Shaw Gibbs is delighted to announce the successful acquisition of Harmer Slater Limited, an established accountancy practice with two offices in Greater London.

The acquisition brings a wealth of experience to Shaw Gibbs, enriching the capabilities and the geographic reach of the group and further enabling them to provide clients and referral communities with exceptional advice.

" We have been considering our options for the succession of Harmer Slater over the past few years.”

comments Tim Slater, Partner and co-founder of Harmer Slater

“We wanted to secure the future of the firm by forming an alliance with a practice who could provide benefit to our clients and create new opportunities for our talented teams. Shaw Gibbs stood out as the best fit for us as they aligned to Harmer Slater in their pragmatism and people-centred approach.”

"We are delighted to welcome Harmer Slater to the Shaw Gibbs family.”

adds Peter O’Connell, Managing Director at Shaw Gibbs.

“This acquisition builds on our long-term vision of strengthening our position as a leading player in the accountancy industry. The addition of two new offices to our group not only extends our footprint but also allows us to provide an even broader range of services to our clients."

This acquisition comes at a time when Shaw Gibbs is actively seeking opportunities to enhance its capabilities and broaden its reach. The move reflects the group's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the employees and client base.

This acquisition is the fifth that Shaw Gibbs have made in 2023, resulting in a 290 person-strong practice based over eight offices located in: Oxford, Basingstoke, Farnham, London, Northampton, Sutton, Teddington and Woking.

The integration process is already underway, and both Shaw Gibbs and Harmer Slater are working closely to ensure a smooth transition for clients and employees. The combined strength of the two firms is poised to drive innovation, foster growth, and deliver exceptional value to clients across the expanded group.

About Harmer Slater

Harmer Slater is a well-established accounting and advisory firm known for its high-quality services and client satisfaction. With a strong focus on building lasting relationships, Harmer Slater has been a trusted partner for individuals and businesses seeking comprehensive financial solutions since 2002. They provide a range of professional accounting advisory, assurance, tax and business advisory services to individuals and organisations ranging from privately owned businesses to UK subsidiaries of multi-national groups and AIM listed companies.

About Shaw Gibbs
Shaw Gibbs is a top 50 accountancy practice who provide expert solutions for entrepreneurial businesses and private individuals in Central and Southern England. Investing in their teams of high-quality specialists, they work with the best-in-breed technology to create value for clients which exceeds expectation.

A DFK member from the Philippines who grew her small business into a globally-recognised accounting firm has been presented with an international award in recognition of her achievements as well as her inspirational work mentoring young women.

Jill Santos, CEO and founder of DFK member firm Jill Santos & Co., was honoured with a prestigious IWEC Award by the IWEC Foundation in Turin, Italy on November 6, 2023.

The IWEC Foundation is an international economic empowerment programme for women which is designed to develop a global network for successful female business owners.

Jill was presented with the award, which recognises women who have achieved the highest standards in business, at the foundation’s 16th annual conference.

Jill founded JSC & Co in Cagayan de Oro in 2009 and went on to expand the firm, opening three more offices in Davao City, Cebu City and Bonifacio Global City.

In 2017 she grew the firm’s reach by engaging in global work, becoming the Filipino member firm of international organisations including DFK International and IC & Partners.

Jill also prides herself on inspiring and supporting young people, something which saw her launch the Each One Teach One Foundation in 2013 alongside her daughter Scarlette Nicole, who was just 10 years old at the time and is now a sophomore student at New York University.

The foundation helps fund college places for high school graduates from low-income backgrounds in Cagayan de Oro as well as providing mentoring to girls as young as 12, supporting them to progress in their education.

One of the foundation’s key achievements was during the pandemic, when it worked to deliver a programme of online activities to an online community of around 300 young people, providing a space which promoted positive mental health where participants could socialise and develop.

Four of those who were awarded a college scholarship through the foundation have now graduated and successfully applied for jobs at Jill Santos & Co.

Jill is a member of the DFK APAC Executive Committee, was last year’s national president of the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice (ACPAPP) and national vice president of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), is part of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Professional Accountancy Organization Development and Advisory Group and has recently been appointed as member of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Council (AASC) in the Philippines.

She said: “I’m honoured to be given such a prestigious award in recognition of my work.

“It’s not something I had heard of until a chance conversation with a gentleman I was sat next to at a train station in Italy where I was visiting on business in July.

“Although I didn’t know this at first, he was a Pakistani businessman and an officer of the International Chamber of Commerce, and he said I have all the qualifications to be nominated for the International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge Award.

“The IWEC Foundation is a prestigious organisation and I’m delighted to become an awardee and join a network of female CEOs around the world where I can share ideas, expand my connections and grow my business further.”

Shaw Gibbs, a leading accountancy, and business advisory practice is pleased to announce the appointment of Sharmini Woodings as the Regional Managing Partner for the Surrey/Hampshire region. In her new role, she will be responsible for overseeing the firm's operations, client relationships, and business development efforts within the region.

Sharmini has an impressive background in accounting and business advisory services having joined Wise & Co in 1989 following a career at HM Revenue & Customs. In 2016, Sharmini took over the reins of Managing Partner of Wise & Co (now Shaw Gibbs, Farnham) and steered the practice to its eventual sale to Shaw Gibbs in 2023.

"We are delighted to welcome Sharmini Woodings as Regional Managing Partner."

said Peter O’Connell, Managing Partner at Shaw Gibbs.

"Her experience, strategic vision, and strong leadership skills make her an ideal fit for this critical role. We are confident that under Sharmini's guidance, our Surrey/Hampshire region will thrive, and we look forward to achieving new milestones together."

"I am honoured to take on the role of Regional Managing Partner for Surrey/Hampshire."

adds Sharmini

"This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the firm's continued success and work alongside the talented teams within the offices in Surrey and Hampshire. I look forward to building on the strong foundations of each practice which has been brought into the Shaw Gibbs Group this year."

Sharmini’s appointment reflects Shaw Gibbs' dedication to promoting leadership from within. As the firm continues to expand its footprint in the Surrey/Hampshire region, she will play a key role in shaping its strategic direction and fostering a culture of excellence.

About Shaw Gibbs

Shaw Gibbs is a top 100 accountancy practice who provide expert solutions for entrepreneurial businesses and private individuals in Central and Southern England. Investing in their teams of high-quality specialists, they work with the best-in-breed technology to create value for clients which exceeds expectation.