Manchester office gives private equity backed accountants DJH room to grow
Private equity backed accountancy group DJH is moving into Manchester city centre and has ambitions to grow the team and their slice of the professional services market.
Since receiving investment from growth equity investor Tenzing in 2021, founder Scott Heath has taken the business from a £4m practice in Stoke to over £40m in fee income, mainly by targeted acquisitions which have taken its headcount in the North West to 200 professionals.
In the North West the business has acquired Haines Watts in Altrincham for £1.96m, Lyon Griffiths in Nantwich for £1.18m and DTE in Bury for just short of £4m. Other acquisitions include the 2023 purchase of Leeds firm Novis & Co, Huddersfield-based firm Revell Ward for £2.7m, and £725k for specialist dental accountants Minford Dental.
With Tenzing’s backing DJH is looking to acquire businesses with 90% recurring revenue and break into the top 20 UK accountancy firms within the next four years. It plans to achieve this by expanding its service offerings, attracting a broader client base, and pursuing strategic acquisitions within its core regions, the North West and Midlands.
“Manchester is one of the UK’s fastest-growing economic hubs outside of London, with significant investment in technology, media and manufacturing,” explained Scott Heath, CEO of DJH.
“The diversity of the companies – from starts-ups and owner managed businesses to big corporates – fit our portfolio perfectly and we believe we are now in a great position to support their day-to-day business advisory requirements and any M&A activity they may be considering.”
He continued: “Our own acquisition strategy has accelerated our move into the North West, with our city centre office complemented by a presence in Altrincham, Bury, Chester and Nantwich.
“Revenues have passed £17m in the region for the first time, but this is just the start. We are keen to build stronger links in the city and strengthen existing relationships with the outstanding colleges and universities we have here.”
DJH has has eleven offices across the North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands, specialises in owner managed businesses and working with companies involved in construction, dental, education, franchise, property and transport and logistics.
DJH’s backer Tenzing raised a debut fund of £200m in 2017, followed up by £400m raised entirely virtually in 2020. Its other investments include Gravita, which in February 2025 acquired accountancy services firm Haines Watts Western, in Bristol and Exeter, which it said “expands Gravita’s footprint in reinventing the accounting process”.
