Palatine-backed accountancy group secures double deal
FourM: Iain McBride, Shona Bryce, Karen Henderson, Morag Davie, Ian Gould of BK Plus, Graham McLelland
BK Plus has bolstered its office count to 25 sites in just over three years, after its latest acquisition.
A double deal marks the first step into Scotland, with the acquisition of Cornerstone Accountants in Glasgow and FourM Accountants in Dundee with nearly 100 staff across the two firms.
Walsall-headquartered BK Plus was created by David Baldwin and Shaun Knight in early 2021 and was backed by Palatine Private Equity last September.
The deal continues an acquisitive spree for the firm, with recent acquisitions including Haines Watts in High Wycombe, Casson Beckman Chartered Accountants in Fareham, Aldridge insolvency boutique, K J Watkin & Co and its first step into the South West with the purchase of Andorran Chartered Accountants.
Shaun Knight, CEO of BK Plus said: “We are thrilled to be making our first venture into Scotland with the addition of Cornerstone and FourM Accountants. We have always said that local businesses are best served by local advisors who understand the unique dynamics of their markets.
“By welcoming these two esteemed firms into the BK Plus family, we are strengthening our ability to provide SMEs across Scotland with the same high level of expertise and personal service that we’ve been delivering throughout the UK.
“This expansion is just the beginning, as we have more in the pipeline for the region, reflecting our continued focus on becoming a leading partner for SMEs in the accountancy space, while always keeping the local business at the heart of what we do.”
Partner at Cornerstone, Kenneth McEwen, said, “After an extensive search for the right partner, we are thrilled to be joining BK Plus. We were looking for a firm that shared our approach and core beliefs, and we found that synergy with BK Plus.
“This decision wasn’t made lightly; it was the result of a long process where we prioritized finding the right cultural and strategic fit for our clients and our team. We are excited about what the future holds, confident that this partnership will allow us to continue providing exceptional service while expanding the range of resources and expertise available to our clients.”
Partner at FourM, Graham McLelland said: “Becoming part of BK Plus is a fantastic opportunity for our firm. We’ve always prided ourselves on delivering the best possible service to our clients, and now we’ll be able to offer them even more resources and specialist knowledge. BK Plus shares our vision for local service delivery, and we are excited about what the future holds.”
