BDO's Expertise in Professional Sports

At BDO, we are dedicated to supporting the professional sports industry with a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet the unique needs of sports investors, rights holders, operators, associations, governing bodies, athletes, support industries and various other stakeholder groups. 

Our team of international experts combines industry experience and technical expertise with a personalised approach to help our clients navigate the complexities and nuances of the Professional Sports sector and achieve their goals.  We are agile, responsive, approachable and passionate about finding ways to help support your business needs, with senior level input throughout.
 

Key Service Lines

• Deal Advisory: Our deal advisory services support global sports organisations and investors in navigating majority and minority acquisitions/disposals and other strategic transactions. We offer expert guidance on fundraising, deal structuring, due diligence, and negotiations to ensure successful investment decisions.
• Audit and Assurance: Transparency and accountability are crucial in the sports industry. Our audit and assurance services deliver comprehensive audits that instil confidence in financial reporting and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Tax Services: BDO offers specialised tax services to sports entities and individuals, providing expert advice on tax compliance, planning, and optimisation. Our goal is to minimise tax liabilities while maximising opportunities for financial efficiency.
• Digital & Risk Advisory: Our specialists offer global digital, assurance and advisory services over the quality of internal control, risk and governance frameworks as well as being able to collaborate with you on a range of digital challenges that will improve your organisation and help manage a multitude of complex risks which may threaten the sustainability of your business.
• Financial Advisory: Our financial advisory and business restructuring services are designed to empower sports organisations with strategic financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting. We help clients optimise their financial performance, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term success.
• Consulting Services: BDO's consulting services cover governance, operational efficiency, and strategic development. We work closely with clients to enhance performance, streamline operations, and achieve strategic objectives.

 

BDO has extensive experience across a variety of sports disciplines, including (but not limited to):

• Football: We are the market leaders to the football sector, advising more EPL and Championship clubs than any other accountancy firm. We also use our extensive sector experience to assist clients on audits, an array of personal and corporate tax matters, and are one of the most active transaction advisors across the football community.
• Rugby: As well as audits, we have provided tax support and business restructuring assistance to clubs going through financial hardship through operational reviews and administration support.
• Cricket: BDO offers expert advice to cricket boards, teams, and players, ensuring they maximise opportunities and manage risks effectively.
• Golf: As well as providing audit, tax, and advisory services to a number of high-profile golf courses around the UK, BDO provide personal tax assistance for a number of sporting personalities within golf.
• Motor sports: We work with many Formula 1 teams helping them manage the complex changes to financial regulations, providing support in governance and tax areas (such as research and development) and conducting audits. We have also provided advisory and reporting accountant services on transactions and capital fund raises.
• Horse racing: We advise a large proportion of racecourses across the country and associated media rights entities.
• Governing bodies: We provide audit and advisory capabilities to National Governing Bodies. This includes external audit, internal audit, digital and fraud risk assessments, impact reviews of new government guidance and evaluations of ESG and governance structures.
• E-sports: With the meteoric growth in online gaming this area generates some unique issues both domestically and internationally. We have the necessary breadth and depth of experience to help both e-sports teams and the individuals that compete in e-sports.

 

Additionally, we have market leading teams that advise sports-adjacent businesses, including in betting and gaming, technology and retail sectors, with significant crossover with our sports clients.

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