Azets buys specialist medical accountancy team from RSM

Azets, the private equity backed professional services group, with seven regional offices across the North West of England, has bought a specialist medical accounting team from mid-market firm RSM UK.

The deal is part of Azets’ wider commitment to become the UK’s biggest specialist accounting firm servicing the medical sector, and it now has more than 500 GP practices and 3,000 individual GPs, consultants, and other medical professionals on its books.

The deal expands Azets’ regional footprint in the North West, Yorkshire and South East, as the firm welcomes 30 new colleagues, including two Partners and one Director, into its offices in Manchester, Leeds, Southampton, Winchester, and Maidstone.

This is Azets’ second specialist medical accounting acquisition after Dorset-based Sandisons joined the Group in September 2022. Azets now plans to drive further growth as the number one provider of accounting and advisory services to the UK’s medical sector.

As part of the acquisition, Richard Apps joins Azets as specialist medical Partner. Richard has over 15 years’ experience working with healthcare clients, with expertise in general medical partnership businesses, their contracts, taxation and NHS superannuation issues.

Richard previously worked as a general practitioner undertaking audit and small business advisory. He trained in the ‘Big 4’ and qualified as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1994.

Richard Apps said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for my colleagues and me to deliver expert advice to doctors and their practices, now as part of Europe’s fastest-growing accountancy and advisory Group and one of the UK’s largest specialist providers to the medical sector. I’m passionate about helping doctors, who dedicate so much of themselves to their patients, and to be able to make sure that their finances are well looked after.”

Susanna Cassey, Regional Managing Director for the North West at Azets, commented: “We’re pleased to welcome Richard and the specialist team from RSM UK as we deepen our sector expertise and underline Azets’ reputation as a first-class service provider to GPs and medical practices.

“As the medical sector continues to undergo significant change, the needs of GPs and medical practices are growing in complexity. This requires increasingly sophisticated advice which non-specialist accountants can no longer provide. We have the right expertise to support medical clients across the UK through the challenges and opportunities they face, leveraging the wider Azets portfolio of services.”