PKF Smith Cooper celebrates its 40th anniversary, during a great time of expansion and growth within the firm.
Founded in 1985, PKF Smith Cooper has grown from a small local practice operating out of Ashbourne, Buxton, Mansfield and Burton, to one of the region’s largest and most respected accountancy firms boasting a total of seven offices including their Head Office in Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham and Hereford, and a growing team of almost 400.
Over the years, one of the core aims of the firm has been to deliver the services that both corporate clients and individuals need. To do this, the team have continually expanded their service lines and offering to meet the growing and changing demands of their clients.
In 1997, the firm introduced business recovery and insolvency, and corporate finance shortly thereafter in 1999. Over the years, they have continued this approach and now boast a large number of specialist services including capital allowances, R&D tax, and transaction advisory services.
Outside of accountancy, their services also continued to expand into the early 2000s, as the firm began to offer IT support and Sage software support. In 2014, these services grew into the firm’s group companies – PKF Infuse, Everlong Wealth, and PKF Smith Cooper Systems – which, over 10 years later, consist of over 100 employees between them.
In 2019, PKF Smith Cooper officially ranked as a UK top 40 accounting firm and two years later, joined the global PKF accounting network and rebranded into the firm we know today.
With employee numbers rising exponentially over the past decade, PKF Smith Cooper has relocated numerous times, moving to their current headquarters located at the heart of Derby in Pride Park in 2022. The firm has also had significant office moves in its Ashbourne office and, most recently, its Birmingham office, which relocated last year to accommodate ongoing expansion plans.
Last year, the firm announced its five-year plan, with plans to continue increasing their presence, share of core markets and further service line development.
James Bagley, Managing Partner at PKF Smith Cooper, commented: “40 years of PKF Smith Cooper is a remarkable milestone to be celebrating. We are incredibly proud of the tremendous growth the firm has experienced over the past four decades. This anniversary is not just a reflection of the firm’s longevity, but a celebration of the outstanding team whose talent and dedication have shaped the firm into what it is today. I would like to thank everyone at PKF Smith Cooper for their hard work and commitment over the years, and I look forward to the exciting future ahead for the firm.”
David Nelson, Senior Partner, commented: “As we mark this incredible milestone, our focus remains on the exciting future ahead for the firm. The next five years promise even greater growth, as we continue to nurture our homegrown talent, invest in our teams to work towards our five-year plan. Our commitment to delivering a relationship-led full suite of services to support our client base remains stronger than ever. This wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our team, the support of our professional connections and of course, our clients, many of whom have been with us since our early days. Thank you all and I look forward to seeing what we accomplish together in the coming years.”
