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US-based tax advisers and wealth management firm Ground Control Business Management has expanded in the UK with the acquisition of all-service accountancy firm Clay GBP.
The acquisition will see Ground Control integrate Clay GBP into its operations and rebrand it as Ground Control.
Additionally, Clay GBP partners Richard Smethurst, Nick Parkinson, Bhavini Ratan, Ian Bailey, James Plumbly, Jasdeep Sami and Philip Hampson will join Ground Control as managing directors and report to Chris Bucci, CEO of Ground Control.
Founded in 2014, Clay GBP is a full-service business management consultancy firm providing accounting, taxation and business advice with offices in London and the Midlands.
The group serves “high-net worth” clients, including in the sports, media and entertainment industries.
It also provides management services across the relatively “complex aspects” of its clients’ financial lives, including bookkeeping, bill pay, tax preparation and planning, as well as the coordination of estate planning, wealth management and insurance services through external resources.
Bucci, CEO of Ground Control, said: “After partnering with Clay GBP for years, we’re thrilled to welcome their team to NFP and expand our broad range of specialised business services internationally.
“Ground Control was started as a traditional US entertainment business management firm, and with our clients’ global needs growing it made sense to add Clay GBP’s tax and accounting expertise to our capabilities. Clay GBP’s mission – which focuses on building relationships based on understanding and trust – aligns well with ours, and we look forward to collaborating for the benefit of our existing clients and the broader industry.”
Smethurst and Parkinson in a joint statement added: “We couldn’t be happier to join NFP and become part of Ground Control, one of the most prominent firms in the business management services industry.
“NFP’s breadth of expertise and capabilities across risk, human capital, wealth and retirement will give us an uplevelled approach to client relations and offerings for the UK. We’re honored to be a part of Ground Control’s international expansion and bring US-style business management services to the UK market.”










