UHY Hacker Young and Affinia Forge £100 Million National Powerhouse in Major Accounting Sector Merger

In a significant move reshaping the UK's professional services landscape, integrated accounting and advisory firm Affinia has announced a merger with three offices of the UHY Hacker Young network. The deal, pending final approvals, will unite the London, Nottingham, and Brighton practices of UHY Hacker Young with Affinia's operations.

The newly formed entity, to be branded as UHY Affinia, will operate under the UHY Hacker Young Group umbrella. It is projected to generate approximately £100 million in annual revenue and employ around 1,000 staff across 17 offices nationwide, marking a substantial step in consolidating its national footprint.

This merger is widely seen as a direct response to the ongoing consolidation within the UK accounting sector, where scale and technological investment are becoming critical for competitive advantage. The combined strength is expected to fuel significant investment in client-facing technology and internal systems, a priority highlighted by both firms.

"This transaction is a pivotal moment for our evolution in the UK market," stated Subarna Banerjee, Managing Partner of UHY Hacker Young. "We are building a firm of meaningful scale, equipped to lead through the profession's ongoing transformation while strengthening our contribution to the global UHY International network."

Darren Redmayne, CEO of Affinia Group, echoed the strategic vision: "This union creates a top-tier UK practice with the ambition and resources for national growth. Our core focus remains unwavering: delivering exceptional service to our clients, supporting our colleagues, and investing in our communities."

Notably, the ten other UK member firms within the UHY Hacker Young network remain independent and are not part of this transaction. However, the broader UHY network in the UK, including UHY Affinia and these independent firms, is now expected to surpass £150 million in total revenue, solidifying its position in the industry's top 25.

Through its membership in UHY International, the expanded network gains access to a global platform with over $1 billion in revenue and a presence in 95 countries.

Industry Voices: Reaction to the Merger

Eleanor Vance, Partner at a Midlands-based boutique firm: "This is a logical consolidation. The mid-market is getting squeezed, and size matters for investing in the AI and regulatory tech that clients now demand. UHY Affinia will be a formidable competitor."

Marcus Thorne, Financial Services Analyst at Sterling Insights: "The creation of a £100m+ practice directly targets the sweet spot for serving large SMEs and private clients. It's a clear play for market share and could trigger further defensive mergers among mid-tier firms."

David Chen, a small business owner in Brighton: "As a client of one of the merging firms, I'm cautiously optimistic. The promise is better tech and resources, but I'm deeply concerned about losing the personal touch and potential fee hikes. Bigger isn't always better for the little guy."

Priya Sharma, a senior auditor (who asked not to name her firm): "Frankly, this just means more job insecurity disguised as 'growth strategy'. These mergers always promise 'synergies' – which is corporate speak for office closures and redundancies. It's about profit for the partners, not stability for the thousand staff now caught in the blender."

This report is based on information first published by International Accounting Bulletin.

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