Azets acquires RSM UK’s specialist medical accounting team

Azets has announced the acquisition of RSM UK’s specialist medical accounting team. 

The transaction underlines Azets’ commitment to become the UK’s biggest independent provider of specialist medical accounting services, serving more than 500 GP practices and 3,000 individual GPs, consultants, and other medical professionals.

The deal expands Azets’ regional footprint in the South East, North West, and Yorkshire, as the firm welcomes 30 new colleagues, including two partners and one director, into its offices in Southampton, Winchester, Maidstone, Manchester and Leeds.

This is Azets’ second specialist medical accounting acquisition after Dorset-based Sandisons joined the Group in September 2022. Azets now plans to drive further growth as the number one provider of accounting and advisory services to the UK’s medical sector.

As part of the acquisition, James Gransby and Richard Apps join Azets as specialist medical partners. 

Gransby was RSM UK’s head of medical accounting and has worked with doctors and GP practices for more than 20 years. He is vice chair of The Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants (AISMA) whose members act for almost half of all GPs in the UK.

He provides specialist advice to doctors and their practices on financial matters including tax planning, pensions tax and practice mergers. He has also performed advisory work in areas such as premises developments, new models of care, succession planning and GPs entering partnership.

Apps has over 15 years of experience working with healthcare clients, with expertise in general medical partnership businesses, their contracts, taxation and NHS superannuation issues. He previously worked as a general practitioner undertaking audit and small business advisory. He trained in the Big 4 and qualified as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1994.

Regarding the acquisition, Gransby said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for my colleagues and me to deliver expert advice to doctors and their practices, now as part of Europe’s fastest-growing accountancy and advisory group and one of the UK’s largest specialist providers to the medical sector. I’m passionate about helping doctors, who dedicate so much of themselves to their patients, and to be able to make sure that their finances are well looked after.”

Peter Gallanagh, UK chief executive officer at Azets, said: “We’re pleased to welcome James, Richard, and the specialist team from RSM UK as we deepen our sector expertise and underline Azets’ reputation as a first-class service provider to GPs and medical practices.

“As the medical sector continues to undergo significant change, the needs of GPs and medical practices are growing in complexity. This requires increasingly sophisticated advice which non-specialist accountants can no longer provide. We have the right expertise to support medical clients across the UK through the challenges and opportunities they face, leveraging the wider Azets portfolio of services.”