Platinum Member Spotlight: Wilson Partners

Meet the Member: Wilson Partners

Advisory-led accounting helping ambitious SMEs grow, plan, and exit with confidence.

Founder of Network My Club, Bradley Hatchett, sat down with Jamie Kerr, Senior Client Advisor, and Jeremy Cuthbert, Director of Brand and Marketing at Wilson Partners, to explore how the firm has grown into a top 50 accounting business – and why their real focus isn’t compliance, but helping business owners achieve their goals.

Bradley: In a nutshell, how would you describe what Wilson Partners does?

Jeremy: On paper, we’re an accounting, tax and corporate finance firm. But that’s only part of the story.

At our core, we help business owners and private individuals achieve their goals, whatever those goals are.

Of course, we do the compliance work, that’s the foundation. But the real value for our clients comes from advisory. We sit alongside business owners and ask the challenging questions; what’s your plan, where are you heading, how are you funding growth, and what does exit look like?

A surprising number of businesses don’t actually have a clear plan. They’ve grown because opportunity was there, they’re bootstrapped and the early days are about survival. Then a few years in someone like Jamie will sit down and say, “What does success actually look like for you?” That’s where we add value.

Bradley: Jamie, where do you sit in that journey with clients?

Jamie: My role centres on understanding the goals and ambitions of the business owner.

Some want to exit in three years. Some want to grow aggressively. Others want to keep things steady as a family business.

Once we understand that, we use things like reporting, cash flow forecasting, financial analysis, accountability and strategic input to help them get there.

Many firms focus heavily on historical numbers. We focus on what’s next. It’s about guiding, challenging, and sometimes providing reassurance and accountability. Running a business isn’t easy, so having someone who’s seen a wide range of situations and can help you think clearly is invaluable.

Bradley: What’s the Wilson Partners journey been and where is it now?

Jeremy: The firm was founded in Maidenhead in 2008. In 2021, we took private equity investment to accelerate growth with a clear ambition, to become a top 20 accounting firm.

Since then, we’ve completed 10 acquisitions. Headcount has grown from roughly 45 people to around 450, with offices across the UK.

Every acquisition we make has a purpose. It’s either strengthening what we already do, or adding a new capability that helps our clients further.

Bradley: Is there a particular type of business you specialise in working with, or is it more about the stage a business is at?

Jeremy: Broadly, we work with SME owner-managed businesses and entrepreneurs.

Originally, that might have been businesses doing half a million to ten million turnover. That has grown over time. These days, we’re often working with businesses in that two million to twenty million revenue bracket, and increasingly beyond that.

We also have a strong specialism in tech startups with a specialist team focused on early-stage businesses, supporting them through getting set up properly and their growth plans, as they move from early stage into growth, and eventually to exit planning.

Bradley: From a partnership and referral perspective, who do you tend to work alongside?

Jamie: It can be an array. We regularly work with lawyers, insurance brokers, financial advisors and banks, especially around funding.

A lot of it is about being able to introduce trusted people to our clients when they need specialist advice. We have a strong network already, but we’re always looking to broaden that, particularly as we’ve grown into more regions.

It’s useful for us to know who the trusted people are locally as well, because clients often want support that’s close to where they’re based.

Bradley: Over the last year or so, what have you been noticing with SME owners on the ground?

Jeremy: 2025 was marked by uncertainty, and you could feel it everywhere. There was a lack of confidence, and that impacted decisions and investment.

You had wage pressures, recruitment challenges, supply chain issues, tariff announcements, and then National Insurance changes as well. Costs were rising from multiple directions, and many businesses struggled to pass those costs on because pricing was so competitive.

We saw it particularly in corporate finance, where deals weren’t happening or were struggling to get over the line.

We run a six-monthly survey across our client base, and there’s a confidence barometer in there. It’s up four points since January 25 and one point since July 25.

It’s now around 61 out of 100, so it’s improving, but it’s not like everyone’s suddenly flying.

Our February 2026 Business Report: Playing the Long Game is available to download if anyone would like a copy.

Bradley: Jamie, in your role, what were the biggest challenges you were seeing coming through for business owners in 2025?

Jamie: One of the biggest challenges for business owners will be navigating economic uncertainty while protecting margins. Rising costs and increased pressure on profitability make cash flow and working capital management increasingly crucial.

At the same time, recruitment pressures and rising employment costs are pushing businesses to improve productivity and operate more efficiently. Technology and AI offer real opportunities, but many owners are unsure where to invest or how to implement them strategically.

A key part of our role is providing clear financial visibility through forecasting, cash flow planning, and performance tracking. This enables clients to make informed, proactive decisions and operate with confidence.

Bradley: Looking ahead, what does 2026 look like for Wilson Partners?

Jeremy: More of the same, in a good way. We remain acquisitive and we’re still looking for like-minded businesses.

We want to be a top 20 firm. Growth continues both organically and through acquisitions, but we’re not acquiring for the sake of it. We look for businesses aligned to our culture and client profile, with entrepreneurial individuals who want to grow with us.

Bradley: Jamie, as the person attending events regularly, from a personal standpoint what do you get up to outside of work?

Jamie: After leaving my previous role to go travelling, I knew I wanted my next move to have a genuine focus on people.

I get a lot of fulfilment out of watching and helping businesses grow, and that aligns with Wilson Partners. It’s about helping people achieve their goals.

Outside of work, it’s the usual stuff, football, travel, and I’m a Newcastle United supporter, which Jeremy is as well, so we’ve got that in common.

Learn more about Wilson Partners
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