Headquartered in the Midlands, Cottons Group provides accounting, tax, payroll and corporate finance services and employs around 120 people across seven UK locations. The firm will continue to operate under the Cottons Group name, with its existing internal leadership team in place and all employees retained.
The decision to join VIEW Group was made to ensure Cottons Group has the right level of long-term investment to continue supporting clients with the tools, systems and insight they need, as expectations across the profession continue to change.
Cottons Group has long taken a technology-led approach to accounting and advisory work. The firm believes that stronger access to data and insight is essential to helping clients understand the full picture when making financial decisions, rather than relying on historic information alone.
Quotes from management
John Hugosson, CEO of VIEW Group, commented:
“This is an important and highly strategic acquisition for VIEW Group. Cottons Group is a well-established firm with a strong reputation, a broad client base and an impressive track record of growth. By joining forces, we are not only strengthening our presence in the UK, but also creating new opportunities for innovation, collaboration and value creation for our clients and employees. This acquisition is a key step in our long-term strategy to become a leading provider of financial and business services in the Nordics and the UK.”
Will Smart, Managing Partner at Cottons Group, said:
“This decision was made with our clients and our people front of mind. We care deeply about the businesses we support and the teams who support them, and we didn’t want to stand still while the profession continues to change. VIEW Group shares our views on where the profession is heading and how technology and insight should be used to support better decision-making. That alignment, alongside the investment and support they bring, made this the right step for Cottons Group.”
Emma Reid, Partner at Cottons Group, added:
“From the outset, it was important to us that any partner shared our vision for the future of the profession. VIEW Group is an AccounTech business, and that strong digital and data-led mindset aligns perfectly with the strategy we have already been driving at Cottons. This partnership allows us to accelerate what we are already doing well, using technology to create efficiency, unlock better insights and ultimately deliver a higher-value service to our clients.”
The deal further strengthens VIEW Group’s UK presence, following its earlier acquisitions of Accurise and Petticoat Management Team. With the addition of Cottons Group, the Group now employs around 190 people in the UK, serves more than 8,000 clients and ranks within the top 75 accountancy firms nationally.
Both firms cited strong cultural alignment as a key factor in the transaction. Cottons Group and VIEW Group share a similar way of working, with a focus on collaboration, long-term relationships and supporting clients and staff through change, rather than pursuing short-term growth.
About Cottons Group
Cottons Group is a UK accounting and advisory firm headquartered in the Midlands. Founded in 1983, the firm provides accounting, tax, payroll and corporate finance services to businesses and individuals across the UK.
Cottons Group employs around 120 people across seven locations and supports a broad range of clients, from owner-managed businesses to growing and more complex organisations. The firm is known for its digital-first approach and its focus on using technology and data to support better decision-making, while maintaining close, long-term client relationships.
About VIEW Group
VIEW Group is an international accountancy, business services and technology group founded in 2004, with strong roots in the Nordics and a growing presence in the UK.
With annual revenues of approximately £120 million, VIEW Group serves clients across borders through 1,100 employees based in Norway, Sweden, Finland, the UK and India. The Group supports Nordic, UK and international customers with scalable, cloud-based solutions tailored to local and cross-border needs.
VIEW Group focuses on helping businesses use clearer, more timely financial information to support better decision-making, with technology and data playing a central role in how services are delivered.
Deal facts
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Acquirer: VIEW Group
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Acquired firm: Cottons Group Ltd
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Transaction: 100% share acquisition
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Completion: December 2025
VIEW Group overview:
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International accountancy, business services and technology group
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1,100+ employees across the Nordics, UK and India
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15,000+ clients
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Provides accounting, payroll, business insight and IT-related services
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Focus on cloud-based systems, data-led reporting and real-time insight
UK presence:
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VIEW Group has two existing UK firms, Accurise and Petticoat Management Team, which continue to operate as standalone brands
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With Cottons Group, the UK workforce totals around 190 people
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Combined, they serve over 8,000 clients across the UK
Cottons Group:
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Midlands-based accountancy and advisory firm
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Around 120 employees across seven locations
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Services include accounting, tax, payroll and corporate finance
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Market position: Combined UK operations place the Group among the top 75 accountancy firms
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Brand and people: Cottons Group brand retained; leadership structure unchanged; all staff retained
