MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

PE-Owned CPA Firms Surge into Advisory Buyouts

Consolidators scoop up tech, CFO services, insurance, AI engineering.

By CPA Trendlines Research

Sponsor-backed accounting firms are expanding and diversifying their range of advisory services with a slew of new deals in adjacent specialties, according to the CPA Trendlines CPA PE Deal Tracker™.

This edition of the private equity Deal Tracker™ identifies 27 transactions: 26 acquisitions or combinations and a financing round. The acquisitions include six U.S. technology businesses, one U.S. insurance services business, two U.S. wealth businesses and four international businesses. The other 13 involve U.S. accounting, tax, accounting advisory or mixed accounting and wealth businesses.

NEW, BIGGER TRACKER: See the PRO edition of the CPA PE Deal Tracker™ – Filter, search and sort more than 600 deals spanning 10 years for a total valuation of more than $60 billion 

BY THE NUMBERS: The decade in deals, year by year valuations, acquiror rankings, top ten biggest buyouts, the most connected investors, here.

The Tracker™ this month includes a new  $355 million financing round for Platform Accounting Group to support further expansion, and, in perhaps the largest takeover in October, Apax-backed CohnReznick is buying Aldrich, a group reportedly grossing $100 million a year.

The CPA Trendlines CPA PE Deal Tracker™ – Filter, search and sort

October 2026 – 27 deals, including CohnReznick takeover of Aldrich and Platform Accounting $355 funding round.
DateSeller / FirmBuyer / InvestorInvestor connectionsDeal typeCategoryNotes
Oct 2026Alan Gray and A.G. Risk ManagementLewis & EllisNovacapAcquisitionAccounting-adjacent (insurance services)Insurance consulting business provides claims consulting, forensic accounting and legal expense management; subsidiary adds run-off administration and accounting support.
Oct 2026Aldrich group of companiesCohnReznickApax PartnersAcquisition agreementMixed accounting and wealthAgreement covers Aldrich CPAs + Advisors and Aldrich Wealth. Closing expected in mid-December 2026.
Oct 2026BAO Consulting GroupCFGICarlyle; CVC Capital PartnersAcquisitionAccounting and advisoryDallas and Houston advisory business adds accounting and finance support, CFO and controller services, finance transformation and transaction work.
Oct 2026Blume KeeneyLarson GrossThrive Holdings (Current)AcquisitionAccounting and taxEverett, Wash., tax and consulting team joins Larson Gross. Effective Sept. 15; announced Oct. 23.
Oct 2026Charted NetSuite services practiceWilliamsMarstonKelso & CompanyAcquisitionAccounting-adjacentAcquires the NetSuite services practice. Charted's accounts payable software company remains independent.
Oct 2026ComtaxRyanOnex Partners; Ares Management; Neuberger BermanAcquisitionAccounting and tax (international)Brazilian tax technology and consulting business adds tax determination, compliance, systems implementation and tax audit support.
Oct 2026Equify AdvisorsElliott DavisFlexpoint FordAcquisitionAccounting-adjacentNetSuite implementation, business systems consulting and advanced analytics business joins Elliott Davis.
Oct 2026Fabietti, Hale, Hammerstedt & PowersProsperity PartnersLightyear Capital; Unity Partners (continuing minority)AcquisitionAccounting and taxSouthern New Jersey advisory, tax, client accounting and attest practice acquired. The acquired practice's clients include family-owned and closely held businesses.
Oct 2026FastricsKNAVNKSquaredAcquisitionAccounting-adjacentFlorida technology consulting and digital transformation business adds Workiva, connected reporting, governance, risk and compliance capabilities.
Oct 2026FlightlineStoutIntegrum HoldingsAcquisitionAccounting-adjacentAI technology and engineering business acquired after a period of collaboration.
Oct 2026Forensic Accountants & ConsultantsJ.S. HeldKelso & CompanyAcquisitionAccounting and advisoryForensic accounting and litigation consulting practice acquired and integrated.
Oct 2026Goal Line FinancialMercer AdvisorsOak Hill Capital; Genstar Capital; Altas PartnersAcquisitionWealth managementCincinnati wealth management firm acquired.
Oct 2026Havard & AssociatesBK PlusPalatine Private EquityAcquisitionAccounting and tax (international)Hornchurch, England, accounting, bookkeeping, payroll and tax practice joins BK Plus.
Oct 2026KBS CFONumeraAstira Capital PartnersAcquisitionAccounting and advisoryFractional CFO, bookkeeping and client advisory services practice joins Numera.
Oct 2026Loveridge Hunt & Co.Eide BaillyReverence Capital Partners (investment announced; closing before this acquisition unconfirmed)Combination announcedAccounting and taxBellevue, Wash., tax, accounting, audit and consulting firm announces joining Eide Bailly. Effective Oct. 19.
Oct 2026Platform Accounting GroupTreville-led financing groupTreville Capital Group; Vista Credit Partners; Siguler Guff; Aquiline; Brightwood Capital Advisors; The Cynosure GroupGrowth financingAccounting and advisoryOne completed $355 million financing with six named participants. The total includes PT&C Group Holdings’ $85 million equity offering, according to reported company confirmation.
Oct 2026QuishSequoia Financial GroupValeas Capital PartnersAcquisitionWealth managementBoulder, Colo., family office and wealth management firm acquired.
Oct 2026Rosetree SolutionsCitrin CoopermanBlackstoneAcquisitionAccounting-adjacentAI consulting business acquired; transaction closed Oct. 1. New Mountain Capital exited Citrin Cooperman in April 2025.
Oct 2026ScaleUp Financial SolutionsLarson GrossThrive Holdings (Current)AcquisitionAccounting and advisoryFractional CFO, controller and outsourced accounting business joins Larson Gross, effective Oct. 2. ScaleUp retains its brand.
Oct 2026Sephton AccountantsBK PlusPalatine Private EquityAcquisitionAccounting and tax (international)Solihull, England, practice adds accountancy, tax, VAT, bookkeeping, audit and payroll services.
Oct 2026Stolberg & BlanchetteWalter Shuffain (Ascend)Alpine InvestorsAcquisitionAccounting and taxWorcester, Mass., public accounting practice joins Walter Shuffain, adding tax, assurance, advisory and business valuation capabilities.
Oct 2026StrideAccordionCharlesbank Capital Partners; Motive PartnersAcquisitionAccounting-adjacentSoftware engineering and AI systems business joins the financial consulting firm.
Oct 2026Stroemer & CompanyCRICenterbridge Partners; Bessemer Venture PartnersAcquisitionAccounting and taxFort Myers, Fla., accounting, audit and tax practice specializing in community associations joins CRI.
Oct 2026TGRP SolutionsAprioCharlesbank Capital PartnersAcquisitionAccounting and advisoryTechnical accounting, fractional CFO, transaction support, staffing and recruiting business joins Aprio, effective Oct. 1.
Oct 2026The Curchin GroupHBKH.I.G. Capital (investment announced; closing before this acquisition unconfirmed)AcquisitionAccounting and taxNew Jersey accounting and advisory practice joins HBK. Effective Oct. 16.
Oct 2026Whalen CPAsUHYSummit PartnersAcquisitionAccounting and taxCentral Ohio tax, accounting, audit, valuation and advisory firm joins UHY.
Oct 2026White Hart AssociatesShaw GibbsECI PartnersAcquisitionAccounting and tax (international)Richmond, England, practice combines audit, accountancy and tax with corporate finance and travel-sector regulatory advice.