DJH drives into the South West for the first time with Gooding Accounts acquisition

DJH has made its first foray into the South West after completing the acquisition of highly regarded Gooding Accounts.

One of the UK’s fastest-growing accountancy groups viewed the Wiltshire-based practice as an ideal fit for its ongoing expansion plans, with the two companies sharing a passion for building strong, long-term relationships with its wide and varied client bases.

Sam and Katy Gooding will continue to lead the Gooding Accounts team, providing a seamless transition whilst supporting the integration of additional services, including access to experts in wills and estate planning, R&D tax credits and corporate finance.

Scott Heath, Chief Executive Officer of DJH, commented: “We have been deliberately building our national footprint in regions where we know we can add real value to local businesses and their advisers.

“The South West has been firmly on our radar, and Gooding Accounts is exactly the kind of practice we look for – technically strong, client-focused, and with a culture that matches our own.”

He continued: “This partnership is not just about growing our geography. It is about bringing the full weight of DJH’s resources, our specialist teams, technology and infrastructure, to support Gooding’s clients with services they’ve previously not had direct access to.”

Gooding Accounts was founded in 2014 by Sam Gooding and has grown into a thriving practice known for its refreshing, technology-led approach to accountancy.

The firm, which moved to a brand-new office on White Horse Business Park in July 2025, serves businesses across Wiltshire, delivering a personal, proactive service to start-ups, established companies, owner managers and ‘fast-growing’ disrupters.

Clients will experience a seamless transition, having access to the same trusted advisers, but now backed by the latest state-of-the-art technology systems and a significantly enhanced range of services, services that were previously beyond the reach of an independent practice the size of Gooding Accounts.

Sam commented: “Joining DJH is the right move at the right time. We have built something genuinely special here in Wiltshire, and I am incredibly proud of what the team has achieved. But we are ambitious, and moving into a larger group gives us the platform to go further.

“Katy and I are both fully committed to this business, to this team, and to every client we serve. That doesn’t change. What does change is what we are now able to offer.”

He went on to add: “The South West deserves access to the kind of specialist expertise that has previously only been available to clients of the larger firms in the cities – and we are now able to deliver just that.

“Experts in IHT planning, audit, specialist capital allowances and wealth management are all in direct reach of our clients going forward.”

DJH’s rapidly expanding group now employs nearly 900 people across 20 offices in the UK and Ireland, with Gooding Accounts representing its first entry into the South West of England.

Both firms have been recognised for their commitment to their people, with Gooding Accounts and DJH shortlisted as finalists for ‘Employer of the Year’ in the Mid-Tier Firm and Large Firm categories at this year’s Accounting Excellence Awards.

Sam Gooding has also been shortlisted for Practice Leader of the Year, in recognition of his contribution to the profession and the growth of the Gooding Accounts team.

Scott concluded: “Our model has worked exceptionally well in every region we have entered. We combine national scale with locally led advice – people who know their communities, who know their clients, and who are genuinely invested in their success.

“Sam and Katy embody that. We are delighted to welcome them and the Gooding Accounts team to DJH, and look forward to growing together in the South West.”