Major global accountancy firm Moore Kingston Smith LLP has acquired Devon-based education specialist Financial Planner Pilot Financial.

Chartered Financial Planner-run Pilot Financial provides Financial Planning and workplace pensions and employee benefits advice to teachers and schools as well as private clients.  

Pilot Financial’s team will join the expanding Financial Planning team at Moore Kingston Smith Financial Advisers.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, is being funded by investment from European private equity firm Waterland, with further acquisitions in the pipeline.

Moore Kingston Smith says the acquisition will help boost its existing presence in the education sector.

Maureen Penfold, managing partner of Moore Kingston Smith, said: “Following our recent investment partnership with Waterland, we are ready to take our ambitious growth plans to the next level and expand our capabilities to clients by offering additional service lines as well as broader solutions.

“We are therefore thrilled to welcome Ian Thomas and his team to Moore Kingston Smith.  Not only do we share a vision for the sustainable growth and success of our people and our clients, but this addition also complements our existing offering for private clients and organisations in the education sector, a space we have been fully committed to supporting for many years.”

Pilot Financial was co-founded by Ian Thomas in 2011. Mr Thomas is a Chartered and Certified Financial Planner and a Chartered Wealth Manager. He has worked in financial services for over 25 years, including at JP Morgan, Fidelity, Skandia and AXA. 

Mr Thomas said: “We are very excited to be joining Moore Kingston Smith at a time when the firm is taking the next steps in its growth journey, boosted by its partnership with Waterland.

“Moore Kingston Smith has expertise in a multitude of disciplines which will enable us to offer our clients a greatly enhanced range of services, as well as provide greater opportunity and support for our people. The global reach afforded through the firm’s connections and membership of the Moore Global network will be a wonderful extension to our client offering.”

Moore Kingston Smith is the London firm of the Moore UK network and provides accountancy services to clients in many sectors including energy, financial services, manufacturing and real estate. The firm has over 70 partners and more than 700 people based in and around London. It is part of Moore Global, a worldwide accounting and advisory firm with over 29,000 people in 547 offices in 113 countries.