Private Equity-Backed Accounting & Tax Acquisitions

Ryan, a global tax services and software provider, has acquired Meritax Advisors, a Texas-based commercial property tax consulting firm with offices in Frisco and Austin. The acquisition adds Meritax's property tax valuation, litigation management, and portfolio advisory capabilities to Ryan's Property Tax practice and brings Meritax partners and approximately 20 additional team members into Ryan's U.S. operations.

SAX, a top-75 national accounting, tax and advisory firm, has acquired Owen J. Flanagan & Co. The deal strengthens SAX's attest, tax, consulting and advisory capabilities while preserving personalized client service and expanding resources for clients and staff.

Seekye Capital has acquired a majority stake in DuvallWheeler LLP, a Manassas, Virginia-based accounting and advisory firm founded in 1986. The transaction represents Seekye’s first platform investment in the accounting and professional services vertical and will provide strategic resources, leadership development, and operational support while preserving the firm’s client-first culture.

Cherry Bekaert has acquired Washington, D.C.-based accounting and advisory firm Tarsus for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition bolsters Cherry Bekaert's outsourced accounting and CFO advisory capabilities, expands its presence in the Washington, D.C. and Kansas City markets, and adds GovCon-compliant accounting and real-time reporting capabilities.

Smith + Howard, an Atlanta-based accounting and advisory firm, has acquired Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A. (BPS), a Columbia, South Carolina-based public accounting firm with nearly 100 certified public accountants and professional staff. Terms were not disclosed; the acquisition expands Smith + Howard's presence in the Southeastern United States and strengthens its advisory and industry-specific capabilities across areas such as construction, insurance, telecommunications, and manufacturing.

PKF O'Connor Davies announced that Hollywood, Florida-based Topping Kessler & Company has joined the firm, bringing Topping Kessler's tax, accounting and advisory capabilities and its team of four partners and more than 30 staff into PKF's platform. The combined practice will operate across Hollywood and PKF O'Connor Davies' Fort Lauderdale office, expanding PKF's Florida footprint and service depth following its strategic growth investment from Investcorp and PSP Investments.

SAX (SAX Advisory Group) acquired Scheidel, Sullivan & Lanni CPA LLC (SSL) and Sierra Financial Advisors, LLC effective January 4, 2026; Sierra’s wealth management business was integrated into SAX Wealth Advisors, a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition expands SAX’s accounting, tax, advisory and wealth management capabilities, bringing the firm to 73 partners and close to 400 team members and enhancing SAX Wealth Advisors’ footprint (approximately 20 wealth advisors and over $4.5 billion AUM).

Ascend, a private-equity-backed platform for regional accounting and advisory firms, has integrated Tyler, Texas-based Gollob Morgan Peddy into its platform. The addition brings nine partners and approximately 100 professionals (FY24 net revenue of $17.3 million) to Ascend, expanding the platform's Southwest footprint; GMP will adopt an alternative practice structure with GMP Advisors (affiliated with Ascend) providing tax and business advisory services while attest services remain independently owned and licensed.

BELAY, a U.S.-based virtual staffing and outsourced services provider, has acquired Fully Accountable, a Fairlawn, Ohio outsourced accounting firm that serves eCommerce and digitally native brands. The deal expands BELAY's financial solutions capabilities (including fractional CFO and ecommerce accounting) and is supported by BELAY's private equity backer, Tenex Capital Management.

Aiwyn has acquired Column Tax's tax technology and integrated key team members (including former Column Tax CEO Gavin Nachbar) to accelerate launch of Aiwyn Tax, a modern 1040 preparation engine. The move shortens Aiwyn's development timeline by leveraging Column Tax's proven platform (over 1M returns processed) and supports a pilot program seeking 100 accounting firms for the 2026 tax season.

Crete Professionals Alliance announced that Legacy Valuations & Forensics, LLC, a Hauppauge, New York-based valuation and forensic accounting firm, has joined the Crete network. The move brings valuation, forensic accounting and litigation support capabilities onto Crete's national platform while Legacy retains its name and leadership and gains access to Crete's enterprise services, AI tools and nationwide network.

SAX has completed two add-on acquisitions, acquiring Maryland-based SCL Consulting and New Jersey-based Maddaloni, Nydick & Keenan, P.C. These are the first add-ons since Cobepa’s minority investment in SAX in July 2025 and are intended to expand SAX’s Client Accounting Services capabilities and strengthen its presence across the Mid‑Atlantic and New Jersey/New York markets.

Winter Park-based BryteBridge Group has acquired Foundation Group, a Nashville-based provider of nonprofit formation, compliance, accounting and tax services. Backed by RFE Investment Partners and Knox Capital, the deal expands BryteBridge's nonprofit services platform, integrates Foundation Group's Assurance membership with BryteBridge's Connect platform, and broadens the combined group's reach to serve more small- and medium-sized nonprofit organizations nationwide.

Ascend, a private equity-backed platform for regional accounting firms, announced the addition of Colorado accounting firm BiggsKofford to its national Ascend platform. The deal brings nine partners and more than 40 staff across Colorado Springs and Denver to Ascend (backed by Alpine Investors); terms were not disclosed and BiggsKofford will operate with an alternative practice structure for attest and non-attest services.

Enterprise, Alabama-based Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI) announced that Florence-based Abroms & Associates has joined the firm, expanding CRI's presence in northern Alabama. The Abroms team will continue to operate from its Florence office under the CRI name as part of CRI's broader Southeast growth strategy.

Kerogo Finance, a Perwyn‑backed accountancy group, has acquired two French accounting firms — Expertise Comptable Lelouch Assuied (ECLA) in Courbevoie and Cabinet Joël Pruvost in Douai — as bolt-on additions to its platform. The acquisitions expand Kerogo Finance’s regional footprint and capabilities, leveraging the Group's digital and technology expertise to accelerate growth toward its target scale.

Ascend, the PE-backed accounting platform supported by Alpine Investors, completed its largest merger to date by bringing Miami-based KSDT onto its platform effective September 1. The merger adds five offices, 29 partners and 276 professionals to Ascend’s southeastern footprint and integrates KSDT’s India team into Ascend’s offshore captive, Sentient Solutions; terms were not disclosed.

Elevate LLC has made a strategic and capital investment in Gilmore Advisors LLC, the non-attest business of San Mateo–based Gilmore & Associates, LLP, effective September 1, 2025. The partnership gives Gilmore access to Elevate's capital, technology and growth platform while preserving the independence of the CPA attest practice.

FMS Solutions, a New Heritage Capital portfolio company, has acquired Merchants Accounting Services (MAS) and AMP Services (AMP) to expand into the restaurant accounting vertical. The transactions are add-on acquisitions that broaden FMS's tech-enabled and SaaS-based managed accounting and advisory offerings for multi-site restaurants and hospitality customers.

Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC has acquired substantially all assets of Barkin, Perren, Schwager & Dolan, LLP (BPSD), a Woodland Hills, California-based accounting and advisory firm. The deal expands Citrin Cooperman’s Southern California presence and capabilities in sectors including entertainment and professional services; BPSD joins with three partners and more than 20 professionals.

Chicago-headquartered Prosperity Partners, a tax and accounting firm backed by Unity Partners, has acquired Vienna, Virginia-based transaction advisory firm Pipaya. The acquisition expands Prosperity's transaction services capabilities—particularly in aerospace, defense and government contracting—and grows its presence in the Washington, D.C. metro area; terms were not disclosed.

New York-based Earned, a tech-enabled financial services firm for healthcare professionals, has acquired Boston-area accounting and tax firm Schwartz & Schwartz PC to establish an East Coast footprint. The acquisition expands Earned's integrated wealth, tax, retirement and practice services offering to dental and other healthcare practices in the greater Boston market.

Moore Kingston Smith has acquired CBW Recovery, a London-based restructuring and insolvency partnership, adding 13 staff including two licensed insolvency practitioners. The deal strengthens Moore Kingston Smith's restructuring and insolvency capability and enhances its offering to the non-profit sector as part of the firm's ongoing M&A-led growth strategy.

TowerBrook Capital Partners (via TowerBrook Fund VI) has completed the acquisition of RYDGE Conseil, the carved‑out Chartered Accountancy division of KPMG France. The deal creates an independent French professional services platform delivering accounting, payroll, tax & legal and advisory services to SMEs, with TowerBrook partnering with RYDGE management to support a transformational growth strategy.

Aprio has acquired Needham Heights-based boutique CPA firm Sandler & Company, P.C., effective July 1, 2025. The deal brings Managing Partner Don Sandler and a team of nine professionals to Aprio, expanding its Financial Services capabilities and deepening its presence in the Greater Boston market.

CohnReznick has combined with Richmond-based tax firm PIASCIK & Associates effective July 1, 2025, bringing PIASCIK partners Steve Piascik and Ryan Losi into CohnReznick’s Private Client Services and International Tax practices. The deal expands CohnReznick’s mid-Atlantic footprint (adding a Richmond office) and bolsters its specialized tax capabilities as an add-on to the CohnReznick platform.

CenterOak Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm, has completed a majority recapitalization of NOW CFO, a Salt Lake City-based provider of outsourced finance and accounting services focused on SMB clients. CenterOak will support NOW CFO's growth by investing in technology, business development and client engagement and by expanding the company's geographic reach and service offerings; terms were not disclosed.

Exonas Capital has made a strategic growth investment in VFG Advisory LLC (Vision), a Morganville, New Jersey-based accounting and business services firm. The transaction was supported by Avante Capital Partners and Brightwood Capital Advisors, which provided debt and equity financing; Vision will operate as a growth platform pursuing expanded services and add-on acquisitions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Boston-based private equity firm Abry Partners has made a strategic growth investment in Burgess Hodgson, a Canterbury-headquartered accounting and business advisory firm. The investment will support Burgess Hodgson’s expansion across London and South East England, enhance digital capabilities, and enable targeted M&A while the firm's leadership and partnership retain significant equity.

Prosperity Partners, a Chicago-based tax and accounting platform backed by Unity Partners, completed the acquisition of South Burlington, Vermont-based Danaher Attig & Plante (DAP). The deal expands Prosperity’s tax and accounting capabilities and establishes a Vermont presence; terms were not disclosed and DAP partners will remain actively involved.

Dains Group, backed by IK Partners, has acquired Barnes Roffe, one of the UK’s top 50 accounting firms. The deal (effective 4 June 2025) adds over 29 partners and more than 200 employees in the London area, strengthening Dains' national footprint and client proposition in audit, tax, corporate finance and advisory services.

PKF O'Connor Davies announced the addition of Philadelphia-area Rainer & Company into its national accounting, tax and advisory platform. The four-shareholder firm—with 25 staff—will expand PKF O'Connor Davies' regional presence and deepen capabilities across industries including construction, real estate, manufacturing and employee retirement plans.

Rentvine has acquired Bynnd, a provider of trust accounting and bookkeeping services for property managers, and will integrate Bynnd’s accounting expertise into its platform. Kristin Johnson, Bynnd’s founder, is joining Rentvine’s leadership team as part of the transaction; Rentvine is a PE-backed property-management software provider (backed by Mainsail Partners).

Capstone Accounting and Tax announced that Keller & Mendoza CPAs has joined Capstone, with Maury Keller joining as a Partner and continuing to lead the Vail office. The move marks Capstone’s first expansion into Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region; Capstone is backed by Seaside Equity Partners and is executing add-on acquisitions to grow its accounting platform.

EQT, through its EQT X fund, has become an anchor investor in WTS Group in a long-term strategic partnership that will provide significant growth capital. The partnership will support WTS's international expansion and investments in digital services and AI while enabling inorganic growth through M&A.

Wilson Partners has acquired Rutland-based Max Accountants, marking the firm's first deal of 2025 and its eighth acquisition overall. The transaction strengthens Wilson Partners' regional presence across the South of England, increases revenue to £32 million and headcount to nearly 300, and expands its specialist team serving early-stage and high-growth technology and life sciences companies.

Baker Tilly has acquired Invoke Tax Partners, a Dallas-based state and local tax specialty firm, to expand its specialty tax capabilities in areas such as real estate and business personal property tax, sales and use tax, and severance tax. The deal broadens Baker Tilly's national tax service offering and deepens its expertise for clients in industries including commercial real estate, manufacturing and energy.

Valedo Partners IV AB has invested in Admento, a Trondheim-headquartered Norwegian provider of accounting, payroll, HR, debt collection and related BPO services, in a strategic partnership to accelerate Admento's expansion and growth. Terms were not disclosed; Admento's previous owners, employees and board members also invested alongside Valedo. The company operates in more than 20 locations across Norway, serves roughly 6,000 customers and has revenues of about NOK 350 million.

Aprio has acquired Mangold Anker Phillips, PLLC (MAP), a tax, accounting, and business advisory firm based in Austin, Texas. The deal expands Aprio's presence in Texas, brings MAP's 14 partners and professionals into Aprio's Austin office, and adds tax, valuation, forensic accounting, outsourced CFO/controllership and payroll capabilities to Aprio's service offering.

Dains Group, backed by IK Partners, has acquired Consilium Chartered Accountants, a Glasgow-based accountancy and advisory firm. The deal strengthens Dains' presence in Scotland and expands its capabilities in corporate tax, audit and corporate finance as part of its roll-up strategy in the SME advisory market.

BryteBridge Group, a tech-enabled provider of nonprofit formation and compliance services backed by RFE Investment Partners and Knox Capital, has acquired 501c3 Center, MoneyMinder, and Nonprofit Suite to broaden its end-to-end nonprofit offerings. The deals expand BryteBridge's capabilities across formation, financial management software, and outsourced accounting/CFO services for small and mid-sized nonprofits.

Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI) has acquired CapinCrouse LLP, a nonprofit-focused CPA and consulting firm based in Indianapolis, Indiana, in a transaction effective January 17, 2025. The deal adds 40 partners, 185 professionals and 15 offices to CRI, strengthening its nonprofit and faith-based organization audit and advisory capabilities and expanding its national footprint; financial terms were not disclosed.

Four Swedish audit firms — Crowe Osborne, Frejs Revisorer, RSM Göteborg and Qrev — have formed a joint group to invest in digitalization, quality assurance and employee development. Adelis Equity Partners will become a minority owner to support strategic investments and growth (including add-on acquisitions); the combined group reports roughly SEK 400m in revenues and more than 200 employees, and the transaction is expected to close in February 2025.

Rallyday Partners, a Denver-based private equity firm, has made a strategic growth investment in Insero Advisors, a Rochester-based accounting, tax, and advisory firm. The capital will be used to accelerate Insero's growth, expand advisory and technology-driven services, and support geographic and service-line expansion while maintaining its alternative practice structure.

Springline Advisory, a financial and business advisory platform backed by private equity firm Trinity Hunt Partners, has invested in Fiske Advisory LLC, a South Florida accounting, tax, business valuation and advisory firm headquartered in Plantation, Florida. The transaction expands Springline's advisory footprint and capabilities in South Florida; financial terms were not disclosed.

Blackstone is acquiring a majority stake in US accounting firm Citrin Cooperman in a deal reported to value the firm at roughly $3.2 billion. The private equity firm will keep its economic stake below 50% through smaller investors to address regulatory concerns; Citrin Cooperman partners will roll over most of their ownership while realising some proceeds, and New Mountain Capital — the prior investor — will sell down its stake.

Lovell Minnick Partners (LMP) has made a strategic growth investment in Cohen & Company, a national assurance, tax and business advisory firm. The minority growth capital will support Cohen & Company’s technology investments, expansion of service offerings, and broader strategic growth plan, while enabling an increase in employee equity ownership under a new alternative practice structure.

IK Partners has acquired Dains Accountants from Horizon Capital. The sale sees Horizon Capital realise its investment after supporting Dains' buy-and-build growth (10 add-on acquisitions since 2021) and delivering strong returns; Dains is a UK-based accounting and business advisory group serving SMEs across the UK and Ireland.

Arlington, Va.-based Ascend, a growth platform for regional accounting firms backed by private equity firm Alpine Investors, will add Boston-based IPA 200 firm Walter Shuffain effective Jan. 1. The deal brings Walter Shuffain’s FY23 net revenue of $30.3 million and 114 professionals (including 13 partners) onto Ascend’s platform and expands Ascend’s footprint into the Boston market; terms were not disclosed.

Springline Advisory, a PE-backed middle-market accounting and advisory platform, announced that Dallas-based HM&M Advisory, LLC has joined as a founding firm under an alternative practice structure. The move expands Springline's geographic footprint and capabilities in tax, accounting, business valuation and litigation support while giving HM&M access to capital and broader resources.