Moore Kingston Smith LLP, a leading multi-disciplinary advisory, tax and audit firm, announces that Shipleys LLP has joined its team.
As Moore Kingston Smith advances its growth strategy to expand its suite of professional services for clients, this merger adds new dimensions to its Financial Sector offering through Shipleys’ specialist Funds and Financial Services team. The team specialises in providing expert advice to authorised corporate directors, fund managers, venture capital funds, broker dealers and other financial services entities.
Their expertise also enables Moore Kingston Smith’s Fintech team to now offer safeguarding audits to payment services firms and e-money businesses. These audits ensure those businesses have effective controls in place to protect customer funds and comply with regulations.
A medium-sized firm of chartered accountants and business advisers, Shipleys specialises in niche markets, including financial services, and works with a wide range of sectors. With offices based in London and Godalming, their 19 partners and over 150 people join Moore Kingston Smith’s 80 partners and 1,000 people, marking the latter’s largest merger to date.
Moore Kingston Smith’s Financial Services team supports clients of all sizes, from start-ups to substantial private and public companies across the industry. As they face increasing legislative and supervisory requirements, it provides a range of integrated governance and risk management, internal audit and regulatory and compliance services.
The firms are well-aligned and reflect one another’s status as leading brands in financial services.
Shipleys’ clients will benefit from a broader pool of expertise and an expanded range of solutions such as data privacy, digital transformation, business growth services and global mobility. These are all backed by the strength of a growing business with robust systems and operational teams, as well as greater career opportunities for its people.
Additionally, the merger provides Shipleys’ teams and clients further reach in tax and advisory, nationally and internationally, through leading accountancy network Moore Global.
With Shipleys’ Godalming office in addition to Moore Kingston Smith’s Redhill location, the merger strengthens both firms’ Surrey presence.
Tom Moore, Partner and Head of Financial Services and Fintech at Moore Kingston Smith said: “We’re delighted that Shipleys is joining Moore Kingston Smith. Financial Services is a complex and heavily regulated industry, so it’s fantastic to welcome a firm of this calibre. Their team of experts bring deep sector knowledge, and a fresh focus on funds and safeguarding audits, while enhancing our existing services – a great benefit for our clients and our team.”
Rob Wood of Shipleys LLP and Financial Services Sector Head said: “We are excited to join with Moore Kingston Smith’s Financial Services team, as they have a strong synergy with both our industry knowledge and approach to high-quality client care. Being part of this broader group of specialists will significantly benefit our clients and enable us to support a wider range of businesses in the sector. We are looking forward to further helping Financial Services organisations meet the regulatory requirements and stay current with the latest developments.”
Moore Kingston Smith is the first UK accountancy firm to receive PE investment to fund its M&A programme while keeping its coveted partnership status. Following the acquisition of hospitality specialist, WMT, in June and Moore Northern Ireland in August, Shipleys is the latest to join the firm.
