CliftonLarsonAllen merges in Darton Group Consulting

Top 100 Firm CliftonLarsonAllen has added Darton Group Consulting, a firm based in Charlotte, N.C., effective July 1.

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Darton Group was founded a decade ago and specializes in finance consulting, accounting consulting and project management consulting. It’s been named for the past five years as one of Charlotte’s Fast 50 companies by the Charlotte Business Journal. More than 60 former Darton Group Consulting team members will join CLA, expanding the firm’s team in North Carolina to more than 320 professionals.

“We have had an incredible 10 years in the industry,” said Darton Group Consulting president Rochelle Rivas in a statement. “Because of our success, we have had the opportunity to ‘turn many corners’ and join other organizations. But I wanted to find a place where the Darton team could move as one cohesive group to continue serving our clients — not simply monetize the business we’ve built and exit. As an entrepreneur, you don’t always feel you can find and work with like-minded people with similar visions. That changed when I met the leaders of CLA. I immediately recognized CLA as home, and the place where we will carry forward our unique culture and commitment to our community.”

“I’m excited to deepen our capabilities with Darton’s high-caliber professionals,” said CLA Custom Accounting Solutions Team managing partner Nancy Brown in a statement. “We exist to create opportunities — and continue to build up a resourceful team, poised to help address our clients’ personal, financial and business needs.”

CliftonLarsonAllen is one of the largest CPA firms in the U.S. and ranked No. 8 on Accounting Today’s 2018 list of the Top 100 Firms. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but CLA earned over $850 million in net revenue in 2017 and has more than 5,400 people, including over 700 principals. Darton Group earned $17 million in annual revenue. Earlier this month, the firm expanded in Atlanta with the addition of another professional services firm, Duggan & Massey. In May, CLA expanded in California by adding the Beverly Hills firm Laffer & Gottlieb. Last December, it merged in NSBN LLP in Los Angeles.

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