BKL is a top 50 firm based in London. It specialises in helping fast-growing owner-managed businesses, SMEs, entrepreneurs, and high net worth individuals.

Founded in 1893, Wilson Wright is a leading firm based in the City of London with a strong heritage and over 130 years of experience. Like BKL, it provides accounting, specialist tax and business services to a wide variety of private clients, entrepreneurs and their families, sports personalities, and corporate businesses.

As a result of this deal, the combined business will have two well-established bases in London: BKL’s office in north London and Wilson Wright’s office in central London, which will both remain. Together we will have a team of over 400 people, including 39 partners, and a combined turnover of £46m.

BKL has been on an ambitious growth path since partnering with private equity investors CBPE in April 2023. This deal comes on the back of three successful mergers in the past year: chartered accountants Landau Baker, commercial finance consultants CFPro and chartered accountants Alan Heywood & Co.

Together our combined offering will create further opportunities to provide our clients with an end-to-end service.

Lee Brook, BKL’s CEO, says:

“It’s very exciting to share the news of this new chapter for BKL and Wilson Wright. Our discussions, which were incredibly positive from the start, have confirmed how much we have in common: our supportive cultures, our values, the quality of our clients and the excellence of our teams. This is a significant next step for both our businesses. I’m looking forward to everything we’ll achieve together as we continue investing for the benefit of our clients and our people.”

Adam Cramer, Wilson Wright’s Managing Director says:

“At Wilson Wright we have been exploring the best way to continue building on our growth and success to future-proof our business. We have known BKL for many years, and we know them to be an ambitious, purpose driven business and a responsible employer which resonated strongly with us.

It became clear from an early stage of our discussions that our two organisations are very much aligned, and we look forward to coming together as one team. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for both of our teams to learn from each other, develop a stronger offering and add value to our clients.”

For more information, please get in touch with:

Simon Bussell, Chief Commercial Officer

+44 (0)20 8922 9278

Simon.Bussell@bkl.co.uk

About BKL

BKL is a top 50 firm of chartered accountants and tax advisers based in North London.

BKL specialise in helping owner managed businesses, entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals and families. Their clients benefit from deep expertise in key sectors, including property and construction, financial services, not-for-profit and music, media, sport & entertainment.

BKL’s services include tax consultancy, audit, assurance, accounts, corporate finance, outsourcing, payroll, private client advice, and a growing number of consulting services, including commercial finance, IT, and sustainability.

In April 2023 BKL took private equity investment from CBPE. Since then, BKL have completed three deals: Landau Baker, academy specialists, CFPro, commercial finance advisers and Alan Heywood & Company, a music, media & entertainment sector firm of accountants.

BKL is committed to growing in a sustainable way. As a certified B Corporation (B Corp), it is verified as a business that acts with consideration for people, planet, and purpose, not just profit.

BKL’s charitable foundation, The BKL Foundation, allocates a percentage of BKL’s annual profits to good causes locally, nationally, and internationally.

Last year, BKL won Best Employer in Tax at the Taxation Awards 2023, and Tax Team of the Year at the Accounting Excellence Awards 2023.

About Wilson Wright

Wilson Wright is an accounting, tax and business advisory firm based in the City of London. Their origins go back over 130 years and many of their client relationships span decades. A longstanding and active member of DFK International, a worldwide association of independent firms, enables them to deliver international and cross-border advice to their clients.

Traditionally an accounts, assurance, and audit-focused firm, in the last decade is has developed a range of highly specialised tax services from private client compliance and planning to corporate tax, international and national structuring, dispute resolution and risk, tax transactions, research and development and VAT.

Wilson Wright’s client base includes ultra-high net worth individuals, international sports personalities, famous entrepreneurs, sole traders, and multinational groups. Their sector expertise ranges from fast growing technology and environmental start-ups to family offices, property, professional services, charities, sport, media, and the arts.

Last year Wilson Wright was recognised and ranked in Chambers & Partners High Net Worth guide for Accountants and Tax Advisers, ePrivateClient Top Accountancy Firms and it was a finalist in Tolley’s Taxation Awards.

Wilson Wright is proud to be a people centric, proactive, professional advisory firm, where heritage, trust and partnership are at the heart of what they believe in. Their culture fosters a close-knit environment that provides support, guidance and the motivation required to deliver complex and exceptional work for the benefit of clients.

Meet Crowleys DFK’s Newly Promoted Leaders

Commenting on the promotions, Managing Partner, James O’Connor said:  

“We are very proud to announce these well-deserved promotions and recognise the dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence demonstrated by our employees. Each individual has made significant and invaluable contributions to both team and firm goals, furthering the continued success of Crowleys DFK.

As they begin this exciting new chapter of their careers, I have no doubt that they will continue to drive innovation, lead with integrity and provide excellent client services.

Congratulations everyone on achieving these important career milestones.”

If you are interested in developing your career with Crowleys DFK, please visit their Careers page. 

About Crowleys DFK

Crowleys DFK is one of Ireland’s leading firms of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors.  With offices in Dublin and Cork, they have been providing client-focused audit, accountancy, financial advisory, taxation, corporate finance and consulting services for almost 50 years.

Crowley’s DFK guarantee that each client receives the same quality expert advice and value-added service to make their organisation more efficient, effective and compliant. Innovation is key to all services they provide, reflecting a core value of their firm. Crowleys DFK are dedicated to investing in cutting-edge technology, not only to streamline processes but also to elevate and enhance their capabilities and efficiencies, ensuring best-in-class services for their clients. 

For more details, please visit Crowleys DFK’s website: https://www.crowleysdfk.ie/

The 62-year-old Vermin is doing so because of the age clause applicable to Board of Directors members. Within Alfa, he was responsible for tax and legal technical expertise, international services, business administration, and human resources management. He departs at a time when Alfa is still in the midst of the proposed merger with fellow organization ABAB. "If the merger proceeds, a new Board of Directors will be established. That's why it's time for me to step down."

Prior to joining Alfa, Marco Vermin had pursued a career in a completely different sector. He had served as director of Gave Foundation for over nine years, a volunteer organization aiding refugees. Despite his legal and tax background, he "never expected to work for an accounting organization," he says. "I started at the Tax Office, pursued a law degree at a polytechnic college, and then it seemed natural to study tax law. But I never had set plans for the future." He began at Alfa as managing director of the offices in Bennekom, Dodewaard, and Veenendaal. Over a year later, in 2010, Marco Vermin was asked to join a newly forming Board of Directors at Alfa. He joined chairman Fou-Khan Tsang and Koert van der Bij, who has since been succeeded by Arnoud Bosch.

Significant Growth for Alfa

Under the leadership of the trio, Alfa has experienced significant growth. In 2023, Alfa closed with a revenue of 123 million euros, 35 branches, and 1200 employees. "We're now embarking on a new challenge with a comparable firm. This will elevate us to a top-six, top-seven organization where every employee is a full shareholder. It will be a fantastic company. The challenge with expanding companies is always to maintain a people-centric culture. But the cultures of Alfa and ABAB are robust enough for that."

People-Person

A 'people-person' is a label often attributed to the resident of Bennekom. He acknowledges that this quality helped him transition from a volunteer organization to the commercial world. "The lesson I learned at Gave is not to steer based on financial incentives but on people's intrinsic motivation, on a greater purpose. Everyone wants to be engaged in meaningful work. If you manage to touch upon that with someone, you'll go much further than just looking at financial rewards. Although those should be adequate, of course." Besides his role within Alfa, Marco Vermin was a driving force for Alfa's international activities through its affiliation with the DFK International association. For the past three years, he has served as vice-president EMEA at DFK.

Final Farewell to Alfa

His departure from the Board of Directors also marks a final farewell to Alfa. "I'm retiring now at this age, but it feels right. I've witnessed the beginning of the proposed merger process with ABAB. If everything goes ahead, there will be a new Board of Directors to carry on. I think it's a good choice we've made. I look back with joy and gratitude on a wonderful time and a great company." For now, his calendar remains empty. "I would still like to oversee something or play a role in a supervisory board or as a commissioner. But at this moment, I have no concrete plans for the future."