Chamberlyns has joined the Cooper Parry Wealth team, as part of the wider Leicestershire group’s £250 million growth ambitions.
The deal is the fifth of its kind for the fast-growing Castle Donington-based accountancy firm this year, following its partnership with Waterland Private Equity in 2022, and is part of a strategy to achieve five-fold growth by 2025.
In February, Cooper Parry welcomed ihorizon and Acclivity to its tech & high growth team. The two London-based, specialist early stage accountancy firms were followed by London financial planning business Future Perfect in April in joining the group.
In September, Haines Watts London and its associated audit and advisory businesses joined Cooper Parry, adding 11 offices and 63 partners, and taking the group’s headcount to 1,150 and its turnover to £125m. That made it the UK’s 11th biggest accountancy firm.
Chamberlyns has operations covering Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire and Kent and operates as an independent wealth management boutique and a chartered and accredited financial planning firm. It was founded in 1997.
The move takes Cooper Parry to more than £1.3 billion of assets under management with a headcount of around 70.
Chief executive Ade Cheatham said: “2023 began quickly and we’re showing no signs of slowing down. As well as being a high-calibre, specialist financial planning firm, the Chamberlyns team have successfully embarked on their own acquisition journey in the past.
“That experience is sure to prove useful as we continue ours, and given the cultural similarities between our businesses, I know the benefits for all parties and our clients will be huge.”
Former Chamberlyns chief executive Michael Smith becomes Cooper Parry Wealth head of M&A and proposition under the move.
He said: “It feels like ideal timing for both businesses. There’s no question to me that Cooper Parry Wealth is one of the leading financial planning and wealth management businesses in the UK.
And, as part of the wider Cooper Parry Group, it has that infrastructure and multi-disciplinary offering that would benefit Chamberlyns and our clients.
“We’re excited to be joining a business combining pedigree and continuous innovation in the early stages of its acquisition journey, and I’m sure we’ll go from strength to strength.”
Cooper Parry Wealth chief executive Stephen Jones said: “Chamberlyns is a business I’ve known and respected for many years since myself and Michael Smith first met in a best practice group in March 2010.
“I’ve watched their progression closely since then and admired their principles of true financial planning and evidence-based investing because our businesses share so much common ground.
“Having met the rest of the Chamberlyns team over the years, I knew they’d be a perfect fit as we continue our deals through 2023 and beyond, positively impacting more lives and building a legacy to be proud of.”
