SmartSearch
Ilkley AML and client verification platform for regulated firms, with more than 7,500 UK customers; it bought identity-check firm Credas in January 2026.
| Founded | 2005, Ilkley, West Yorkshire (incorporated as SmartCredit Limited) |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Private; backed by Triple Private Equity, which invested in early 2025 |
| Customers | More than 7,500 UK customers, and more than 8,500 regulated firms with Credas; over half of the UK’s top 100 accountancy firms, a third of the top 200 law firms, more than 1,000 property businesses and more than 3,000 FCA-regulated organisations |
| What it does | AML checks on individuals (KYC) and businesses (KYB), beneficial owner checks, sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening, nightly ongoing monitoring, document and biometric verification, fraud checks, risk assessment, enhanced due diligence and source of funds checks via open banking; UK individual checks use Equifax, Experian and TransUnion data with a match rate of up to 97% |
| Recent moves | Completed the acquisition of Credas Technologies (January 2026); Phil Cotter appointed CEO and a new C-suite after the Triple Private Equity investment (2025); named a Long-Term Growth Champion by the Financial Times and Statista for 31% average annual growth since 2013; target of £100m ARR |
| Pricing | Modular, with no fixed rate card; Starter, Growth and Enterprise Compliance tiers; prices not published |
| Markets | UK, with international checks on individuals in more than 40 countries and business reports in more than 97 countries, and a US customer identification service for Bank Secrecy Act and Patriot Act requirements; sectors include legal, accountancy, property, financial services, insurance, investment, gaming, banking and crypto |
| Peers | Credas, Thirdfort, Amiqus, First AML, RiskScreen |
Why it matters
SmartSearch runs AML checks for more than 7,500 UK customers, including over half of the UK’s top 100 accountancy firms, and with Credas, bought in January 2026, serves more than 8,500 regulated firms. Backed by Triple Private Equity since 2025, it puts client identity checks, business and beneficial owner checks, sanctions screening and ongoing monitoring in one platform that accounting firms use to onboard and re-screen clients.
Updated October 2026.
Part of Accountio’s accounting technology coverage.
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