Today's Features
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

With Apax Sale, CohnReznick Starts Building a National Platform

First rollup: Smith Schafer & Associates.

By CPA Trendlines Research

CohnReznick has closed its funding deal with Apax Partners, formally planting one of the world’s largest private equity firms inside the upper tier of the U.S. accounting profession.

MORE Private Equity

The transaction, three years in the making, positions Apax as the majority owner of CohnReznick’s non-attest business, while the firm’s audit and attest services remain separate.

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ADVISORY & CONSULTING

Jody Padar: The New Playbook Is AI-Powered and Human-Centered | Big 4 Transparency

AI Won’t Replace Accountants. Instead, It Will Rewire the Business Model.

This is a preview. The complete episode is first available exclusively to PRO Members | Go PRO here
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Big 4 Transparency
With Dominic Piscopo, CPA

Jody Padar, widely known as “The Radical CPA” and author of Radical Pricing, argues the future of accounting won’t be won by automation alone, but by a business model shift that elevates human judgment, advisory, and client relationships.

MORE Dominic Piscopo | AI | Pay & Compensation

In the new episode of the Big 4 Transparency Podcast, Padar joins host Dominic Piscopo to trace her path from early cloud-firm pioneer to venture-backed operator and to explain why her newest venture, Xcel Labs, is focused on training CPAs to think and lead differently in an AI-first world. Xcel Labs’ Navi aims to build empathy and leadership at scale.

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PRO Member Exclusive

Why Tax Clients Fire Their Accountants

Portrait of an angry man yelling on the phone

Here are 21 complaints. What could you be preventing?

By Ed Mendlowitz
Tax Season Opportunity Guide

Clients have many choices, including the choice of a tax preparer. Every new client an accountant gets is because that client left – fired – their previous accountant.

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So why do clients leave?

Here are 21 good reasons why they should: READ MORE →

PRO Member Exclusive

Want Better Leaders? Grow Your Own

A development academy might be the answer.

By Domenick J. Esposito
8 Steps to Great

When it’s time to make decisions about new partner admissions, here is what senior leadership at many small and midsized CPA firms often hear:

  • “If Mary doesn’t make audit partner this year, she will leave the firm. We can’t afford to lose her as she gets all the work done at ABC Manufacturing Corporation, who pays us over $300,000 a year. Without Mary, this client will leave the firm” and
  • “We need to make Joe a tax partner this year because he is the only one in the firm who understands ‘C.’ Without him, we will have a big hole in our tax department capabilities. It could put a big hurt on the firm.”

MORE by Domenick J. Esposito
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In their guts, these leaders know that, while both Mary and Joe are solid professionals, there is little chance that either of them will develop beyond client service partners.
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ADVISORY & CONSULTING

Six Vital KPIs for Advisory-CAS Success

Plus four client outcomes for measuring impact.

By Hitendra Patil
Client Accounting Services: The Definitive Success Guide

Client Advisory Services (CAS) are truly changing the way we see accounting. Now, it’s less about the hours you put in and more about the positive difference you make. The success of CAS isn’t just reflected in financial reports or dashboards, but also in how well clients do and how much the firm grows overall.

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To reach your goals, it helps to measure carefully. Keep track of key signals and use them as a guide to improve how you serve, grow and create meaningful value. According to our CAS survey, 49.6 percent of firms say the most important success metric is becoming more of a “one-stop shop” for clients, while 14.6 percent focus on solving more problems for clients.

Let’s explore how you can set up measurements for your CAS practice.
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