Private equity advisory services

S&W supports private equity firms, their executives and portfolio companies across the investment cycle. We help simplify complex compliance requirements, enhance efficiency, boost performance, realise ambitions and manage changing regulations and risks.

Day to day, our services and advice enable private equity (PE) firms, partners and portfolio businesses to optimise outcomes and confidently comply with changing tax rules and regulations. We help deploy capital efficiently, get the best possible values at exit and effectively manage executives’ liabilities from carried interest and co-investment returns.

Whether it’s acquisition accounting, unlocking portfolio businesses’ potential or planning for capital gains and inheritance taxes, our private equity accountants and advisers help the industry keep doing deals and securing returns for investors, firms and partners.

Private equity consulting services

Our clients benefit from multidisciplinary teams providing comprehensive services for the business, people and portfolios.

Personal tax services for PE executives and general partners

We provide bespoke support across all aspects of UK taxation and leverage an international network for seamless cross-border services.

We liaise with firms to ensure payments are split efficiently; use tax structures effectively to protect and pass on executives’ assets; prepare and file personal tax returns; and support individuals with HMRC enquiries.

From compliance to creating family investment companies and trusts for carried interest, our private equity accounting experts work with executives to define their objectives, manage their risks and plan for the future.

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Portfolio optimisation

We bring technical expertise and industry experience for PE portfolio businesses to increase operations’ efficiency, address underperformance, enhance value drivers and oversee successful exits. From optimisation and outsourced solutions to technology transformations, we help businesses thrive and sponsors realise their investments’ potential.

Business optimisation services identify and deliver value creation opportunities through root cause analysis, business case quantification, prioritisation and targeted implementations
Exit readiness services are delivered through our experts in advisory consulting and corporate finance to find the right buyer, develop sales strategies and maximise values, minimise risks and smooth the sales process
Tax advisory experts help businesses manage tax compliance, exit tax risks and value creation opportunities during the lifecycle of the investment

Private equity accounting services

S&W brings clarity to the complexities and challenges of receiving private equity investment. We help CFOs and finance teams manage the increased pressure from new ownership determined to see results. Helping preserve and maximise value, we ensure they have the right information at the right time to make the right decisions.

Our seasoned professionals bring significant experience supporting portfolio businesses across the investment cycle:

Accounting for the initial investment and new group structure
Identifying blind spots
Providing additional resources for pinch points during the year
Producing timely and accurate financial information for the PE house
Offering on-call technical accounting support
Audit assistance
Exit and IPO readiness support

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Transaction tax services

We support private equity clients across the investment cycle with services for all their corporate finance activity, including acquisitions, mergers, restructurings and disposals. Our services include tax due diligence, with assessments of historical tax risks associated on transactions, and support with the tax aspects of legal documentation.

We also provide forward-looking tax structuring, supporting tax optimisation for transactions. Our experts help private equity clients through the steps required to facilitate the transaction and with the post deal actions to manage the tax affairs.

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Across PE firms and their portfolio businesses, we draw on the full capabilities of S&W across our audit and assurance, risk advisory, business tax, corporate finance and advisory consulting practices.

Private equity industry expertise

Our private equity specialists combine industry experience and technical expertise to address clients’ complex needs. Helping them navigate changing regulations and succeed in a competitive market, we offer tailored advice and solutions to meet the sector’s demanding requirements.

Find a true partner for your firm:

Experienced: partners and professionals handle your services, bringing PE expertise and insights from working across their portfolio investments’ industries to help drive performance and returns.

Integrated: advice and services draw on expertise from across our business with multidisciplinary teams. A lead expert coordinates services, introducing you to specialists as you need them.

Individual: bespoke offerings address clients’ specific needs. Every business has its way of working. We work with yours, striving to understand your needs and build a relationship for the long term.

International: coverage, with advice and accountancy through CLA Global’s 230 offices worldwide and support from Oaklins International for overseas transaction services.