The Buzzacott M&A team is delighted to have advised HURST Accountants on its sale to Dains Accountants.

Buzzacott advised the shareholders of HURST Accountants, a leading North West-based accountancy practice specialising in Audit, Tax Advisory, Corporate Finance, and Digital Transformation.

This strategic acquisition both enhances Dains Accountant’s specialist capabilities, as well as expanding their national geographic footprint, cementing it as a leading UK consolidator. Both firms share a long-standing commitment to helping ambitious clients succeed, investing in people, and delivering a high-quality, personal service built on trust and strong relationships.

Who were the firms involved?

HURST Accountants is one of the UK’s leading independent accountancy and business advisory firms, rooted in Stockport, with offices in central Manchester and London. With more than 40 years of experience and a team of 120+ professionals, HURST has built a strong reputation for supporting ambitious owner-managed and growing businesses across the North-West and beyond.

Dains Accountants is a leading UK accountancy and business advisory group with a long heritage dating back to 1926. The firm specialises in supporting fast-growing SMEs and owner-managed businesses across the UK and Ireland with a full suite of financial and strategic services. Following a majority investment by IK Partners, a European mid-market private equity (PE) firm, Dains has accelerated its growth as a PE-backed consolidator in the accountancy sector.

What we liked about this deal

We particularly valued working alongside an ambitious and principled shareholder team that places clients and people at the heart of everything they do. Cultural alignment was a critical consideration throughout the buyer mapping exercise. A highly selective shortlist was developed, with a clear focus on identifying a partner that shared the business’s values, approach to client service and commitment to its people. Finding the right long-term home for the business, one that would preserve its heritage while supporting its future growth, was paramount in safeguarding outcomes for employees and clients alike.

Drawing on our extensive experience advising on both buy-side and sell-side transactions within the accountancy and professional services sector, we delivered a competitive and well-structured process. This approach enabled us to maximise value while achieving an optimal deal structure, ensuring an outcome that met both the commercial objectives of the shareholders and the long-term strategic goals of the business.