{"id":9321,"date":"2010-10-25t08:18:43","date_gmt":"2010-10-25t12:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/48e130086c.nxcli.net\/?p=9321"},"modified":"2010-10-27t10:21:01","modified_gmt":"2010-10-27t14:21:01","slug":"ma-fever-grips-major-cpa-firms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.g005e.com\/2010\/10\/25\/ma-fever-grips-major-cpa-firms\/","title":{"rendered":"m&a fever grips major cpa firms"},"content":{"rendered":"

economic slowdown sparks shake-outs, consolidation<\/strong><\/p>\n

by rick telberg<\/em><\/p>\n

at a pace perhaps not seen since 1999 when the threat of the “y2k” bug stoked huge technology updates, today’s leading accounting firms and finance organizations are overhauling their systems, personnel and strategies in the face of one of the worst economic slumps on\u00a0record.<\/p>\n

accounting firms are getting positioned to either emerge stronger from the slump or to enter the mergers-and-acquisitions derby. they have thinned out their rosters and many are reportedly re-hiring. they are investing heavily in technology after taking a hiatus last year. and they are lighting a fire under business development\u00a0programs.<\/p>\n

but it’s in the mergers-and-acquisition arena that we’re already seeing the most visible signs of the predictable consolidation and shake-out that traditionally accompanies economic\u00a0contractions.<\/p>\n

the latest high-profile deals include:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n