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Tax and Accounting Firm M&A: Performing Due Diligence

Current Trends in Accounting Firm M&A Deal Structuring and Negotiations

A live 110-minute CPE video webinar with interactive Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CPE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford CPE+ Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Thursday, October 23, 2025

1:00pm-2:50pm EDT, 10:00am-11:50am PDT

Early Registration Discount Deadline, Friday, September 26, 2025

or call 1-800-926-7926
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This webinar will discuss the due diligence process for M&A involving CPA firms. Our panel of astute transaction advisers will cover the history and current trends in accounting firm M&A, critical succession planning considerations, deal structuring, and the tax implications of these arrangements.

Description

Performing due diligence for M&A is a multi-faceted process. There are unique considerations when these acquisitions involve accounting and tax firms. While accountants might be familiar with financial statement audits, performing due diligence is a distinct and often foreign process.

Due diligence should always include financial, operational, and risk assessments. For CPA firms, however, their people might be considered their most valuable asset. Understanding the practice niches and billing structure of a target company is critical for buyers, as is the state of the files and working papers. For sellers, investing in due diligence could reduce risks and realize a greater selling price. Both buyers and sellers are concerned with the tax implications of the arrangement.

There are steps acquirers and target firms can take to facilitate the transition. Appropriate documentation and a valuation should be obtained and analyzed, and the tax impact of the agreement on the buyer and seller should be determined. Steps to integrate the companies post-transactions must also be considered.

Listen as our panel of M&A experts explains performing due diligence for tax and accounting firms and offers pre-planning advice to facilitate these acquisitions.

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Outline

  1. History of CPA firm transactions
  2. Overview of current trends in accounting firm M&A
  3. Strategic objectives for buying and selling
  4. Succession planning considerations
  5. Preparing for the transaction (sellers)
  6. Preparing for the transaction (buyers)
  7. Deal structuring and negotiation
  8. Post-transaction considerations

Benefits

The panel will cover these and other critical issues:

  • When to consider an acquisition
  • KPIs acquiring firms should consider
  • Steps to ensure a successful transition
  • Unique M&A considerations for accounting and tax firms

Faculty

Babiak, Ryan
Ryan Babiak, CPA, MST
Partner
Anchin Accountants and Advisors

Mr. Babiak, CPA, MST, is a Tax Partner and member of the firm’s Professional Services and Technology Groups. He...  |  Read More

Attend on October 23

Early Discount (through 09/26/25)

CPE credit processing is available for an additional fee of $39.
CPE processing must be ordered prior to the event. See NASBA details.

Cannot Attend October 23?

Early Discount (through 09/26/25)

CPE credit is not available on downloads.

CPE On-Demand

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