outlook & analysis

accounting firms upshift to corporate model

three people standing and talking around table in brick conference room

expect competition from non-cpa firms.

by terry putney
the rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics

the private equity influence and activity clearly will continue to dominate mergers and acquisitions in the profession in the near future. at this point there is likely over $10 billion in fee volume generated by firms pe has invested in. even more if you include esop-based firms (an alternative form of investment). contrast that with less than $2 billion at the height of the consolidation phase in the early 2000s. it seems likely that the fee volume generated by pe-backed firms could exceed $20 billion within at most 18 to 24 months.

editor’s note: every year, the 2024 rosenberg national survey of cpa firm statistics asks the profession’s top consultants two sets of questions:

    • how do you think the next 12 months will unfold? trends? predictions? other thoughts?
    • how would you assess the last 12 months? trends? observations? struggles?

more: tech anxiety paralyzing some accounting firms | what’s going to happen? lots, say consultants | growth and complacency must concern accounting firms this year | solving staffing requires intention | how accounting firms are handling the staff shortage | the future of fees | as private equity closes in, firms seek new answers to staffing problems | when staffing falls short, clients get culled | how accounting firms are dealing with retirement | next five years are critical for accounting firms | staffing turnover’s down, but why? | what’s your firm worth? private equity wants to know | the new pipeline: outsourcing and offshoring | is this the last year of accounting’s golden age?
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one of the trends that is already happening is firms are moving from the partnership model to a more corporate model with respect to ownership and owner compensation. this means compensation systems will include elements of ownership as part of the currency. it also means the concept that a professional is expected to commit to a full career with a firm with the reward being in the form of a 10-year deferred compensation buyout after 30 years of service is likely to start to wane.