S&W continues Irish expansion with agreement to acquire Cork-based MC2 Accountants

The deal will see 47 new colleagues, including four partners, join S&W’s Ireland business, which currently employs around 115 people and was recently bolstered by the acquisition of Dublin-based Beechwood Partners. 

Established in 2013, MC2 is one of Munster’s leading audit, tax and business advisory firms, providing clients with a suite of end-to-end financial and business solutions. MC2’s business incorporates Parfrey Murphy, which it acquired in 2022. 

As a leader in the accountancy mid-market, S&W offers clients in Ireland a broad range of services spanning tax advice, assurance and business services and a suite of advisory and digital services that include recovery and restructuring, transaction services and forensic advice. 

S&W was launched in March 2025, following the sale of Evelyn Partners’ professional services business to Apax Funds. Drawing on the heritage of Smith & Williamson, which was founded in 1881, S&W has more than 2,000 employees and more than 130 partners based in the UK and Ireland.    
  
Andrew Wilkes, CEO at S&W commented: “I’m delighted to welcome the team from MC2 Accountants to S&W in our second acquisition in Ireland as a stand-alone group. MC2 is a highly respected and forward-thinking firm which fits well with S&W both in terms of expertise, culture, and the clients it works with. Like S&W, MC2 is a business committed to building long standing relationships that add real, discernible value to clients.

“Our partnership with Apax Funds is providing us with the firepower to invest in our transformational growth. This gives us the platform to strengthen our offerings to our clients through continuing to execute the acquisition of high-quality accountancy firms with complementary expertise, like MC2.” 

John O’Callaghan, Managing Partner in S&W’s Ireland business added: “This deal builds on the momentum we’re generating in Ireland and reinforces our commitment to expanding in this exciting market. Partnering with the MC2 Accountants team gives us a strong foothold in Cork - a dynamic, fast-growing city - and enables more clients to access our full suite of high-quality accountancy and advisory services.”

James Loughrey, Partner at MC2 Accountants added: “We are proud of the growth we have achieved as an independent practice, and now is the right time to take the next step in our journey by joining S&W. Becoming part of a larger organisation gives us the infrastructure and wider capabilities to continue to deliver joined-up solutions across multiple service lines, ensuring we can support clients as their needs become more complex in a more challenging world.
 
“Importantly, S&W’s strong focus on private clients and owner-managed businesses aligns perfectly with our own. The success of MC2 has been built on the support of our dedicated team and loyal clients, and this move will benefit both.”