We sat down with Riaz Kala, a Chartered Accountant and co-lead of the fast-growing accountancy firm Kala Atkinson, to talk tech, transformation, and the power of being yourself.

Bringing a New Energy to a Traditional Profession

Riaz is not your typical accountant. He’s part of a younger generation reshaping the way accountancy works for modern businesses. Alongside his brother, he runs Kala Atkinson, a tech-led practice with offices in London, Manchester and Wigan.

“We’re not just ticking boxes for compliance. We want to be a real part of our clients’ businesses – helping them with decisions, tech adoption, and strategy. Whether you’re a one-person startup or managing a team of 100, there’s always room for better systems.”

From Typing Receipts to Leading a Regional Firm

The journey started young. At 16, Riaz began working summer holidays with his dad, an East London sole trader. Those early days were a far cry from today’s cloud software and automation.

“I was literally typing up paper bank statements and receipts. There was no cloud software. But I got a taste for it and stayed.”

After earning his ACCA qualification, Riaz worked for firms including PwC, gaining experience with a wide range of clients before returning to the family firm and driving it forward into the tech age.

Taking the Leap: Acquisitions and Growth

Kala Atkinson has expanded rapidly, acquiring established practices in Manchester, Wigan, and most recently London. These acquisitions have brought opportunities – and serious challenges.

“We walked into practices where staff were still typing up every invoice and bank statement. We moved hundreds of paper files in the boot of my car. But that gap between old and new is where the opportunity lies.”

Modernising those systems is a huge undertaking, but one that aligns with changes already coming from HMRC’s Making Tax Digital initiative.

“Most firms dread it. We see it as a chance to push forward. Real-time data, cloud tools, automated processes – these are what drive real insight and growth.”

Building a Tech-Led Finance Function

Riaz’s vision is broader than just balance sheets. He and his team break the finance function into 9 or 10 key areas, assessing systems and recommending the best-in-class tools.

“It’s not just about bookkeeping. We want to influence every area of our clients’ businesses – payments, forecasting, operations. There’s a tech solution for everything now.”

From Xero and DextPrepare to custom tech stacks and digital health checks, their approach is all about creating a modern, responsive and strategic finance engine for every client.

Looking Ahead: Growth, Branding and Standing Out

The next 12 to 24 months are focused on growth — both in revenue and reach.

“We’ve just made our final acquisition for now. The plan is to grow organically through better branding, advertising and thought leadership.”

The target? £1 million in turnover across the group and a 20-strong team. But Riaz is already thinking beyond that.

“We’re hoping to double again in the three years after. It’s ambitious, but we know what’s possible.”

Where Riaz Can Help

Whether you’re just starting out or scaling fast, Riaz and his team can support with:

• Compliance: Tax registrations, VAT, PAYE, and statutory submissions.

• Advisory: Inheritance tax planning, restructuring, exit strategy.

• Operational Support: Monthly management accounts, cash flow forecasting, outsourced finance functions.

• Tech Consulting: Digital audits, system recommendations, implementation planning.

“We’ve even acted as a client’s full finance function – making payments, chasing debts, and speaking to their customers directly. It frees up founders to focus on what they do best.”

Learning from Experience: Acquisitions, Culture and Change

Having acquired multiple businesses, Riaz understands the challenges of integration – especially when it comes to people.

“Staff retention is hard. You’re stepping into someone else’s legacy. You have to respect it while modernising things. I’m always happy to share what we’ve learnt with others going through similar.”

Where He’s Looking for Support

Despite the success, there’s one area Riaz says needs attention: branding and lead generation.

“We’ve tried SEO, cold outreach, social content – but we know we need to get sharper. If someone can help us stand out in a very traditional industry, we’re all ears.”

The potential is huge. Accountancy may be crowded, but most firms are still playing catch-up when it comes to storytelling and digital marketing. Riaz sees this as a way to break through.

“It doesn’t take much to differentiate yourself if you do it right. But getting the creative side of that nailed is still something we’re working on.”

Life Outside the Ledger

When he’s not at the office or in client meetings, Riaz is with his young family, swimming, playing tennis, or investing time in his growing property portfolio.

“I’ve got three little ones, so most spare time is family time. I also hit the gym a couple of times a week – keeps me sane.”

Words to Live By

The best advice Riaz has ever received?

“Be yourself. Don’t worry if you feel different –  just be original and back yourself. That’s how you succeed.”

Want to Connect?

Riaz is based at Ministry of Work and is always happy to chat.

Whether you’re looking for tech-savvy finance support, advice on acquisitions, or just someone who’s been there and done it, Riaz is a brilliant member of our community – and someone worth getting to know.