M&A activity is showing signs of recovery in 2025, with a notable uptick in strategic acquisitions. Rather than chasing scale for its own sake, businesses are targeting deals that bring in specialist skills, access to new technologies, or diversification into less volatile markets. This shift reflects a more cautious and calculated approach, shaped by macroeconomic pressures and changing global trade dynamics.
Geopolitical factors are starting to play a larger role in deal-making. Potential new tariffs and supply chain issues are prompting buyers to look more carefully at who they acquire and where those businesses operate. This kind of complexity increases the pressure to get the post-deal phase right.
Once a deal is signed, financial integration, reporting, and compliance become immediate priorities. Without the right support, what looked like a strategic win can quickly turn into a drain on time, cash, and focus. That’s where an accountant makes the difference.
Where an accountant fits in before the deal closes
Although this article focuses on post-deal support, it’s worth noting that accountants play a key role in the lead-up too. From financial due diligence to advising on deal structure, cash flow, and working capital adjustments, accountants help you make better-informed decisions and avoid costly surprises.
Why post-deal support matters
Once a deal is signed, the real work begins. Integrating financial systems, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, and aligning reporting practices across entities are all critical to long-term success. Without clear planning and proper execution, these areas can become stumbling blocks.
That’s especially true if the buyer and seller had very different approaches to financial management before the deal. A qualified accountant can help bridge that gap, offering practical solutions for integration and giving you a clearer picture of how the newly combined business is performing.
Company size thresholds and reporting obligations
One easily overlooked consequence of an acquisition is how it affects your company’s size classification. Adding another entity could push you over the threshold from small to medium, triggering a legal requirement for an audit. If the combined group becomes large, additional disclosure rules apply too. These changes can catch people off guard if they’re not planning for them early on.
Purchase price adjustments and opening balances
One of the first accounting priorities post-transaction is to finalise the purchase price and agree on any adjustments. This often involves working with completion accounts or locked-box mechanisms, and ensuring any earn-outs are properly accounted for.
Accountants also help with opening balance sheet preparation, which is a critical milestone. This includes assessing fair value of assets and liabilities, identifying intangible assets, and recognising any goodwill. It’s technical work, but it has real commercial implications. Mistakes at this stage can distort your financial position and make future reporting harder.
Getting the financial reporting right
Post-acquisition reporting is about more than ticking compliance boxes. It helps stakeholders understand the true performance of the business, which is essential if you’re reporting to investors, regulators, or preparing for a future sale.
If the deal involved entities with different reporting frameworks or financial year-ends, your accountant can help bring consistency. They’ll also help with group consolidation and ensure the accounts reflect the substance of the transaction.
If your business has become part of a group or now needs to prepare consolidated accounts, there are additional layers of complexity. This includes identifying which subsidiaries must be included, ensuring intercompany transactions are properly eliminated, and presenting a clear picture of the group’s financial health.
Keeping stakeholders informed
Good reporting supports good communication. Investors, lenders, and senior leadership need accurate, timely insights into how the acquisition is performing. Accountants can help develop reporting packs and KPIs that reflect what success looks like after the deal.
They can also assist with forecasting and scenario planning, helping you stay in control of cash flow and anticipate future needs.
Support for cultural and operational integration
While accountants aren’t responsible for HR or systems integration, they do play a part in ensuring smooth operational alignment. Disparate finance functions can be a major source of tension after a merger or acquisition. Accountants can help streamline processes, suggest technology improvements, and establish consistent controls.
This is especially important if you’re trying to standardise how decisions are made across different departments or geographies.
Why this matters for you
Whether you’re buying or selling, working with the right accountant can help you maximise the value of the deal. They’ll help reduce risks, spot opportunities, and make sure you have reliable information to base decisions on.
At Gravita, we support clients at every stage of the M&A process. If you’re considering a transaction or want to get more value from a recent one, contact us to find out how we can help.
