David Allen

What David Allen does

David Allen is a privately held UK multi-service professional firm headquartered in Dalston (Carlisle), founded in 1997. The company operates from five offices across Cumbria and South West Scotland and employs over 150 professionals. It delivers an integrated bundle of chartered accountancy, tax planning and compliance, payroll, independent financial advice (FCA-regulated), managed IT services, debt recovery, and ICAEW-licensed probate and wills services, primarily to regional SMBs, agricultural businesses, individuals, and select institutional clients (schools, hospices, energy and manufacturing enterprises). The firm is structured around a parent entity (David Allen Chartered Accountants) and three wholly-owned subsidiaries: David Allen Financial Services (Dalston) Ltd, David Allen IT Limited, and Debts-In Limited (trading as David Allen Recovery Solutions).

The firm's core technology stack centres on Microsoft 365, Xero, Sage, QuickBooks, Veeam backup, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, with the IT Solutions division holding Microsoft Gold Partner status (2021) plus Solutions Partner Designations for Modern Work (2024) and Security (2026), and Xero Platinum Champion Partner status. Service delivery is supported by a Virtual Cabinet client portal and a MyAccountants mobile app. The firm is regulated across multiple frameworks: ICAEW for audit and probate, the FCA for financial services (Firm Reference 506138), and holds Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001 certifications for the IT division. The technology is not proprietary but is deeply integrated into the service delivery model, with the IT division acting as a managed external IT department for clients.

David Allen's revenue model is overwhelmingly professional services fee-based, supplemented by recurring managed services revenue in the IT division. The go-to-market is sales-led, relationship-driven, and regionally concentrated, relying on word-of-mouth referrals, content marketing, agricultural shows, community sponsorships, and Microsoft partnership co-marketing. Pricing is quote-based with no public disclosure; the only publicly disclosed fee is the statutory oaths and affidavits starting at £5. Customer concentration is low, with a long tail of SMB clients across multiple verticals and no single dominant account. Strategic activity over 2021-2026 has centred on progressive Microsoft partner tier upgrades, product line extensions into cyber insurance (RAW Insurance partnership) and home insurance (NEST Insurance), and organic capacity expansion in the IT Solutions division.

Name

David Allen

Legal name

David Allen Chartered Accountants

Website

https://david-allen.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

David Allen is a UK-based multi-service professional firm offering accountancy, tax, financial advisory, IT solutions, debt recovery, and wills/probate services to SMBs, agricultural businesses, individuals, and select institutions across Cumbria and South West Scotland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chartered Accountancy and Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities (523991), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Estate Planning & Trust Structuring Advisory (FSAEAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Estate Administration & Probate Services (FSAAANAE), Family Business & Succession Advisory (FSAAADAL), Insurance-Integrated Wealth Managers (RIA + Insurance Solutions) (FSAAACAI)

Keywords

• Chartered accountancy services
• Tax compliance and planning
• Financial advisory services
• Managed IT solutions
• Agricultural accountancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlisle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Accountancy Services: Chartered accountancy services including audit, bookkeeping, financial statements, VAT returns, and business advisory services for corporate and individual clients
2. Tax Advisory and Planning: Tax planning, compliance, investigation advice, inheritance tax, capital gains tax, R&D tax relief, and personal/business tax services
3. Financial Services: Independent financial advice including savings, investments, mortgages, protection insurance, and pension/retirement planning through FCA-regulated advisers
4. IT Solutions: IT support, managed services, cloud solutions, security services, and technology consulting delivered as an external IT department
5. Payroll Services: Outsourced payroll processing including calculations, HMRC submissions, pension contributions, and compliance management
6. Wills, Probate and Legal Services: Will writing, lasting power of attorney, trusts, probate services, and oaths/affidavits administration with ICAEW probate licensing
7. Debt Recovery: Debt collection and credit control services for businesses and individuals
8. Agricultural Accounting: Specialist agricultural accountancy services including Single Payment scheme advice and environmental schemes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

David Allen is a chartered accountancy and business advisory firm delivering accountancy, audit, corporate and personal tax, financial advisory (mortgages, investments, pensions), managed IT solutions, agricultural accountancy, debt recovery, and wills and probate services. It serves SMEs, owner-managed businesses, private individuals and agricultural clients across Cumbria and South West Scotland through six regional offices and a regulated financial services arm.

Product overview

David Allen is a multi-service professional firm offering integrated accountancy, tax, financial services, IT solutions, debt recovery, and wills and probate services through a platform-plus-specialist approach. The core accounting practice is supplemented by distinct divisions: David Allen IT Solutions (Microsoft Solutions Partner), David Allen Financial Services (FCA regulated), David Allen Recovery Solutions, and a specialist Agricultural Accountants team. The company provides these services from five offices across Cumbria and South West Scotland, with a team of over 150 professionals. Key products include accountancy and audit services, tax planning, payroll processing, independent financial advisory including mortgages, full IT department services (Microsoft 365, security, connectivity), debt recovery, and wills/probate services including ICAEW-accredited probate. The firm utilises technology platforms including Xero, QuickBooks, and Microsoft 365 for client service delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accountancy and audit services Statutory and management accounts preparation, annual audit, bookkeeping, payroll, VAT returns and management reporting for SMEs, owner-managed businesses and professional practices. Delivered by ICAEW- and ACCA-qualified teams from regional offices.
• Tax planning and compliance Corporation tax, personal tax and self-assessment compliance, alongside capital gains, inheritance tax, succession and general tax planning advice for businesses and private clients.
• David Allen Financial Services FCA-regulated independent financial advice covering mortgages, investments, pensions and protection for personal and business clients across the region.
• David Allen IT Solutions Managed IT services built around Microsoft 365, Azure, Copilot, Veeam backup and security tooling, plus document management and client portal solutions for SMEs and professional practices.
• Agricultural accountancy Specialist accountancy and tax service for farmers and rural estates, covering farm accounts, herd basis accounting, Basic Payment Scheme support, diversification and succession planning.
• Debt recovery services Commercial debt recovery support including pre-action correspondence, statutory demands and legal action for SMEs and larger clients with overdue receivables.
• Wills and probate Will drafting, lasting powers of attorney, probate and estate administration delivered through an SRA-regulated legal service within the firm.
• Client portal and digital collaboration tools Secure client portal for document upload and download, integrated video meeting capability and electronic signature workflows supporting remote accountancy and tax engagements.

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• RAW InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025David Allen IT Solutions and Financial Services joined forces with RAW Insurance to advise clients on cyber insurance, combining cybersecurity expertise with insurance advisory services.
• NEST InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 March 2024David Allen Financial Services partnered with NEST Insurance to streamline home insurance experience for clients, providing integrated insurance solutions alongside mortgage services.
• Watchtree Nature ReserveminorOthers · 29 October 2020Corporate social responsibility partnership where David Allen Financial Services collaborated with Watchtree Nature Reserve, supporting environmental conservation efforts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DavidAllenDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/DavidAllenGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/david-allen
• Instagraminstagram.com/DavidAllenDA

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 David Allen