Blog · 2026-06-16 · manager

CASS 7 Audit Companies in Manchester: Guide to Providers

Choosing a CASS 7 audit provider in Manchester is more than a regulatory requirement – it can affect how confidently your firm protects client money, maintains accurate records and responds to FCA expectations.

Manchester has a strong professional services market, with audit and assurance firms supporting investment firms, brokers, fintech companies, wealth managers and other FCA-regulated organisations. Each provider brings a different mix of audit experience, regulatory knowledge and practical understanding of client money controls.

This guide highlights a selection of CASS 7 audit companies serving firms in Manchester. Rather than ranking providers, the aim is to give practical context – outlining who these firms are, the types of regulated businesses they typically support and the areas where their CASS assurance work is most relevant.

Acumon

Acumon is a UK firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors providing CASS 7 audit services to FCA-regulated investment firms in Manchester and across the UK.

The firm works with organisations ranging from investment management firms and wealth managers through to larger financial services groups holding client assets. CASS 7 audit engagements are delivered in accordance with relevant FCA requirements and supported by a structured risk-based audit methodology focused on client asset protection.

Acumon holds the necessary regulatory authorisations as an ICAEW-registered audit firm with FRC oversight, enabling it to undertake CASS audits for firms subject to enhanced regulatory requirements under the Client Assets Sourcebook. CASS audits are subject to strict FCA supervision and quality standards.

In addition to its UK audit registration, Acumon also holds audit licences in several international financial centres, including the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Jersey, and Isle of Man. These licences enable the firm to support international corporate groups where entities are located across multiple jurisdictions.

International group structures frequently involve a combination of UK operating companies and offshore holding entities, particularly in sectors such as investment management, technology, energy, and international trade. Coordinating audit work across these structures requires familiarity with cross-border financial reporting and group consolidation processes.

Acumon works with finance teams and boards to support CASS 7 audit requirements while also helping organisations strengthen client asset safeguarding processes, governance arrangements, and internal controls as they grow.

CASS 7 Audit Capabilities:

Acumon provides CASS 7 audit services across a wide range of organisational structures and sectors.

These include:

FCA-regulated investment firms holding client assets
Firms providing custody services for stocks, bonds, and other investment instruments
Investment management and wealth advisory businesses
International financial groups with UK operations subject to CASS rules
Organisations requiring specialist client asset compliance audits
Firms approaching or meeting CASS audit thresholds

CASS audit engagements are typically led by senior audit professionals with direct involvement throughout the engagement.

Regulatory Licences and Registrations:

Acumon holds several audit registrations that enable it to support organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions.

These include:

UK statutory audit registration
Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit licence
Jersey audit licence
Isle of Man audit licence
Cayman Islands audit licence
British Virgin Islands audit licence

These registrations allow the firm to provide audit services to groups that include entities in both the UK and key international financial centres.

Core Services:

In addition to statutory external audit, Acumon provides a range of services that support financial reporting and governance.

These include:

Statutory external audit
Group and subsidiary audits
Public Interest Entity (PIE) audits
Charity and not-for-profit audit
Audit of international group structures
Internal audit and governance reviews
Risk management and compliance support

Audit work is often delivered alongside discussions with management and boards regarding financial reporting processes and governance frameworks.

Many organisations initially encounter statutory audit requirements as they grow and exceed the audit exemption thresholds set out in the Companies Act.

Acumon works with businesses that are:

Approaching their first statutory audit
Preparing for external investment
Expanding into international markets
Operating within corporate group structures

Early engagement with an audit firm can help ensure that financial reporting systems and documentation are aligned with statutory audit requirements.

Contact Information:

Website: acumon.com
Phone: 020 8567 3451
E-mail: mail@acumon.com
Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK

Menzies

Menzies is an accountancy and financial services firm with experience in CASS assurance and statutory audit work. Their CASS 7 services focus on client money reconciliations for designated investment firms, which makes them relevant for FCA-regulated businesses that need support around client money calculations, reconciliation methods and audit review requirements.

Menzies explains CASS 7 in a fairly practical way, with attention to internal and external client money reconciliations, client money resources, client money requirements and the records auditors may need to review. They also cover areas that can create issues for regulated firms, such as daily internal reconciliations, discrepancies, non-standard methods and the need to retain signed supporting documentation.

Key Highlights:

Experience with CASS assurance and statutory audit work
Focus on CASS 7 client money reconciliations for investment firms
Covers normal, alternative and non-standard reconciliation methods
Explains both internal and external client money reconciliation requirements

Services:

CASS assurance
Statutory audit
Client money reconciliation review
Audit and assurance
Financial services support
Business services
Accounting and advisory support

Contact Information:

Website: www.menzies.co.uk
E-mail: mayres@menzies.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/menzies-llp
Instagram: www.instagram.com/menzies_llp
Address: One Express, 1 George Leigh Street, Manchester M4 5DL
Phone: +44 (0)333 091 0411

S&W Group

S&W Group provides audit and assurance services for businesses that need external audit, financial reporting support and wider assurance work. Their audit approach is built around understanding the organisation, planning around risk and giving stakeholders more confidence in financial information and internal processes.

S&W Group assurance services are relevant for regulated businesses that need structured audit support. They place a strong focus on senior involvement, communication during the audit process and testing that is shaped around the risks and needs of the organisation rather than a fixed checklist.

Key Highlights:

Provides audit and assurance services for businesses and stakeholders
Works across statutory audit, financial reporting and non-statutory assurance
Uses planning and risk assessment as part of the audit process
Senior leaders are involved in client work
Focuses on communication between client teams and audit teams

Services:

Statutory audit
Audit and assurance
Financial reporting
Assurance services
Non-statutory audit
Corporate reporting assurance
Pensions audit

Contact Information:

Website: www.swgroup.com
Twitter: x.com/S_W_Group
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/swgroupuk
Address: Pall Mall, 1 Pollen Square, 59 King Street, Manchester, M2 4PD
Phone: +44 161 832 6413

AMS Group

AMS Group is a Manchester-headquartered professional services group providing audit, accounts, tax and advisory support. They work with FCA-regulated firms through audit and assurance activity, including regulatory support and help with risk management and control matrices.

Their wider service mix also covers audit, accounts, tax and advisory, which can be useful for regulated businesses that want CASS-related assurance to sit alongside broader finance, compliance and business support.

Key Highlights:

Provides audit and assurance support for FCA-regulated firms
Helps with risk management and control matrices
Covers audit, accounts, tax and advisory services
Works with mid-market businesses

Services:

Audit and assurance
Regulatory support
Risk management support
Control matrix support
Audit and accounts
Business advisory

Contact Information:

Website: www.groupams.co.uk
E-mail: info@groupams.co.uk
Address: 1 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3HF
Phone: 0161 850 2632

PKF Littlejohn

PKF Littlejohn provides audit, assurance and advisory services for firms across financial services, including funds, asset management, wealth management and private equity. Their CASS work covers both CASS 6 and CASS 7, with attention to the audit process, risk controls, resolution packs, breach registers and the documentation firms need to keep in order.

PKF Littlejohn also works with businesses that need CASS audits, health checks, limited assurance reviews and internal audit services. For firms in Manchester, their local office adds a regional point of contact, while their wider financial services team can support firms with more technical CASS questions, including governance, systems, policies and year-end audit preparation.

Key Highlights:

Works with asset managers, wealth managers, funds and broker-dealers
Covers CASS 6 and CASS 7 audit preparation
Supports firms with risk and controls matrices
Reviews CASS resolution packs and breach registers
Provides CASS audits, health checks and limited assurance reviews

Services:

CASS health checks
Limited assurance reviews
Internal audit services
CASS audit
Statutory audit
Risk and controls review
CASS resolution pack review

Contact Information:

Website: www.pkf-l.com
E-mail: info@pkf-l.com
Twitter: x.com/PKF_Littlejohn
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/littlejohn
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pkf.littlejohn
Address: 11 York Street, Manchester, M2 2AW
Phone: 0161 552 4220

Saffery

Saffery is an accounting and advisory firm with CASS audit experience for FCA-regulated firms. Their work is relevant to businesses that hold or control client money and assets, as well as firms that may need limited assurance because of their permissions, even if they do not actually hold client money during the reporting period.

Saffery gives clear attention to the difference between reasonable assurance, limited assurance and hybrid CASS reports. They also cover the practical side of CASS reporting, including FCA deadlines, the absence of materiality in CASS audits and the need to report breaches.

Key Highlights:

Works with FCA-regulated firms subject to CASS rules
Covers reasonable assurance, limited assurance and hybrid reports
Supports firms that hold or control client money and assets
Focuses on CASS reporting deadlines and breach reporting

Services:

CASS audit
Reasonable assurance reports
Limited assurance reports
Hybrid CASS reports
FCA compliance support
Audit and assurance
Professional practice support

Contact Information:

Website: www.saffery.com
E-mail: info@saffery.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/saffery
Instagram: www.instagram.com/saffery_uk
Address: Trinity Court, 16 John Dalton Street, Manchester, M2 6HY
Phone: +44 (0)161 200 8383

RSM

RSM supports financial services firms with client money and assets work, including CASS 7 audit preparation and wider regulatory assurance. Their CASS work looks at how firms protect segregated client money, manage reconciliations and maintain the systems and controls needed to meet FCA expectations.

RSM’s financial services risk and regulation team covers both assurance reviews and more detailed reviews of CASS arrangements. They can assess compliance, review internal reporting, look at operational processes and support firms with CASS resolution packs.

Key Highlights:

Focuses on client money and assets within financial services regulation
Reviews CASS systems, controls and reconciliation processes
Supports firms with CASS audit preparation

Services:

CASS audit preparation
CASS assurance reviews
Client money and assets compliance review
Forensic analysis for CASS compliance
Operational process review
Internal CASS reporting review
CASS resolution pack review

Contact Information:

Website: www.rsmuk.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/rsm-uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rsm.uk
Address: Landmark, St Peter’s Square, 1 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 4PB
Phone: +44 (0)151 600 2600

Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton works with regulated financial services firms on CASS assurance, including CASS 7 reviews focused on client money controls. They look at whether client money is properly segregated, correctly calculated and supported by systems that can stand up to FCA scrutiny.

Grant Thornton also connects CASS 7 work with the wider changes happening across the financial sector. They pay attention to areas such as payment and e-money firms, safeguarding rules, digital assets and the growing role of technology in CASS compliance. That makes Grant Thornton relevant for firms that need assurance around current rules, but also need to understand how future CASS requirements may affect their controls and governance.

Key Highlights:

Works with regulated firms on CASS 7 assurance
Reviews client money controls against FCA requirements
Covers segregation, calculation and protection of client funds
Focuses on reconciliation, governance and due diligence issues
Tracks changes affecting payment, e-money and digital asset firms

Services:

CASS 7 audit
Reasonable assurance reviews
Client money controls review
Internal and external reconciliation testing
Governance and due diligence review
Safeguarding assurance support

Contact Information:

Website: www.grantthornton.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/grant-thornton-uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gt_trainees
Address: Landmark, St Peter’s Square, 1 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 4PB
Phone: +44 (0)161 953 6900

BDO

BDO provides CASS audit support for firms that hold client money and need independent assurance under FCA rules. They cover the controls and records that sit behind client money protection, including daily reconciliations, segregation, breach tracking and the way client money is held in designated accounts.

BDO also works with payment and e-money firms facing changes to the safeguarding regime. Their focus extends beyond the audit report itself, with attention to compliance reviews, internal audit activity and external assurance where firms need extra support during regulatory change.

Key Highlights:

Provides CASS audit work for firms holding client money
Reviews internal controls and daily reconciliation processes
Assesses segregation and designated client money accounts
Covers record keeping and breach management

Services:

Client money controls review
Reconciliation review
CASS audit
Record keeping review
Breach register review
Safeguarding framework review

Contact Information:

Website: www.bdo.co.uk
E-mail: experienced.hire@bdo.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bdo-llp
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bdo_uk
Address: Eden Building Irwell Street, Salford Manchester, M3 5EN, United Kingdom
Phone: 0161 817 7500

Forvis Mazars

Forvis Mazars supports regulated firms with CASS and safeguarding work across financial services. Their CASS experience covers investment firms and insurance businesses, while their safeguarding work is relevant to payment services and e-money providers.

Forvis Mazars places clear weight on governance, oversight, IT systems and internal controls. Their CASS and safeguarding team works with firms such as asset managers, banks, brokers, custodians, capital markets businesses, payment services firms and e-money providers. Forvis Mazars can help firms identify control gaps and work through remediation.

Key Highlights:

Supports firms with CASS and safeguarding requirements
Works with investment, insurance, payment and e-money firms
Covers governance, oversight, systems and internal controls
Has IT specialists involved in relevant assurance work
Provides annual assurance reports and control gap reviews

Services:

CASS assurance
Safeguarding assurance
Annual assurance reports
Risk and control gap review
Remediation support
IT controls review

Contact Information:

Website: www.forvismazars.com
Twitter: x.com/ForvisMazarsUK
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/forvis-mazars-in-the-uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/forvismazarsuk
Address: One St Peters Square, Manchester, M2 3DE, United Kingdom
Phone: +44(0) 161 238 9200

Deloitte

Deloitte works with financial services firms on CASS 7 audit, client assets and safeguarding matters. Their CASS 7 work is built around checking whether client money is properly segregated, reconciled and protected if a firm fails.

A strong part of Deloitte’s CASS work is its focus on resolution pack readiness. Deloitte can help firms write and implement CASS resolution packs, review supporting documents and test how quickly information can be retrieved. They also cover CASS resolution packs, which are important for firms that need to keep key client money and safeguarding information ready for insolvency practitioners or FCA review.

Key Highlights:

Works with firms on CASS 7 audit and safeguarding matters
Reviews segregation, reconciliation and protection of client money
Covers CASS resolution pack requirements
Supports firms with document readiness and retrieval testing
Provides input for second and third line CASS monitoring

Services:

CASS 7 audit
CASS resolution pack implementation
Resolution pack compliance review
Mock retrieval testing
CASS document review
Safeguarding support
CASS monitoring support

Contact Information:

Website: www.deloitte.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/deloitteuk
Twitter: x.com/deloitteuk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/deloitte
Address: 100 Embankment, Cathedral Approach, Manchester, M3 7FB, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)161 829 3800

KPMG

KPMG works with regulated firms on CASS compliance, client assets consulting and wider risk advisory. Their work focuses on the controls firms need to keep client money separate from firm money, register custody assets properly and manage CASS obligations under FCA scrutiny.

KPMG’s CASS services include assurance reviews, operating model work, CASS health checks, CASS resolution pack reviews and training. They also support firms dealing with regulatory change, including payment and e-money firms preparing for CASS-style safeguarding requirements and firms looking at digital assets regulation.

Key Highlights:

Works with regulated firms on CASS compliance and client assets consulting
Covers client money segregation and custody asset registration
Supports firms with SMCR-linked CASS accountability
Reviews CASS resolution packs, CMAR and end-to-end controls
Provides CASS health checks and operating model support

Services:

CASS compliance review
CASS assurance support
CASS health check
CASS operating model review
CASS resolution pack review
CMAR review

Contact Information:

Website: kpmg.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KPMG
Twitter: x.com/kpmguk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/kpmg-uk
Address: 1, St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 3AE, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)161 246 4000

Sedulo

Sedulo offers audit and assurance services across several specialist areas, including Client Assets work for firms regulated under FCA client asset rules. Their CASS-related work is focused on reviewing how firms meet client asset requirements, checking the approach they use and challenging it where controls or processes need more attention.

Sedulo has a Manchester office and works across audit, assurance and compliance-related reviews. Alongside CASS, they also cover other regulated or specialist audit areas such as Solicitors’ Accounts Rules, credit unions, grant audits, independent examinations and pensions audits.

Key Highlights:

Provides Client Assets support for FCA-regulated businesses
Reviews how firms meet client asset rules
Challenges systems and controls where improvement is needed
Covers several specialist audit and assurance areas
Registered with ICAEW for audit licence purposes and AML supervision

Services:

Client Assets review
CASS compliance review
Audit and assurance
Specialist audit services
Systems and controls review
Solicitors’ Accounts Rules reporting

Contact Information:

Website: sedulo.co.uk
E-mail: hello@sedulo.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SeduloGroup
Twitter: x.com/sedulo_group
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/394902
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sedulogroup
Phone: 0333 222 4445

Conclusion

Choosing a CASS 7 audit provider usually comes down to more than location. A Manchester-based firm may be convenient, but the more important question is whether the provider understands FCA client money rules, CASS reporting deadlines, reconciliation processes, breach reporting and the controls expected around client assets.

Regulated firms also tend to look at how well the audit team communicates during planning and fieldwork. CASS audits can involve finance, compliance, operations, technology and senior management, so clear timelines and early information requests matter. A provider that understands the firm’s permissions, business model and client money flows is usually better placed to spot issues before they become year-end problems.

This guide is not intended to rank CASS 7 audit companies in Manchester. The aim is to give a clearer view of the types of firms active in this area, the services they provide and the points regulated businesses may want to consider before choosing an audit or assurance partner.