MHA Larking Gowen

What MHA Larking Gowen does

MHA Larking Gowen is a UK chartered accountancy and business advisory firm operating as Larking Gowen LLP, an independent limited liability partnership headquartered in Norwich with five offices across East Anglia (Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Diss and Fakenham). The firm traces its origins to 1888 and has grown to a headcount of 251–500, ranking as a Top 50 UK accounting firm and an independent member of PrimeGlobal, a worldwide association of around 300 advisory and accounting firms.

Its service portfolio spans audit and assurance, statutory accounts and tax compliance, corporate tax, employment tax, VAT and Making Tax Digital support, corporate transactions (buy-side, sell-side, valuation and due diligence), insolvency and recovery, internal audit, payroll outsourcing, ESG advisory, private client/trusts/probate, and performance coaching. Technology is delivered through certified partnerships with Xero and QuickBooks for cloud accounting implementation, a Virtual Cabinet client portal for secure document exchange, and most recently adoption of the IRIS Firm Management platform as an early-adopter Top 50 firm. The firm has developed proprietary assets such as an annual Tourism Business Survey and a Tax Enquiry Protection Service, and operates multiple podcasts including Leadership & Life Chat and the Tourism Business Chat.

The business model is professional services fee-based, with engagement pricing typically quote-driven by scope and complexity rather than publicly disclosed. Customer segments are organised vertically, with primary specialisms in owner-managed businesses, medical professionals (GPs, hospital doctors, dentists), farms and rural business, and secondary segments in charities, tourism and hospitality, legal firms, and corporate transactions clients. The firm is partner-owned, with no external investment, and pursues growth through internal partner promotions, sector specialisation, regional office expansion, and thought leadership rather than M&A.

Name

MHA Larking Gowen

Legal name

Larking Gowen LLP

Website

https://larking-gowen.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

MHA Larking Gowen is a UK Top 50 chartered accountancy and business advisory firm operating from five East Anglia offices (Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Diss, Fakenham), serving owner-managed businesses, medical professionals, farms, charities and tourism operators with audit, tax, corporate transactions, payroll and digital accounting services as a PrimeGlobal member firm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chartered Accountancy Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Practice Brokerage (Medical/Dental/Legal/Accounting) (FSAEAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Distressed Business Sales & Turnaround Brokerage (FSAEAIAJ)

Keywords

• Chartered accountancy services
• Audit and assurance
• Tax advisory services
• Business advisory services
• Payroll outsourcing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ipswich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 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 Fees: Revenue generated from providing accounting, audit, tax, advisory, and business consulting services to clients. Fees are typically based on fixed engagements, hourly rates, or recurring retainer arrangements depending on service type.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Larking Gowen is a UK chartered accountancy and business advisory firm delivering audit, tax, corporate transactions, insolvency, payroll outsourcing, digital accounting, ESG, internal audit, probate, and business coaching services. The firm operates from five offices across East Anglia (Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex) and serves owner-managed businesses, medical professionals, farms, tourism operators, charities, professional services firms, and private clients with sector-specialist teams. Revenue is generated primarily through professional service fees for recurring compliance, advisory engagements, and transactional mandates.

Product overview

Larking Gowen is a professional services firm offering a comprehensive suite of accountancy and business advisory services. Their service portfolio is organized by sector expertise including Audit and Assurance, Business Services (covering start-ups, accounts, outsourcing, and Finance Director support), Corporate Transactions (buying, selling, valuing businesses), Digital Accounting Services, ESG, Insolvency & Recovery, Internal Audit, Payroll, Performance Coaching, Private Client/Trusts/Probate, and Tax advisory. They operate across multiple industry verticals including automotive, farms and rural business, property and construction, manufacturing, medical (GP practices, dentists, pharmacists), not for profit (charities, education), professional services, retail, technology and digital, and tourism and leisure. They are an independent member firm of PrimeGlobal, providing global reach to their East Anglia-based clients. The firm does not offer a unified software product but provides professional services supported by accounting software expertise (Xero, QuickBooks).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audit and Assurance Professional audit and assurance services examining financial statements and providing independent verification for businesses and organisations.
• Business Services Comprehensive business support covering start-up advisory, accounts and tax preparation, outsourcing services and outsourced Finance Director support for owner-managed and growing businesses.
• Buying, Selling and Valuing Your Business Corporate transactions advisory covering acquisitions, disposals, MBOs, due diligence and business valuations for SMEs and mid-market companies.
• Digital Accounting Services Cloud accounting implementation and migration support for Xero and QuickBooks, alongside data empowerment and Making Tax Digital compliance services.
• Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Advisory ESG advisory services helping businesses with sustainability reporting, governance frameworks, and responsible business practices.
• Insolvency & Recovery Insolvency practitioner services and business recovery advisory for companies facing financial difficulties.
• Internal Audit Independent internal audit services evaluating risk management, controls, and governance processes.
• Outsourced Payroll Services Payroll processing and outsourcing services for businesses of various sizes.
• Performance Coaching Business and leadership coaching services to help owners, partners and senior individuals achieve personal and commercial goals.
• Private Client, Trusts & Probate Wealth management services covering international tax planning, probate, trust administration, estate planning, and personal tax compliance for high-net-worth individuals and families.
• Tax Advisory Tax advisory covering corporate tax, employment tax, Making Tax Digital compliance, VAT, and international tax for businesses.
• Tax Enquiry Protection Service Specialist service covering professional fees incurred by clients during HMRC tax investigations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 25% reduction in write-offs for early adopter firms using IRIS Firm Management platform
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IRIS Software GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 May 2026Larking Gowen has been selected as an early adopter for IRIS Firm Management (IFM), a next-generation practice management platform for mid-to-large UK accounting firms. As a Top 50 firm, Larking Gowen will migrate to this platform to address industry challenges including average 105-day billing gaps and rising write-offs.
• PrimeGlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarking Gowen is an Independent Member Firm of PrimeGlobal, a worldwide association of Advisory and Accounting firms. This membership enables the firm to build strong global connections and provide international support to clients through a network of 300 member firms globally.
• Ashtons LegalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint seminar series covering legal considerations around partnership structures and succession planning for business clients. Co-hosted events provide complementary expertise to shared clients.
• Alan Boswell GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Future Professionals Open Evening events, providing opportunities for attendees to explore careers in accountancy, insurance, and financial services in one place.
• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationXero certified partner providing cloud accounting software implementation and migration services. The firm has certified expertise in Xero with Making Tax Digital ready status.
• QuickBookscoreTechnology or IntegrationQuickBooks certified partner offering accounting software solutions and MTD compliance support using Intuit's QuickBooks platform.
• Suffolk MindminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLarking Gowen is a 2026 sponsor of the SuffolkForward Network, supporting mental health and wellbeing initiatives in the workplace.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Crowe UK: Crowe UK is a Top 10 UK accountancy and advisory firm with comparable mid-market focus, full-service capabilities, and corporate finance advisory, competing for similar owner-managed business and corporate transaction mandates across multiple UK regions.
• Moore Kingston Smith: Moore Kingston Smith is a Top 30 UK chartered accountancy and advisory firm based in London with similar full-service offerings (audit, tax, corporate finance, outsourced services) and a comparable mix of owner-managed business and not-for-profit clients.
• Streets Chartered Accountants: Streets is a Top 50 UK chartered accountancy firm with offices across the East Midlands and East Anglia, directly competing with Larking Gowen for mid-market owner-managed businesses, professional practices, and corporate transactions in overlapping regional markets.
• Bishop Fleming: Bishop Fleming is a Top 40 UK chartered accountancy firm with regional offices across the South West and Wales, directly comparable in scale, service mix, and mid-market owner-managed business focus.
• MHA: MHA is the Top 15 UK accountancy and advisory network of which Larking Gowen is a member firm. Peer comparison is direct as MHA provides shared infrastructure, referrals, and benchmarking against other member firms of similar scale and capability.
• Lovewell Blake: Lovewell Blake is a regional UK chartered accountancy firm with offices across East Anglia and the East Midlands, competing head-to-head with Larking Gowen in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex for similar owner-managed business and professional practice clients.
• PKF Smith Cooper: PKF Smith Cooper is a Top 30 UK accountancy and advisory firm with regional offices, offering similar audit, tax, corporate finance, and specialist sector services to mid-market clients across multiple UK regions.

Broad incumbents

• BDO UK: BDO is a Top 10 UK and global accountancy firm offering overlapping audit, tax, and advisory services to mid-market clients, with greater international capability and broader resource base than Larking Gowen.
• RSM UK: RSM is the UK's leading mid-tier accountancy network offering the same core services as Larking Gowen but with significantly greater scale, international reach, and resources, competing for larger mid-market and cross-border mandates.
• Grant Thornton UK: Grant Thornton is a major UK and global mid-tier accountancy firm with significant overlap in audit, tax, advisory, and corporate finance services for mid-market businesses and owner-managed companies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LarkingGowen
• Facebookfacebook.com/LarkingGowen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/larking-gowen?trk=ppro_cprof
• Instagraminstagram.com/larkinggowen
• TikToktiktok.com/@larkinggowen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 MHA Larking Gowen