Accountancy practices to acquire in the South East

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire an accountancy practice in the South East? Firmbase ranks 860 accountancy practices using public company information to help buyers prioritise firms for research and potential outreach. The Approach Score ranks firms using public signals including director age and tenure, ownership, business scale, financial strength and recent changes. These firms are not listed for sale, and the ranking does not indicate that an owner is considering a sale.

The median firm has 8 staff and has been in business for 15 years; 26 firms are owned by groups that have acquired several firms in this sector. Looking beyond the South East? Explore the full UK list of accountancy practices.

860

Firms

UK 6,347

33%

Every director 55+

UK 26%

33%

Held 75%+ by one person

UK 36%

15

Median years in business

UK 14

8

Median headcount

UK 8

£250k to £500k

Median turnover band

UK £250k to £500k · includes our estimates

26 firms owned by 9 groups that have bought several firms in this sector. That is 3% of this list, against 3% across the UK. Groups that own firms on this list include Xeinadin, Affinity Associates, Nuvo and TaxAssist Accountants. To have a group's name removed, email dave@firmbase.co.

Towns with the most firms

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

1

Alexander James

Thames Ditton, Surrey

Approach Score

90/100
  • 1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2004
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 13 staff · turnover est. £640k
  • Net assets £632k (Mar 2025)

Company no. 05037126 · Companies House

alexanderjames.co.uk

2

Yates & (accountants)

Farnham, Surrey

Approach Score

89/100
  • In post since 2012
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 5 staff · turnover est. £350k
  • Net assets £174k (Aug 2025)
  • PSC register changed Aug 2025
3

Poole Accounting Services

Bognor Regis, West Sussex

A director sits on 4 or more companies

Approach Score

87/100
  • In post since 1999
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent
More about this firm
  • 5 staff · turnover est. £285k
  • Net assets £165k (Aug 2025)

Company no. 03735333 · Companies House

pooleaccounting.co.uk

4

PKB Accountants

Crowthorne, Berkshire

Approach Score

87/100
  • 1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2015
  • 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 19 staff · turnover est. £1m
  • Net assets £929k (Mar 2026)

Company no. 09693147 · Companies House

pkb.co.uk

5

Hughes Collett

East Molesey, Surrey

A director sits on 4 or more companies

Approach Score

87/100
  • In post since 1996
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent
More about this firm
  • 5 staff · turnover est. £450k
  • Net assets £282k (Mar 2026)

Company no. 03238467 · Companies House

hughescollett.co.uk

6

Know Your Numbers

Outwood, Surrey

Approach Score

85/100
  • Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2011
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 5 staff · turnover est. £289k
  • Net assets £29k (Apr 2025)
  • PSC register changed Feb 2025

Company no. 07819556 · Companies House

knowyournumbers.biz

7

Quest Accounting Services

Milton Keynes

Approach Score

85/100
  • Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2003
  • 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 10 staff · turnover est. £598k
  • Net assets £13k (Mar 2025)

Company no. 04707203 · Companies House

quest-asl.co.uk

8

Crawford Accountants

Waterlooville, Hampshire

Approach Score

85/100
  • 2 directors aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2008
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 6 staff · turnover est. £350k
  • Net assets £37k (Jul 2025)
9

Kirkpatrick & Hopes

Reading, Berkshire

Approach Score

84/100
  • 2 directors aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2001
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 10 staff · turnover est. £516k
  • Net assets £161k (Dec 2025)
10

Broughton

Worthing, West Sussex

Approach Score

84/100
  • In post since 1998
  • 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 6 staff · turnover est. £606k
  • Net assets £467k (Mar 2026)

Company no. 03648143 · Companies House

bcoltd.com

11

Snedkers Accountancy Services

Witney, Oxon

A director sits on 4 or more companies

Approach Score

84/100
  • Longest in post since 2018
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 5 staff · turnover est. £212k
  • Net assets £21k (Dec 2025)
  • Director resigned Sep 2026

Company no. 11552181 · Companies House

12

Financial Progression

Marlow, Buckinghamshire

Approach Score

83/100
  • Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2008
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 6 staff · turnover est. £518k
  • Net assets £118k (Dec 2024)
13

Jenner Accountants

Milton Keynes

A director sits on 4 or more companies

Approach Score

83/100
  • In post since 2004
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 9 staff · turnover est. £758k
  • Net assets £28k (Mar 2024)
14

KS Accountancy

Winchester

A director sits on 4 or more companies

Approach Score

83/100
  • Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2013
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 11 staff · turnover est. £508k
  • Net assets £297k (Sep 2025)

Company no. 02972794 · Companies House

ksaccountancy.co.uk

15

Ruskells Chartered Accountants

Marlow, Buckinghamshire

Approach Score

83/100
  • Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2006
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 10 staff · turnover est. £377k
  • Net assets £519k (May 2025)

Company no. 05745228 · Companies House

ruskells.com

16

Haysden

Reading, Berkshire

Approach Score

82/100
  • 1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2004
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 5 staff · turnover est. £327k
  • Net assets £2k (Dec 2024)

Company no. 05302458 · Companies House

haysden.co.uk

17

Thorne Expatriate TAX Services

Woking, Surrey

A director sits on 4 or more companies

Approach Score

81/100
  • Longest in post since 2010
  • 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 12 staff · turnover est. £401k
  • Net assets £154k (Mar 2026)
  • Director resigned Sep 2026

Company no. 07230641 · Companies House

thorneets.co.uk

18

Atek Accounting

Weybridge, Surrey

Approach Score

81/100
  • Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2012
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 7 staff · turnover est. £271k
  • Net assets £39k (Dec 2025)

Company no. 08317569 · Companies House

atek-accounting.co.uk

19

Batchelor Coop

Eastry, Kent

Approach Score

81/100
  • Longest in post since 1992
  • 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 13 staff · turnover est. £601k
  • Net assets £193k (Sep 2025)

Company no. 02739117 · Companies House

batchelorcoop.co.uk

20

Accounts Action

Crockham Hill, Kent

Approach Score

81/100
  • Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2021
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 9 staff · turnover est. £264k
  • Net assets £75k (Apr 2025)
  • Director resigned Feb 2025 · PSC register changed Feb 2025

Company no. 05110488 · Companies House

accountsaction.co.uk

21

Payroll Perfection

Ringwood, Hampshire

Approach Score

81/100
  • Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2014
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 6 staff · turnover est. £322k
  • Net assets £94k (Mar 2025)
22

Absolute Tax

Bicester, Oxfordshire

Approach Score

81/100
  • 1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 55-59, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2010
  • 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 7 staff · turnover est. £782k
  • Net assets £892k (Dec 2025)

Company no. 07122547 · Companies House

absolutetax.co.uk

23

Harveys Insolvency & Turnaround

Newbury

Approach Score

81/100
  • In post since 2013
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent
More about this firm
  • 6 staff · turnover est. £796k
  • Net assets £612k (Oct 2025)
24

Encompass Accounting

Chatham

Approach Score

81/100
  • 2 directors aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2002
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 5 staff · turnover est. £194k
  • Net assets £36k (Mar 2025)
  • Director resigned Jan 2025
25

Beam Accountancy

Camberley, Surrey

Approach Score

81/100
  • Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2011
  • 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent
More about this firm
  • 6 staff · turnover est. £236k
  • Net assets £96k (Dec 2025)

Company no. 07573738 · Companies House

beamaccountancy.co.uk

835 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 860 for £799 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 860 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.

What's in the file

One row per firm, in Approach Score order, as Excel + CSV.

It holds the facts behind each score, points for each part of the score, financials with dates, publicly available contact details, where identified, director names and named shareholders.

Some people with significant control appear as Other individual, with no further detail. Director email lookups are not included.

How this list is filtered

  • 5 or more staff, from filed headcount or our estimate where none is filed.
  • Registered office in the South East.
See every filter on the UK list

How this list is built

The Approach Score ranks firms mainly on public Companies House information about owner tenure and age, ownership, size, financial strength and recent register changes.

Firms with higher scores appear first in each list.

Use the ranking to order research, then check each business directly.

Read how the Approach Score works

What it does not mean

No firm here is for sale, and the score says nothing about any owner's plans.

At least 95% of the firms where we hold directors had them checked in or after November 2026.

What we do not cover

Regulatory information is not included in this list. Buyers should check the relevant register as part of their due diligence. Check audit registration on the Register of Statutory Auditors and identify the supervising body, such as ICAEW. Ownership changes can affect eligibility, so discuss the proposed structure with that body.

Why age bands but no people's names

Age bands come from the month and year of birth on Companies House. This page shows no exact ages and no people's names. Both come with the purchased list. The band edges from 45 to 65 are the ages where the score changes. A row shows no age bands when a director's surname is in the firm's name, its group's name or its website. Those directors' ages still count towards the score.

Is this your firm?

You can ask us to take it off every acquisition page, and out of every list we sell after that. Give us your name and work email, and we send you a link to confirm. If your email address is on the firm's own website domain, the firm comes off once you confirm. If it is not, a person reviews your request first. A list already sold stays with its buyer.

You can find the company number on Companies House.

To have personal data erased, see our privacy policy.

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The standard Firmbase list

Buy the list of all 860 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.