Simpson Wood

What Simpson Wood does

Simpson Wood is a chartered accountancy and financial advisory firm founded in 1880, operating from a single headquarters on Market Street in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. The firm serves two primary client segments: businesses (predominantly SMEs with some corporate and government/education clients) and individuals/families, delivering services across five core practice areas — Audit and Accountancy, Tax and Estate Planning, Business Advice and Support (including payroll, HR, VAT and company secretarial), Corporate Finance (MBOs, acquisitions, disposals, due diligence, valuations), and Financial Planning (regulated by the FCA). It holds statutory registrations to conduct audit work in the UK and Ireland via the ICAEW and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registration 224131) through its subsidiary Simpson Wood (Financial Services) Limited.

The group's service delivery rests on a conventional professional services technology stack — audit and tax preparation software, payroll systems, financial planning platforms, and a client login portal for document exchange — with no proprietary AI/ML or developer-facing APIs. Specialist tools include a 'What's My Number' interactive calculator for business owners planning exits, and dedicated academy schools audit expertise targeting multi-academy trusts. The underlying technology layer is utility-grade rather than differentiated, with competitive advantage resting on professional qualifications, longevity, and client relationships rather than software.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees computed on time spent and skill level, plus commission income from referral partners (R&D tax and capital allowances specialists). The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-based, drawing on referrals, regional professional networks, content marketing via blog and social channels, and direct consultations booked through the website. The firm operates through three wholly-owned UK private limited companies under a unified Simpson Wood brand, with Managing Director Daniel McAllister leading operations.

Name

Simpson Wood

Legal name

Simpson Wood Limited

Website

https://simpson-wood.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Simpson Wood is a Huddersfield-based chartered accountancy and financial advisory firm founded in 1880, serving Yorkshire SMEs, multi-academy trusts, and individuals across audit, tax, corporate finance, and FCA-regulated financial planning services with a team of 50+ staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chartered Accountancy & Financial Advisory

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Audit & Assurance Services (BPAHABAA)

Keywords

• Chartered accountancy services
• Audit and tax advisory
• Independent financial planning
• Pensions and retirement advice
• Corporate finance advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Huddersfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services Fees: Fees computed based on time spent on client affairs by principals and staff, including sub-contractors or consultants where necessary, and on the levels of skill and responsibility involved. The firm also receives commission payments from specialist R&D Tax Advisors (18% of CT saving, with Simpson Wood receiving 15% of advisor fee) and Capital Allowance Tax Advisors (5% of allowances identified, with Simpson Wood receiving 20% of advisor fee).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Simpson Wood is a Huddersfield-based chartered accountancy and independent financial advisory firm that delivers professional accountancy, audit, tax, corporate finance, payroll/HR, and financial planning services to businesses, academy schools, and individuals under the Simpson Wood brand. The firm operates across two distinct client lines — a 'For Business' suite (audit, tax & estate planning, business advice & support, corporate finance, financial planning) and a 'For Individuals' suite (independent financial advice, tax & estate planning, pensions & retirement planning) — supplemented by specialist academy schools expertise and a 'What's My Number?' retirement planning calculator.

Product overview

Simpson Wood is a chartered accountancy and financial advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services organized around five core areas: Audit and Accountancy, Tax and Estate Planning, Business Advice and Support, Corporate Finance, and Financial Planning. The firm serves both businesses and individuals, providing services including statutory audits, accounts preparation, tax planning and compliance, payroll and HR support, corporate finance transactions, and individual financial planning including pensions and estate planning. The firm also offers specialized services for academy schools and provides a 'What's My Number' financial calculator tool for business owners planning exits. Services are delivered through their Huddersfield offices with client portal access for ongoing account management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audit and Accountancy Statutory audit, accounts preparation, audit exemption guidance, and specialist academy school audit services delivered to businesses, academies, and educational institutions by ICAEW-registered auditors in Huddersfield.
• Tax and Estate Planning (Business) Tax planning, corporation tax returns, income tax, fee protection, and tax-efficient portfolio management services provided to UK businesses and their owners.
• Business Advice and Support Payroll processing, auto-enrolment, HR support, VAT services, company secretarial, management accounts, business projections and forecasts, and startup advisory for UK SMEs and owner-managed businesses.
• Corporate Finance Management buy-out and buy-in advisory, business succession planning, acquisitions and disposals, business sale preparation, due diligence, valuations, and tax planning for corporate transactions.
• Financial Planning for Business Independent financial advice, employee benefits administration, workplace pension schemes, auto-enrolment compliance, and tax-efficient portfolio management for UK businesses, delivered through the FCA-regulated entity.
• Independent Financial Advice for Individuals Savings and investments, life assurance, critical illness cover, and access to financial planning expertise provided by FCA-regulated financial advisers (Simpson Wood (Financial Services) Limited) to individuals.
• Pensions and Retirement Planning Pension consolidation, pension growth strategies, pension withdrawal, SSAS pension advice, and SIPP pension advice for individuals approaching or in retirement, delivered via FCA-regulated advisers.
• Trusts Trust establishment and administration services as part of estate planning for individuals and families.
• Will Writing and Estate Administration Will writing services and estate administration support for individuals planning their legacy.
• Lasting Power of Attorney Lasting Power of Attorney documentation and advisory services for individuals wanting to formalise decision-making authority.
• Academy Schools Audit and Accountancy Specialised audit and accountancy services, including termly external assurance visits, statutory annual audits, and Department for Education returns, tailored for UK academy schools and multi-academy trusts.

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Duncan & Toplis: Regional UK chartered accountancy and business advisory firm headquartered in Lincolnshire with comparable service lines (audit, tax, financial planning, corporate finance) and similar mid-sized firm economics. Strong analogue for Simpson Wood's regional full-service model.
• Azets: Large UK and Nordic regional chartered accountancy group offering audit, tax, payroll, and advisory services to SMEs and individuals. Closely comparable business model to Simpson Wood but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• PKF Francis Clark: South West UK chartered accountancy firm providing audit, tax, corporate finance, and financial planning to SMEs, corporates, and private clients. Closely aligned service portfolio and regional mid-tier firm positioning.
• Haines Watts: National network of regional chartered accountants and business advisers in the UK, with comparable full-service offerings (audit, tax, corporate finance, financial planning) and a similar mid-market regional firm model. Directly comparable in service mix and target SME client base.
• Bishop Fleming: Top 40 UK chartered accountancy firm covering the South West and Midlands with audit, tax, corporate finance, and wealth advisory services. Comparable in service breadth, client mix (SMEs and individuals), and partner-led relationship model.

Broad incumbents

• Crowe UK: Top 10 UK accounting and advisory firm with national coverage across audit, tax, corporate finance, and wealth management. Operates as a larger, broader incumbent in the same SME-to-mid-market space Simpson Wood serves.
• BDO UK: Major mid-tier international accounting network operating across the UK with audit, tax, and advisory services for SMEs, corporates, and private clients. Represents the larger end of the competitive set pushing into the SME segment.
• MHA (MacIntyre Hudson): Top 15 UK chartered accountancy group with broad regional coverage and a similar full-service mix including audit, tax, advisory, and wealth management. Significantly larger scale but directly overlapping in offering and target segments.
• Grant Thornton UK: Top 6 UK accounting and advisory firm providing audit, tax, and transactional services across SME and mid-market segments. Larger, broader incumbent whose SME-focused service lines increasingly compete with regional firms like Simpson Wood.
• Saffery Champness: Top 20 UK chartered accountancy firm with strong private client and academy/charity audit practices — notably overlapping with Simpson Wood's academy schools niche. Larger and broader incumbent in adjacent service categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/simpsonwoodca
• Facebookfacebook.com/SimpsonWood
• LinkedInlinkd.in/simpsonwood
• Instagraminstagram.com/simpsonwoodca

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

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 Simpson Wood