QBS Software wants to operate with the governance maturity of a large, listed company, its CEO said as it announced a “significant investment” with PwC.
The software distributor has picked PwC to manage its global audit and tax operations.
The move comes following a string of international acquisitions that have swelled QBS’ annual revenue runrate to $600m.
The audit and tax tender process was led by Charlie Heald, who – after leaving Softcat to join QBS as CFO in April – drew parallels between the growth trajectory of QBS and that of his former, LSE-listed employer.
“This is a significant investment for us, but one that is an accurate reflection of our current scale and ambition, and dedication to doing things properly,” QBS CEO Dave Stevinson said.
“Our goal is to operate with the governance maturity of a large cap listed company.
“Working with PwC ensures we continue to build on a foundation of trust, financial maturity, and tax excellence across our entire international operations.”
Going for it on governance
QBS also hailed the move as a step forward in its ESG strategy.
Having already got the ‘E’ and ‘S’ of ESG in order (it was among the first in the UK IT channel to snare B Corp status), Stevinson has spoken of his desire to turn the firm’s attention to ‘governance’.
“Strong governance is the backbone of sustainable business,” stated Heald.
“We were impressed by PwC’s professionalism and their technological sophistication as well as the shared belief that governance is not just compliance – it’s core to the QBS culture.”
London-based outfit QBS ranked 12th in Oxygen’s 50 Must-Know UK Distributors and Marketplaces 2025, with fiscal 2025 revenues reaching £294.5m.
Its claims its recent acquisition of pan-European VAD Prianto put it “firmly” on its way to its $1bn annual recurring revenue target.
