What Affinia does

Affinia is the trading name of LB Group Ltd, a UK-headquartered accountancy, tax and business advisory group serving more than 25,000 clients across owner-managed SMEs, charities and not-for-profit organisations, professional services firms, and mid-market enterprises. Core service lines include Accountancy & Advisory, Tax & Planning (corporation tax, property tax, private client/STEP work, employment solutions and Making Tax Digital compliance), Corporate Finance and M&A advisory, Audit & Assurance (ICAEW-regulated, ISA-compliant), and Payroll Outsourcing and Advisory. Sector specialisation spans education and academies, haulage/logistics, hotel and hospitality, media and entertainment, recruitment, science and technology, and startups and entrepreneurs.

The firm operates a hybrid cloud-accounting architecture in which Affinia's professionals configure and manage third-party platforms — primarily Xero (under a formal strategic partnership), Dext, QuickBooks Online, GoCardless, Starling Bank, Pleo, Swoop, Fathom, AM, Chaser, Crezco, and NextMinute — to deliver MTD-compliant bookkeeping, automated credit control, real-time management reporting, and end-to-end digital transformation engagements for clients. Digital Transformation is positioned as a discrete service module: existing systems are reviewed, software selected, integration delivered, training provided, and ongoing cloud health-checks offered. Underlying technology is therefore partner-platform-led rather than proprietary, with Affinia's differentiation lying in integration know-how, sector templates, and process optimisation methodology.

Revenue is generated on a professional-services, fee-for-engagement basis, structured as recurring monthly retainers (compliance, bookkeeping, management accounts, payroll) and project-based fees (tax planning, audits, M&A advisory, digital transformation). Pricing is bespoke and not publicly disclosed; engagement scope is determined by client complexity and sector. Distribution is overwhelmingly direct and relationship-led, executed through 17 (now 19) regional offices across London, the Midlands, East Anglia and South East England, layered with referral networks from existing clients, professional advisers and sector communities. The firm's GTM is further amplified through content marketing (thought leadership, case studies, podcast series), LinkedIn-led brand building, and active industry-event participation. Since May 2023 the platform has pursued a buy-and-build M&A strategy under private-equity sponsorship — first Sovereign Capital Partners, then RedBird Capital Partners from April 2026 — completing 16 bolt-on acquisitions and a transformative merger with three UHY Hacker Young offices (London, Nottingham, Brighton) that produced a £100m revenue, 1,000-plus employee combined entity trading in part as 'UHY Affinia'.

Name

Affinia

Legal name

LB Group Ltd

Website

https://affinia.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Affinia is a UK-based accountancy, tax and business advisory group serving 25,000+ SMEs, charities, and mid-market clients through 19 regional offices, offering recurring compliance, audit, payroll, M&A advisory, and cloud-accounting digital transformation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting and Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

General Ledger & Close (Journal Entries, Month-End Close, Reconciliations) (BPAAAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accounts Payable (Invoice Processing, 2/3-Way Match, Vendor Payments) (BPAAAGAA), Order-to-Cash (O2C) Operations (Order Admin, Credit, Invoicing, Collections Handoff) (BPAAAGAK)

Keywords

• Accountancy services
• Tax advisory
• Audit assurance
• Corporate finance
• Payroll outsourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Colchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Accountancy & Advisory: Comprehensive accounting, tax planning, audit, corporate finance, and payroll outsourcing services delivered through qualified professionals across multiple UK offices. Revenue generated through professional fees for ongoing advisory relationships and project-based engagements.
2. Corporate Finance & M&A Advisory: Transaction advisory services including management buyouts, business sales, acquisitions, due diligence, and business valuations. Revenue generated on a transaction basis.
3. Digital Transformation Services: Implementation, migration, and training services for cloud accounting and digital business systems, including software selection and ongoing technology support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Affinia is a UK accountancy and business advisory firm providing accountancy, tax, audit and assurance, corporate finance, and outsourced payroll services to SMEs, owner-managed businesses, and not-for-profit organisations. Its advisory teams work alongside clients across regional offices, supported by modern cloud accounting tooling.

Product overview

Affinia is a UK accountancy, tax, and business advisory group offering a unified platform of professional services rather than discrete software products. The core service lines include Accountancy & Advisory, Tax & Planning, Corporate Finance (including M&A), Audit & Assurance, and Payroll (outsourcing and advisory). Supporting modules include Digital Transformation and Cloud Accounting services that integrate with platforms like Xero, Dext, and QuickBooks to deliver automated bookkeeping, VAT compliance under MTD, and real-time financial reporting. The group serves diverse sectors including Education & Academies, Haulage & Logistics, Hotels & Hospitality, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Recruitment, Charities, Science & Technology, and Startups through specialist teams. The group has grown through acquisitions including UHY Hacker Young offices and Richard Place Dobson, operating across 17 offices with over 1,000 employees serving 25,000+ clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UHY Affinia: Combined entity name following the merger with three UHY Hacker Young offices in February 2026.

Products and services

• Accountancy services Preparation of statutory and management accounts, bookkeeping, and ongoing financial reporting for UK SMEs, owner-managed businesses, and not-for-profit organisations.
• Tax advisory Corporate tax, personal tax, VAT, and tax planning services delivered to businesses and individuals, including compliance filings and proactive advisory.
• Audit and assurance Statutory audit and assurance engagements for companies, charities, academies, and other regulated entities, including independent examinations where applicable.
• Corporate finance Corporate finance advisory services including mergers and acquisitions support, business valuations, transaction due diligence, and related deal advisory for SMEs and mid-market clients.
• Payroll services Outsourced payroll processing, RTI submissions, pension auto-enrolment administration, and related employment tax compliance for UK employers.
• Business advisory Strategic and operational advisory services supporting clients with growth, restructuring, succession planning, and financial performance improvement.

Quantifiable outcome

• £134,000 SDLT savings achieved through strategic planning for property acquisition client
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KRW AccountantsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Northamptonshire firm providing fixed fee accounting and tax compliance services to business owners. Acquisition adds Towcester office and expands Midlands presence.
• Richard Place DobsonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Crawley-based accountancy firm established in 1908, acquired as a bolt-on transaction. Specialises in charity and not-for-profit sectors, adding approximately 1,200 clients.
• UHY Hacker Young (Brighton, London & Nottingham offices)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Three UHY Hacker Young offices combined with Affinia to create UHY Affinia, generating £100m revenue with 1,000 employees across 17 offices. The merger creates a Top 25 UK accountancy provider.
• Kingsley NapleyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2026Kingsley Napley provided legal advice to UHY Hacker Young and Affinia on their merger, creating a £100 million revenue group.
• XerocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025Strategic partnership with Xero, a trusted cloud-based accounting software provider. Affinia recommends Xero solutions for MTD compliance and cloud accounting, working together to support clients' digital transition.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Azets: PE-backed (Hg Capital) UK and Nordic accountancy consolidator pursuing an aggressive buy-and-build strategy with a similar mid-market SME focus. Closest peer to Affinia by business model, sector mix and PE ownership profile.
• Sumer Group: PE-backed UK accountancy consolidator pursuing a buy-and-build strategy across regional firms. Closely mirrors Affinia's M&A-led growth model and target end-market.
• MHA (formerly MacIntyre Hudson): Top-30 UK accountancy group formed via merger of mid-tier firms; serves SMEs and mid-market with audit, tax and advisory. Highly comparable on size band and consolidation playbook.
• Mazars UK: Mid-tier international accounting firm with substantial UK practice serving SMEs and mid-market clients. Direct peer across audit, tax, advisory and outsourcing services.
• RSM UK: Mid-tier UK member of the RSM global network, providing audit, tax, consulting and corporate finance to mid-market clients. Directly comparable in scale and target customer profile.
• Moore Kingston Smith: Mid-tier UK accounting and advisory firm focused on SMEs, owner-managed businesses and not-for-profit sectors. Directly comparable on customer segments and core service lines.
• BDO UK: Top-tier UK mid-market accounting and advisory firm serving SMEs, mid-market and large corporates. Directly comparable on service breadth (audit, tax, advisory, corporate finance) and target client segments.
• Crowe UK: Mid-tier UK accounting firm (Crowe Global network) serving SMEs and mid-market clients across audit, tax and advisory. Comparable on service mix and customer base.
• Grant Thornton UK: Top-10 UK accounting and advisory firm with strong mid-market focus, including corporate finance and specialist sector teams. Closely comparable to Affinia's larger-accountancy positioning.
• UHY Hacker Young (UK network): UK member firm of the UHY international accounting network; three of its offices recently merged with Affinia to form UHY Affinia. Direct strategic comparator and partially overlapping business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/affiniagroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/affinia_group
• Facebookfacebook.com/LBGroupAccountants

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A4 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Affinia