (Rutland), and Tonbridge. The combined entity delivers accounting, business and personal tax, statutory audit, corporate finance and M&A advisory, R&D tax reliefs, FCA compliance reporting, company secretarial, probate, trust, payroll, and corporate recovery services through a complex subsidiary structure that includes WP Audit Limited, WP Audit Services LLP, Craufurd Hale Audit Services Limited, Peplows Audit Limited, Lindeyer Francis Ferguson Limited, CH Probate Services Ltd, and Craufurd Hale US Tax Services Ltd.

The firm's underlying technology stack is conventional for a UK mid-tier accountancy practice: Xero cloud accounting (Platinum Partner status), Cyber Essentials Plus cybersecurity certification, and ICAEW-regulated audit and probate workflows. Pricing is engagement-based rather than subscription, with no publicly disclosed fee schedule; services are quoted per engagement on multi-year relationships, particularly for recurring accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and outsourced finance function work.

Customer segmentation is horizontal across three primary groups — SME businesses (primary), private equity investors (financial due diligence, transactional tax, portfolio company services), and private individuals (inheritance tax planning, family investment companies, international private client, US tax services, probate). Distribution is direct and relationship-led through the regional office network, supported by content marketing (weekly blog, video, webinars, downloadable business reports). The firm holds ICAEW Authorised Training Employer, ACCA Approved Employer, Disability Confident, B1G1 Movement Member, and ICAEW Probate licences, and has accumulated multiple 2023–2024 workplace and industry awards including Accountancy's Top 5 Best Firms to Work For and Best Accountant recognition.

Name

Craufurd Hale

Legal name

Wilson Partners Limited

Website

https://craufurdhalegroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Craufurd Hale is a Maidenhead-headquartered firm of chartered accountants and chartered tax advisers serving SMEs, PE investors, and private individuals. Founded in 1949 and acquired by Wilson Partners in October 2024, it now operates as part of a seven-office UK chartered accountancy and advisory group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chartered Accountancy and Business Advisory

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Other Accounting Services (541219), Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities (523991), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920)

akta.pro primary industry

Trust & Estate Tax Planning & Compliance (FSAEAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trust & Fiduciary Advisory for HNW/UHNW (Trust Structuring & Trustee Oversight) (FSAAABAF), Trust Administration & Fiduciary Accounting Services (FSAAANAF), Family Office Trust & Fiduciary Services (FSAEAKAF), Family Office Services (Single & Multi-Family Office) (FSABADAF), Private Banking & UHNW Wealth Advisory (FSAEABAC)

Keywords

• Chartered accountancy services
• Corporate tax advisory
• Statutory audit services
• Corporate finance advisory
• Private client tax planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Maidenhead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accounting and Bookkeeping Services: Ongoing accounting services for SMEs including financial reporting, payroll, and outsourced finance function.
2. Tax Advisory Services: Business tax, personal tax, R&D tax reliefs, inheritance tax planning, and tax compliance services.
3. Audit Services: Statutory audit and financial reporting services.
4. Corporate Finance / M&A: Acquisitions, management buyouts, business valuations, fundraising support, and transactional tax advice.
5. Advisory Services: Business strategy, financial modelling, virtual FD, FCA compliance, corporate recovery, and company secretarial services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Craufurd Hale is a Maidenhead-headquartered firm of chartered accountants and chartered tax advisers, founded in 1949, that provides integrated accounting, tax, audit, corporate finance/M&A, and private client advisory services to UK SMEs, private equity investors, and high-net-worth individuals. Following its October 2024 acquisition by Wilson Partners Limited, the firm's offerings now span ongoing accounting and bookkeeping, business and personal tax planning (including R&D reliefs, BADR, EIS/SEIS, and inheritance tax), statutory audit, acquisitions and management buyouts, financial due diligence, business recovery, FCA compliance reporting, payroll, company secretarial, probate, trust administration, and US tax services, delivered through seven UK offices.

Product overview

Wilson Partners is a multi-office chartered accounting and advisory firm that acquired Maidenhead-based Craufurd Hale in October 2024. The company offers an integrated suite of professional services including accounting, business tax, corporate finance/M&A, audit, business recovery, FCA compliance, tech start-up services, company secretarial, payroll, probate, trust services, and private client advisory. Services are organized around three client segments: SME businesses, private equity investors, and private individuals. The firm operates across multiple UK locations including Maidenhead (headquarters), Cambridge, Sevenoaks, Woking, Plymouth, Oakham, and Tonbridge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accounting Services Comprehensive ongoing accounting services for UK SMEs covering bookkeeping, financial statements preparation, payroll processing, and outsourced finance function support. Designed for small and medium-sized business owner-managers who need reliable financial reporting and day-to-day finance operations.
• Business Tax Business tax planning, compliance, and advisory service for UK SMEs and owner-managed companies, including assistance with HMRC enquiries, Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR), EIS/SEIS schemes, employee share schemes, R&D tax relief claims, and transfer pricing.
• Corporate Finance / M&A Corporate finance advisory service covering acquisitions, management buyouts, fundraising, business valuations, financial due diligence, and transactional tax advice. Targets SMEs considering sale or acquisition, private equity investors, and growth-stage companies.
• Statutory Audit Statutory audit and financial reporting services for companies requiring audited accounts, delivered through ICAEW-registered audit entities within the group.
• Business Recovery and Restructuring Corporate recovery solutions and restructuring advisory services for businesses in financial distress, helping owners stabilise operations and address viability challenges.
• FCA Compliance Reporting Financial Conduct Authority compliance reporting service for regulated businesses requiring ongoing FCA reporting and governance support.
• Tech Start-ups Services Specialised accounting, tax, and advisory service for technology-sector startups and software businesses, including R&D tax relief capture and EIS/SEIS planning.
• Company Secretarial Company secretarial service covering statutory compliance filings, maintenance of statutory registers, and administrative support for UK companies.
• Payroll Services Payroll processing and advisory service for businesses of all sizes, covering PAYE, pensions auto-enrolment, and payroll-related compliance.
• Probate Services Probate and estate administration service licensed by the ICAEW (accreditation reference C011006793), delivered through CH Probate Services Ltd for executors and families handling estates.
• Trust Services Trust creation and ongoing administration service supporting estate planning, asset protection, and wealth management for individuals and families.
• Private Client Services Comprehensive private client advisory service covering personal tax planning, inheritance tax planning, Family Investment Companies, international private client services, US tax services, property taxation, will writing, and separation/divorce financial advice for HNW individuals and families.
• R&D Tax Reliefs R&D and innovation tax reliefs advisory covering Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC), R&D tax relief for SMEs, Patent Box, and other innovation incentives for technology and innovative businesses.
• Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Advisory and support service helping individuals and businesses comply with HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax requirements.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• B1G1minorOthersWilson Partners is part of the B1G1 movement, believing that businesses have responsibilities beyond shareholders and employees. This partnership focuses on social impact and giving back through business activities.
• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationWilson Partners holds Xero Platinum Partner status, indicating significant integration with the Xero cloud accounting platform for serving SME clients.
• ICAEWcoreOthersWilson Partners is an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer, accredited to train future chartered accountants. They also have WP Audit Limited registered for audit work by ICAEW.
• ACCAcoreOthersWilson Partners is an ACCA Approved Employer, providing professional development and career pathways for ACCA-qualified staff.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Haines Watts: UK mid-tier chartered accountancy network focused on SMEs, owner-managed businesses and private clients. Comparable on regional multi-office presence and SME/private client service mix.
• MHA MacIntyre Hudson: Top-20 UK accountancy group with strong SME and mid-market focus, including tax, audit, and advisory services. Highly comparable regional multi-office model.
• Kreston Reeves: Kent/South East UK chartered accountancy firm with strong private client, trust, probate, and SME practices. Directly comparable given Craufurd Hale's Sevenoaks/Tonbridge presence and trust/probate service line.
• Moore Kingston Smith: London-based chartered accountancy and advisory firm with strong SME and private client practices, including international tax and trust services. Comparable on multi-segment service model.
• PKF Smith Cooper: UK mid-tier chartered accountancy firm with corporate finance, tax, audit and advisory services for SMEs and PE investors. Closely comparable on service mix and segment focus.
• Crowe UK: UK mid-tier chartered accountancy firm with strong audit, tax, and corporate finance practice serving SMEs and PE-backed companies. Closely comparable on multi-office footprint and service mix.
• Azets UK: Pan-Nordic/UK chartered accountancy group with strong SME, payroll, audit and tax advisory services. Comparable on multi-office UK footprint and segment coverage.

Broad incumbents

• RSM UK: Mid-tier UK accounting and advisory firm with strong PE middle-market deal services. Highly comparable multi-office, multi-segment model and PE advisor orientation.
• BDO UK: Top-10 UK chartered accountancy firm providing audit, tax, advisory and corporate finance services to SMEs, PE and HNW clients. Directly comparable in service breadth and mid-to-upper mid-market positioning.
• Mazars UK: International mid-tier firm operating in the UK with audit, tax, advisory and corporate finance. Comparable on breadth of services and target client segments (SME, PE, private clients).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/craufurdhale

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Craufurd Hale