Accountants for Schools in London: Firms and Services Guide (2026)
AC
Acumon Chartered Accountants·12 min read
This practical guide reviews accountants for schools in London, rather than ranking companies from first to last. The selection includes larger companies with broad audit, tax and advisory capabilities alongside narrower specialists focused on academies, independent schools and education organisations. Each entry gives context on the company, the types of education clients it serves and the areas where its experience is most relevant. The aim is to make comparison easier and help schools identify companies that fit their structure, reporting needs and wider financial requirements.
Acumon
Acumon is a UK company of chartered accountants and registered auditors providing accounting, audit, tax, payroll and financial management support to schools and education organisations. Its education practice works with academy trusts, independent schools and training providers, including organisations based in London.
The company supports academy trusts with statutory audit, regularity reporting, accounts prepared under the Academies Accounts Direction and internal scrutiny programmes. Its work is aligned with the financial reporting and governance requirements that apply to academies, including the Academy Trust Handbook and ESFA reporting obligations.
Acumon also works with independent schools, where accounting requirements can involve charity structures, trading subsidiaries, Gift Aid and VAT. Following the introduction of VAT on private school fees, its education service includes VAT registration, partial exemption considerations and input VAT recovery connected with school expenditure and capital projects.
Payroll forms another part of Acumon’s education-sector work. The company supports school payrolls involving Teachers’ Pensions, the Local Government Pension Scheme, auto-enrolment and term-time-only employment arrangements. Budgeting, forecasting, management reporting and support with education-sector returns can be integrated with these recurring accounting and payroll services.
Acumon operates from an Ealing office in London and combines its education accounting work with a wider regulated audit practice. This allows the company to support schools that need ongoing finance assistance alongside statutory audit, internal scrutiny, tax, VAT and governance-related work.
School and Education Accounting Capabilities
Acumon provides accounting and assurance services across different types of education organisations.
These include:
Academy trust statutory audit and regularity reporting
Academy accounts prepared under the Accounts Direction
Internal scrutiny programmes for academy trusts
Independent school accounting and VAT support
Charity structures, trading subsidiaries and Gift Aid
Teachers’ Pensions and LGPS payroll support
Budgeting, forecasting and management reporting
ESFA-related financial reporting support
The education practice can therefore cover both annual compliance requirements and recurring finance functions used by bursars, CFOs, trustees and school finance teams.
Regulatory Licences and Registrations
Acumon’s education audit work forms part of a regulated audit practice with UK and international audit authorisations.
These include:
ICAEW Registered Audit Practice
FRC Authorisation for Public Interest Entity audits
Jersey Recognised Auditor status
Isle of Man Recognised Auditor status
These registrations support Acumon’s wider audit and assurance practice, including statutory, charity and group audit work.
Core Services
In addition to school-specific accounting and assurance, Acumon provides services that can support the wider financial management and governance requirements of education organisations.
These include:
Statutory external audit
Accounts preparation and bookkeeping
Internal audit and scrutiny
Management accounts
VAT advisory and compliance
Tax services
Payroll and pension administration
Risk and governance reviews
Acumon works with schools and education organisations requiring support across both recurring financial processes and periods of organisational or regulatory change. Its education work can cover situations such as:
Preparing academy trust annual accounts
Completing statutory audit and regularity requirements
Establishing or reviewing internal scrutiny programmes
Managing VAT obligations for independent schools
Reviewing charity and trading subsidiary structures
Running payroll involving Teachers’ Pensions and LGPS
Preparing budgets and management reporting
Supporting growing multi-academy trusts as additional schools join
This integrated approach allows audit, accounting, VAT, payroll and financial reporting requirements to be coordinated within the same education-focused service.
Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK
HaysMac
HaysMac has a dedicated education practice working with independent schools, academies and multi-academy trusts as well as colleges, universities and educational bodies. Its services combine audit and assurance with accounting, tax and advisory work, giving schools access to specialists familiar with education reporting and governance requirements.
The company’s independent schools work includes regular sector briefings covering accounting, tax, governance and VAT issues affecting bursars and governors. Its central London office makes it particularly relevant to schools looking for a specialist education team based within the capital.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Independent schools, academies and multi-academy trusts
Core services: Audit, assurance, accounting, tax and advisory
Specialization: Education and social purpose organisations
Location: City of London
Relevant expertise: Education compliance, reporting, governance and school taxation
Crowe UK has specialist education teams for both academy trusts and independent schools. Its academy services include external audit and assurance, VAT and tax, bookkeeping, management accounts, Teachers’ Pension related work, governance reviews, internal audit, risk management, due diligence and benchmarking.
Independent schools are supported through a separate education offering covering financial reporting, tax and accounting issues alongside sector developments such as VAT. Crowe’s Head of Education for Non Profits is based in London and works specifically with independent schools and multi-academy trusts.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Independent schools and multi-academy trusts
Core services: Audit, accounting, VAT, tax, governance and internal audit
Specialization: Education and non-profit organisations
Location: London
Relevant expertise: Academy compliance and independent school finance
Contact Information
Website: www.crowe.com
Phone: +44 (0)20 7842 7100
Address: 55 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JW
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/crowe-uk
Twitter: x.com/CroweUK
Instagram: www.instagram.com/crowe_uk
UHY Hacker Young
UHY Hacker Young has a long-established education practice covering academy schools, free schools, independent schools and other education providers. Its academy offering spans accounts preparation, statutory audit, Teachers’ Pension work, internal scrutiny, VAT, budgeting, management accounts, governance, bookkeeping and assistance with accounting systems.
The London office explicitly identifies academy schools and the wider education sector among its specialist areas. That gives London schools access to both local advisers and UHY’s broader national education team.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Academies, free schools and independent schools
Core services: Audit, accounts, internal scrutiny, VAT and financial reporting
Specialization: Academy and education-sector accounting
Location: London
Relevant expertise: Academy Trust requirements and education finance controls
MHA has a dedicated education group with separate services for academies and independent schools. Its academy team handles audit, accounting and reporting requirements alongside advice relating to academy structures and multi-academy trust development.
The company maintains a London office in the Barbican area, while its education team operates across the wider practice. This combination makes it suitable for London academy trusts that want access to both specialist sector knowledge and a larger audit and advisory infrastructure.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Academies, MATs and independent schools
Core services: Audit, accounting, reporting and advisory
Specialization: Education-sector accounting
Location: London
Relevant expertise: Academy financial reporting and organisational development
Moore Kingston Smith has education specialists working with independent schools, academies and multi-academy trusts. Its education work includes financial and compliance services as well as ongoing support for trustees and governors, with specialist staff involved in education-sector events and regulatory discussions.
The company also runs dedicated independent-school events covering topics such as charity reporting, governance and financial reporting changes. It has offices in the City and West End as part of its wider London presence.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Independent schools, academies and MATs
Core services: Audit, accounting, tax and compliance
Specialization: Education and nonprofit organisations
Location: London
Relevant expertise: Charity accounting and school governance
RSM’s education practice works with academy trusts, independent schools and other education providers. Its offering includes audit and assurance together with specialist support around governance, risk, internal scrutiny and financial management. RSM also publishes academy-specific audit materials and works with organisations operating under education-sector regulatory requirements.
The company has a central London office on Farringdon Street. Its wider education team includes specialists in academies and independent schools, making it relevant for larger schools and trusts that need access to accounting, assurance and risk capabilities within one national practice.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Academy trusts and independent schools
Core services: Audit, assurance, internal audit and advisory
Specialization: Education and not-for-profit organisations
Location: London
Relevant expertise: Governance, risk and internal scrutiny
Contact Information
Website: www.rsmuk.com
Phone: +44 (0)20 3201 8000
Address: 25 Farringdon Street, London, EC4A 4AB
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/rsm-uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rsm.uk
BDO
BDO has a national education group covering services from external and internal audit through to tax, restructuring, investigations and transaction-related work. Its education clients extend across independent schools, academies and other types of education provider.
The company’s National Head of Education is connected to its London Baker Street office, making BDO a London-based option for schools requiring access to broader audit and advisory resources. The practice can be particularly relevant where education accounting sits alongside governance, funding, restructuring or transaction issues.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Schools and education groups with broader assurance needs
Core services: External audit, internal audit, tax and advisory
Specialization: Education and not-for-profit organisations
Location: London
Relevant expertise: Governance, funding and complex education matters
Contact Information
Website: www.bdo.co.uk
Phone: 020 7486 5888
Address: 55 Baker Street London, W1U 7EU, United Kingdom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bdo-llp
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bdo_uk
Kreston Reeves
Kreston Reeves operates a specialist academies and education practice supporting academy trusts, schools and free schools. Its work includes accounting, internal and external audit, VAT, tax and support for schools converting to academy status.
The company also produces academy-specific financial and regulatory resources, while its London office in Shoreditch provides audit, accounts and outsourcing services. Kreston Reeves can therefore suit schools that want an education-focused accountant backed by a wider audit, tax and advisory practice.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Academies, schools and free schools
Core services: Audit, accounting, VAT and tax
Specialization: Academies and education
Location: Shoreditch, London
Relevant expertise: Academy conversion and financial controls
Contact Information
Website: www.krestonreeves.com
Phone: +44 (0)330 124 1399
Address: 2nd Floor, 168 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6RA
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/kreston-reeves
Twitter: x.com/KrestonReeves
BKL
BKL has a dedicated academies and schools team within its not-for-profit and education practice. Its specialists provide statutory accounts preparation and audit, regularity work, internal scrutiny, grant assurance and tax support. The company’s education team also deals with annual academy returns and Teachers’ Pension related assurance work.
BKL has several London locations, including offices in the City, North London, Canary Wharf and Baker Street. Its education focus is especially relevant to academy trusts looking for accountants with direct experience of the sector’s reporting and internal control requirements.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Academies and schools
Core services: Audit, accounts, internal scrutiny and tax
Specialization: Not-for-profit, charities and education
Location: Multiple London offices
Relevant expertise: Academy audit and regularity compliance
Contact Information
Website: bkl.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)20 7832 0444
Address: First floor, 5 Fleet Place, London EC4M 7RD
Price Bailey works with academy trusts and wider education organisations, including clients across London boroughs. Its academy practice covers statutory audit and accounting together with broader financial support for trusts, including management reporting and due diligence connected with schools joining a MAT.
The company’s City of London education team serves trusts in London and surrounding areas. This provides a direct London option for schools that want sector-specific academy experience while retaining access to the wider audit and advisory capabilities of a multi-office accounting practice.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Academy trusts and MATs
Core services: Audit, accounts and financial advisory
Specialization: Education and academies
Location: City of London
Relevant expertise: Academy reporting and MAT finance
Gravita has a dedicated education-sector service for schools, colleges, universities and academies. Its team focuses on the accounting, governance and regulatory requirements specific to education providers, supported by the company’s wider audit, tax and managed business services capabilities.
Its London office is located in Aldgate and provides audit, tax, accounting and advisory services. Gravita may therefore be relevant to schools that need education-sector support alongside outsourced finance processes or broader charity and assurance work.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Schools, academies and other education providers
Core services: Accounting, audit, tax and managed services
Specialization: Education
Location: Aldgate, London
Relevant expertise: Education accounting and regulatory support
Braant has a dedicated education and academies service covering schools, academy schools, free schools and other education organisations. Its school accounting work sits alongside general accounting services such as bookkeeping, annual accounts, VAT, payroll and management reporting.
The company maintains several locations across London, including a main London office and a City of London location. Braant is more oriented toward ongoing accountancy and outsourced finance support than the large institutional audit practices elsewhere in this guide, which may suit education organisations looking for broader day-to-day finance assistance.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Schools and education organisations seeking outsourced accounting support
Core services: Accounts, bookkeeping, VAT and payroll
Specialization: Education and academies
Location: London
Relevant expertise: Ongoing finance and compliance support
Muhit & Co provides accounting and business advisory services specifically for schools and education institutions from its Whitechapel practice. Its stated client types include standalone academies, multi-academy trusts, free schools, independent schools, colleges and universities.
The company focuses on helping education finance teams interpret financial reporting requirements and manage school accounting responsibilities. Its Whitechapel base and stated experience with London schools make it a more locally focused alternative to the national audit groups in this selection.
Key Facts
Ideal for: London schools and academy trusts
Core services: Accounting and business advisory
Specialization: Schools and educational institutions
Location: Whitechapel, London
Relevant expertise: Academy and MAT financial reporting
Forvis Mazars has a specialist education practice covering schools, multi-academy trusts, colleges, universities and other education organisations. Its services include external audit and assurance, internal audit, governance, tax, accounting and outsourcing, funding assurance and wider operational advisory work.
The company’s education practice works with MATs and participates in education-sector audit forums. Forvis Mazars also has a major London office at Old Bailey, making it a relevant option for larger London schools or education groups requiring access to accounting, assurance and specialist consulting within the same organisation.
Key Facts
Ideal for: MATs, schools and larger education organisations
Core services: Audit, accounting, tax, risk and funding assurance
Specialization: Education and public-sector organisations
Location: London
Relevant expertise: Governance, funding assurance and internal controls
Contact Information
Website: www.forvismazars.com
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7063 4000
Address: 30 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AU, United Kingdom
Choosing between accountants for schools in London depends on the size and structure of the organisation, the education sector it operates in, the maturity of its financial processes and the regulatory requirements it must meet. Some companies combine audit, accounting, tax, payroll and internal scrutiny within an integrated service, while others concentrate on narrower areas such as academy reporting, independent school finance or education-sector assurance. The right partner should provide independent assurance alongside practical actions that help reduce financial and operational risks and strengthen long-term resilience. This guide is intended to give schools neutral context for comparing different types of companies and identifying an option aligned with their specific needs.
AC
Written by the Acumon team
Acumon is an ICAEW-registered firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors
based in London, with offices in Pitstone, Aylesbury and Bournemouth. Need advice on
anything covered here? Talk to us.
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