Private Equity
An ambitious team of specialists who will help you to keep moving forward in a dynamic market.
Private equity houses and their investments operate in a competitive, fast-changing market.
Typically, firms will assign generalist accountants to private equity (PE) clients, but HaysMac is not your typical firm.
Through strategic recruitment, we have assembled a team of PE experts with credentials in tax, audit, structuring and transactions. You need an accountancy partner who understands your world and can add maximum value when opportunities arise.
Given the wide range of skills at HaysMac, we also provide a full range of services for PE houses themselves from outsourced accountancy and acquisition due diligence to personal tax advice for investment owners. This deep skillset and personal touch helps our clients achieve their ambitions.
Working with you through the lifecycle
HaysMac has deep experience of working with clients through the stages of growth from fundraising a start up to exit at maturity. Our team prides themselves on bringing the right advice at the right time through this journey to drive value for businesses and their owners.
In our open-plan London office, you’ll have a trusted team who can easily reach out to colleagues. Simply pick up the phone and get things sorted. This locality translates into faster responses, which helps maintain momentum when you need it the most. For private equity firms, London continues to be a hub of opportunity, and our location, expertise and responsiveness position us as a trusted partner in this space.
We are proud to support a wide range of private equity firms, offering tailored financial services throughout the investment cycle. Our work spans structuring, compliance, portfolio support and exit planning, always shaped by your strategic goals.
Services for Private Equity Firms
We support both private equity firms and their portfolio companies with advice that reflects the realities of fast-moving deals and operational growth. Our services are designed to be responsive, commercially focused and grounded in deep sector knowledge.
Here are some of the areas which we advise on, but do get in touch with anything else that we can support with:
- Acquisition due diligence and deal structuring
- Outsourced accounting and reporting solutions
- Tax-efficient structuring for funds and management teams
- Audit and assurance for both firms and portfolio businesses
- Personal tax planning for investors and founders
- Preparation for exit and IPO readiness
Where a generalist accountant might slow you down, our private equity team helps you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Are you an investor?
Based in one central office, our team has experience of working with a wide range of venture capital, private equity, real estate, no matter their size or sector. This means we are perfectly placed to deliver a high quality, tailored service, to support your business needs.
So, how can we help?
We get it – time is precious. Our outsourcing team can support you from day one. Let us handle the bookkeeping and management accounts. As you grow and make new investments, we’ll align your accounts and reporting to give you the best quality data for making those crucial day-to-day decisions.
We understand tax is critical for business leaders and we treat it with the same importance. Our proactive approach and deep knowledge help us spot and manage risks while maximising opportunities for tax efficiency.
As you move through your investment journey, our transactions advisory team is on hand to help with due diligence, transaction support, and financial modeling.
And when your companies require an audit, our specialist audit team is ready and waiting to provide you a high quality, efficient audit, giving you valuable insights into your business drawn from their experience of working with similar organisations.
Are you a privately owned business?
We understand that investment is exciting but with it brings change, offering both opportunity and challenge. That’s where we come in.
Our clients choose us because we understand their business, and adapt as they grow, ensuring the best quality service throughout their journey.
We’ve built a first-class team with heavy investment in people and technology, serving high-growth, privately-owned clients. Our proactive approach means we can provide real-time, constructive, informative feedback to both management and business owners.
Our specialist fast growth audit team understands the commercial challenges you face in this market and we design our audit approach to reflect these, saving you time and providing valuable feedback. We our reporting as a tool for business improvement – not just a checklist.
Our deep specialisms support companies with employee share schemes, maximising R&D tax credits, and structuring groups after international investments.
If and when you’re ready for exit, our capital markets and transactions advisory teams are right by your side. We’ll support you in assessing exit options, ensuring the best possible value for both owners and employees.
We’re ready when you are. Let us join you on your private equity journey.
Let us help with the next step.
Our sector teams are equipped with specialists across all service lines, enabling them to assist you with all aspects of your private equity business needs and challenges. Have a problem you need help with? Let us find the solution.
Our services
It’s unusual to find specialist sector know-how at every level of an accountancy firm. We like being a bit different at HaysMac. Meet the team member who’s ready to talk shop. Partner with the best.
All People
Mike Crowson
Partner, Head of Private Equity
Jon Dawson
Partner, Head of Sectors & Markets
Ian Cliffe
Partner
Andrew Barford
Partner
Andrew Ball
Senior Hospitality Partner
Mark Allwood
Partner
Osman Ghani
Senior Manager
Chris Cork
Partner, Co-Head of Transaction Services
Laura Mott
Partner, Co-Head of Transaction Services
Key private equity contact
Let's talk
Mike Crowson Director, Head of Private Equity
Frequently Asked Questions about Private Equity
Below you’ll find answers to common FAQs about private equity, designed to help you make informed decisions with confidence.
What is a private equity accountant?
A private equity accountant is a specialist who keeps a fund’s finances clean, timely and defensible. They record commitments and capital calls, post investments and exits, and keep partner capital accounts up to date. They calculate management fees and carry interest in line with the partnership agreement, then reconcile those figures to the ledger and bank activity. They prepare investor statements, support valuations with clear workings and coordinate audits so reports hold up under scrutiny. You will also see them working closely with tax, legal and deal teams to keep numbers aligned with the documents. In short, they give managers and investors information they can trust.
What is the 80 20 rule in private equity?
The 80 20 rule in private equity explains how profits are shared once the fund clears its hurdles.
- About 80 percent to investors: After preferred returns and any catch up, the residual profits are distributed to limited partners as set out in the partnership agreement.
- About 20 percent to the manager (carry): The remainder is allocated as carried interest to the general partner or manager, subject to clawback and other conditions.
The precise split, hurdles and timing are defined in the fund documents and can vary by strategy. Waterfalls may run deal by deal or across the whole fund, which changes when carry is paid. Accountants model the waterfall and reconcile it to cash to keep distributions accurate.
What is fund accounting in private equity?
Fund accounting is the framework that records and reports a private equity fund’s financial life. It captures commitments, calls, investments, valuations and distributions while keeping each investor’s position correct under the partnership agreement. Profits and losses are allocated, and fees and carry are calculated and presented clearly. Fair value measurement is supported with evidence for audit and regulators. Reports are reconciled to bank movements and valuation papers so the audit trail is complete.
In the UK the statutory accounts under UK GAAP or IFRS are aligned with internal metrics such as NAV, DPI, TVPI and IRR.
What is a separately managed account in private equity?
A separately managed account in private equity is a bespoke mandate for a single investor, built around that investor’s strategy, risk limits and reporting needs. Rather than joining a pooled fund, the investor uses its own vehicle and agrees investment guidelines, fees and performance terms that fit its policies. This setup gives greater control over pace of deployment, sector focus and exclusions. It also creates clearer visibility, since every cash flow, holding and valuation relates to one owner.
On the practical side, accounting and administration run at account level. Teams track commitments, calls, investments, valuations and expenses only for that mandate and apply its specific waterfall, governance and restrictions. Reports resemble fund statements but show a single investor’s exposures, returns and outstanding commitments. Auditors and regulators expect the same evidence and controls as they would for a fund, with workpapers that tie back to cash and documents. Many institutions choose SMAs for the control and transparency, while accepting that bespoke arrangements often require larger minimums and more operational input.
Is private equity accounting or finance?
Private equity spans both:
On the accounting side, ledgers, valuations, audits and the mechanics of fees and carry follow defined policies and documented controls.
From the finance angle, teams support transactions, model cash flows, analyse performance and communicate results to stakeholders.
Legal and tax input is woven through so structures and figures align with regulation and fund terms. Depending on the firm and role the emphasis may sit in fund accounting, portfolio finance or valuation. In practice it is a blend of disciplines that produces timely, consistent information for decision making.
Insights
