Our partnership with HB&O
Specialists in the education sector.
In 2025, HB&O and Validera came together to form Validera HB&O Ltd, a joint venture built to meet the growing need for high-quality external audit services in the education sector.
The partnership pairs Validera’s specialist knowledge of education-sector audit, governance and risk with HB&O’s robust accountancy expertise, giving clients a combined offering that’s both sector-specific and deeply experienced.
An Independent Member Firm of DFK UK & Ireland
Validera is an independent member firm of DFK UK & Ireland, part of the global DFK International association. DFK International is a global alliance of accounting firms providing audit, tax and advisory services, working closely together across over 430 offices in over 85 countries. Each member firm is independently owned and managed, and meets the DFK standard of excellence.
DFK is among the most trusted and tightly woven organisations for accounting firms worldwide. Members share an extensive and diverse base of international expertise, equipping them to deliver client-focused solutions across multiple jurisdictions. Through this membership, Validera draws on a global depth of knowledge and resources while remaining an independent, locally-run firm.
“We’re incredibly excited about the partnership we have formed with HB&O. We’ve got unique skill sets that, when combined, could make a real difference to education providers.”
“We know the sector is struggling to find external auditors. We wanted to become a new player in the market and to add some expert competition to the marketplace.
“Failings in governance and financial controls can have disastrous consequences, as has been felt by colleges across the country, so it’s imperative that proper checks and support is in place. Our partnership exists to deliver on this.
“We are especially skilled in education funding and can help providers protect their core funding streams through deployment of specialist knowledge and robust assurance. Our team’s credentials in this area are supported by our Department for Education (DfE) funding assurance contract success.”