Starling Group has entered into an agreement to acquire Ember, a tax and bookkeeping software that will be built into Starling’s app and online bank.
The partnership aims to provide small business owners with an all-in-one solution to manage their finances ahead of HMRC’s ‘Making Tax Digital’ legislation coming into effect in April 2026.
The legislation will require all sole traders and landlords earning over a certain threshold to submit quarterly submissions to HMRC using an approved software provider, in addition to the end-of-year Self Assessment they currently file.
Daniel Hogan and Aaron Shaw, co-founders of Ember, said: “Making Tax Digital has created a real call to action for SMEs and Ember provides the solution to this.
“Our deal with Starling Group will mean that we’re setting a new standard for how banking and accounting should work together.”
Ember currently serves the customers of companies including HSBC, Revolut, Barclays and Lloyds; however, its software will become exclusive to Starling Bank customers next year.
Starling will discontinue Ember’s accountancy advisory services and the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.
“We are a natural fintech consolidator, so targeted acquisitions like Ember will form a key part of our strategy as we continue to develop Starling Bank in the UK and Engine by Starling overseas,” Declan Ferguson, group chief financial officer at Starling Group, added.
“Just as Fleet Mortgages has flourished since we bought it in 2021, I’m confident that Ember’s best-in-class tools will become a fantastic addition to Starling Bank’s offering.”
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