Interested in joining us?

Joining a private equity-backed group can offer significant strategic and financial advantages for accountancy/business advisory practices seeking growth, stability and long-term value creation.

The benefits of collaborating

You will have a recurring revenue model, strong client relationships, and potential for scalable growth. Moreover, you will have a capable and dependable Partner-group and may have sector specialisms and service lines which complement the existing Shaw Gibbs Group offering.

Often, geographical synergy is important to us as we look to expand in The UK and Ireland.

Advising over 25,000 businesses and individuals the Group operates across a variety of sectors.

Allowing us to offer tailored financial strategies and navigate sector-specific regulations.

Sectors

Creating a fully integrated and aligned practice.

Ensuing the firms that join the group can provide ongoing service-excellence to their clients but additionally have access to the specialist experts within the wider group.

Services

Investing in a rewarding and engaging environment.

To facilitate a smooth-exit for those who are approaching retirement.

Ensuring the next generation of high-potential employees are rewarded through career -progression and incentivization.

To create a long-term sustainable business and a working environment that is both rewarding and engaging.

Careers and talent

Interested in joining the Shaw Gibbs Group?

If you are interested in enhancing your existing recurring revenue model, maintaining your strong client relationships, and building on your potential for scalable growth.

Join a capable and dependable private equity-backed practice with a strong leadership team and a collaborative Partnership.

Contact Peter O’Connell direct for a confidential conversation.

Email Peter O'Connell

Post-integration benefits

Access to new/enhanced service lines.

For example, corporate tac, corporate finance and HR services to improve client experience and boost top-line growth through cross-selling opportunity.

Centralised corporate functions

A central corporate functions team which includes: IT, marketing, talent acquisition, talent development, finance, people advisory and compliance.

Standardised policies and procedures

To improve regulatory alignment and reduce risk exposure.

Common IT and communications platforms

Taking advantage of economies of scale and enhancing operational performance.

Rollout of systems and processes

To streamline the business, maximize profits and enhance shareholder returns.

Improved innovation capacity

Via the cross-pollination of ideas and talent to spark innovation and new service offerings.

Clear succession plans

To facilitate a smooth exit for retiring Partners.

Shareholder confidence

With well-executed integrations signalling stability and growth potential, boosting investor trust.

Explore our specialised sectors

Tailored financial insights and compliance strategies that align with unique sector challenges.

All Sectors

Acquisitions and milestones

April
2026

Woodward Hale joins Martin and Company, part of the Shaw Gibbs Group.

The planned succession-step supports the long-term strength and continuity of the business while maintaining the client relationships and sector expertise Woodward Hale is known for.

Apr 26
Woodward Hale Joins Martin and Company, Part of the Shaw Gibbs Group
April
2026

Woodward Hale joins Martin and Company, part of the Shaw Gibbs Group.

The planned succession-step supports the long-term strength and continuity of the business while maintaining the client relationships and sector expertise Woodward Hale is known for.

Jan 26
Shaw Gibbs Enters the Irish Market Through Strategic Partnership with Crowleys DFK
January
2026

Shaw Gibbs Enters the Irish Market Through Strategic Partnership with Crowleys DFK

Marking a significant step in the firm’s continued geographic growth beyond the UK, enhancing its cross-border capabilities, and creates new opportunities to support clients operating across Ireland and internationally.

Dec 25
Officially ranked 31 among UK accountancy practices
December
2025

The Shaw Gibbs Group have officially been ranked 31 among UK accountancy practices, a growth of five places since last year.

The Accountancy Age Top 50+50 table (a collaboration with Intuit QuickBooks), showcases excellence in the UK accountancy sector and we are proud to have reached the Top 35 amongst our peers.

Dec 25
The Shaw Gibbs Group expands people expertise with acquisition of Reality HR
December
2025

The Shaw Gibbs Group expands people expertise with acquisition of Reality HR

Strengthening its advisory capabilities with the acquisition of Reality HR, one of the UK’s largest independent people management and learning and development consultancies.

Dec 25
Langdowns DFK rebrand as Shaw Gibbs
December
2025

Langdowns DFK rebrand as Shaw Gibbs

Same trusted team, now under the Shaw Gibbs brand, with wider expertise and broader services to support clients.

Nov 25
Shaw Gibbs Group announce four Partner promotions
November
2025

Announce four Partner promotions across the Group

The promotion of four professionals to Partner, a reflection of their exceptional contributions to their individual firms and the Shaw Gibbs Group as a whole.

Feb 25
Celebrated as DFK EMEA Firm of the Year at Lisbon conference
February
2025

Celebrated as DFK EMEA Firm of the Year at Lisbon conference

Honoured with the DFK EMEA Firm of the Year award at the DFK EMEA conference held in Lisbon, Portugal.

This is awarded annually to the firm that demonstrates outstanding achievements and contributions to the EMEA region.

Dec 24
Achieves Top 40 status in Accountancy Age Top 50+50 ranking
December
2024

Achieved Top 40 status in Accountancy Age Top 50+50 ranking

Recognised as one of the top 40 accountancy firms in the Accountancy Age Top 50+50 ranking.

Nov 24
Expands geographical reach through merger with Hampshire based Langdowns DFK
November
2024

Merger with Langdowns DFK (Langdowns), a well-respected practice with three offices in Hampshire.

With a 70 year history and known for its commitment to delivering exceptional client service, Langdowns brings a wealth of expertise and a dedicated team of professionals to the Shaw Gibbs family.

Sep 24
Bolsters presence via merger with Alliotts
September
2024

Bolstered presence in London and Surrey by merging with Alliotts LLP.

With offices in London and Guildford, Alliotts can trace their origins back to 1869 and their specialist teams also advise on business strategy and corporate finance; a strong Media team and China Desk are amongst its niche offerings.

Apr 24
Strengthens offering through merger with Martin and Company
April
2024

Strengthens offering through merger with Martin and Company

Merger with Martin & Company a prominent accountancy and tax advisory practice with three offices in Hampshire and Oxfordshire who are known for outstanding expertise in the farming/agricultural sector, landed estates and private client spaces. 

Sep 24
Acquisition of Sestini & Co
September
2024

Acquisition of Sestini & Co a specialist in tax consultancy for expatriates and high net worth individuals.

Amongst their offering is a particular niche in advising US citizens living in the UK, or an ‘accidental American’ needing to file US tax returns.

Dec 23
Acquisition of Harmer Slater
December
2023

Acquisition of Harmer Slater Limited, an established accountancy practice with two offices in Greater London.

Providing a comprehensive range of professional accounting advisory, assurance, tax and business advisory services for UK-based and overseas-owned entities.

Nov 23
Continues expansion with the acquisition of DNG Dove Naish
November
2023

Acquisition of DNG Dove Naish (DNG)

With a client-base ranging from private individuals to farming-partnerships, non-profit organisations and large corporates.

This acquisition marked the first step into the Northamptonshire region and the agricultural sector for Shaw Gibbs.  

Sep 23
Acquisition of Herbert Parnell
September
2023

Acquisition Herbert Parnell (the trading name of HPCA Limited)

A well-respected three partner accountancy practice based in Brookwood Surrey. Herbert Parnell subsequently moved into the Farnham office of Shaw Gibbs.

Apr 23
New office and team in Basingstoke
April
2023

Setting up a new office in Basingstoke.

Joining from a Top 10 UK practice, the team and their client-base became part of the Shaw Gibbs Group immediately. They are a proactive team of highly skilled tax and outsourcing professionals with decades of experience in the Basingstoke marketplace. 

Mar 23
Join forces with Wise & Co
March
2023

Wise & Co were the first acquisition Shaw Gibbs made after PE investment.

Nestled in the heart of Farnham overlooking this practice had been advising SMEs for over 50 years.  

They were seeking a collaboration to enhance and secure the long-term success of the firm and were also looking to provide a wider range of expertise to their clients. 

Nov 22
Apiary Capital invests
November
2022

Apiary Capital complete a £10m investment in Shaw Gibbs.

Apiary Capital is a UK private equity firm investing in the technology, education, healthcare and business services sectors. The firm seeks to acquire platform companies in attractive markets and supports management teams to accelerate growth through roll-ups, roll-outs and strategic acquisitions.

Jan 19
Pearson Buccholz joins Shaw Gibbs
January
2019

Eynsham-based Pearson Buccholz (PB) joined Shaw Gibbs in 2019

A Xero accountant with a client-bank which included film and radio celebrities.  

The Managing Partner, Lynne Buccholz was looking for a succession plan and they were keen to integrate with a local practice. PB relocated their employees to the Oxford headquarters of Shaw Gibbs soon after the merger. 

Jul 17
Acquisition of Cooper Murray
July
2017

Acquisition of Cooper Murray

Cooper Murray were a London-based practice who happened to be based in the same building in Marylebone where Shaw Gibbs set up their first London foothold.  

Many of the Partners of Cooper Murray were at that point, looking towards an exit plan and Shaw Gibbs were able to provide this for them. Peter Watts, who joined the Group from Cooper Murray leads the Marylebone office. 

Mar 16
Expand into London
March
2016

Established Shaw Gibbs London accountancy team in Marylebone.

Primarily to fulfill growing demand from international property and business investment firms.

Oct 07
Shaw & Company and Edmund Gibbs merge to form Shaw Gibbs
October
2007

Shaw & Company and Edmund Gibbs came together to form Shaw Gibbs.

Making it one of the biggest finance and business advisory companies in Oxfordshire.

“Joining Shaw Gibbs Group has been transformative. It’s given us the ability to offer clients a wider range of services, supported by the expertise of a larger team, while still maintaining the personal touch they value.

I have also been able to expand my practice with the addition of a new team of US tax experts, something which would have been a lot harder to bring to fruition without the resource available within the Group.  

For the employees at Sestini & Co, it has opened new career opportunities, professional development, and the chance to collaborate across specialisms.

The culture of innovation and collaboration has strengthened our practice and allowed me to focus on client delivery and business development.”

Rachel Sestini
Partner, Sestini & Co 

Interested in joining us?

Peter O’Connell

Senior-leadership

Peter’s Experience

CEO, M&A, strategy