Buzzacott
Who are Buzzacott?
Buzzacott is a UK ‘Top 20 accountancy firm’, which employs 399 people. Its origins date back to 1919 when it was founded by Fred Buzzacott – a munitions accountant during the first world war.
Eventually, in 1966 Watson Regan and Co was formed and purchased the Buzzacott firm in the same year. In 1972, the firm which operated as Buzzacott, Vincent, Watson, Kilner and Co, shortened its name to ‘Buzzacott and Co’. Then in 1978, accountancy firm West Wake Price split in two and half of the practice moved to Salisbury Square House, in London and joined Buzzacott and Co.
Sometime later, in the 1990s the firm began to introduce new specialisms including charity services and private client services. In the 2000’s, the company made the decision to shorten its name to just ‘Buzzacott’. Today the company is headed by Tony Hopson.
What do they do?
Buzzacott offers a range of services to its clients. Namely, audit, corporate finance advice, outsourcing, and tax. They also offer special services which include:
Benefits and pensions: A service for employers, which helps in setting up tax-efficient perks, incentives and pension schemes that reward and motivate staff.
HR or people issues: A service for employers, which helps advise how best to handle any HR issues they may face. Including recruitment, personal development and planning future steps for the company.
Raising funds: Helps with corporate finance transactions, buying, selling or merging a business, R&D tax credits and company secretarial services.
Investment: Offering investment strategies to individuals, and helps organisations plan for profit.
Expat tax advice: Helps world citizens manage their finances and stay compliant.
Divorce: Helps individuals deal with the financial impact of divorce. Advises clients on wills and estate planning, tax planning and valuations.
Recent financials
In May 2021, Buzzacott reported revenues of £48.5m for the year ending September 2020 up from £45.5m the previous year. In addition, the group presented pre-tax profits of £13.2m up from £11m the year before.
In the news
In February 2021, Buzzacott welcomed Phil Westerman as a partner in its corporate assurance team. He specialises in providing audit services for all sizes of private companies – reporting under both UK GAAP and IFRS – and has worked with clients in a number of sectors, with a particular focus on real estate, construction, facilities management, retail and hospitality.
Westerman trained and qualified (ACA) with Whittingham Riddell in Shropshire. He then joined Grant Thornton in 1998, spending 22 years there, 14 of which were as an audit partner in the corporate audit team. He was also head of the national real estate and construction audit team for 12 years.