CliftonLarsonAllen is merging in Bruner Cox, an accounting firm in Northeast Ohio, effective June 1, the latest in a string of mergers for CLA.
CLA, based in Minneapolis, merged in four other firms last month, and four others in December (see
“Growth deepens our ability to remain relevant and poised to serve clients as their needs expand and change,” said CLA chief practice officer Steve DeBruyn in a statement. “I’m excited to welcome the Bruner Cox team and am confident that, together, we will make a great future for our clients, our communities, and each other.”
Bruner Cox was founded in 1925. “Devotion to clients has been in our DNA since day one,” said Bruner Cox managing partner Steve Pittman. “This means that everything we do is designed not to simply fulfill a request, but to strengthen the individuals and organizations we serve. We chose to join the CLA team because we see that promise to serve reflected in every interaction we’ve had together.”
CLA ranked 10th on Accounting Today’s 2015 list of the Top 100 Firms, with $598.4 million in annual revenue.
Allan D. Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised Bruner Cox on the merger commented, “Love at first sight would be the only way I could discuss how both firms felt about each other! They met for the first time five months ago and felt a strong cultural and strategic alignment right from the start. As one of the country’s Top 200 firms, Bruner Cox was approached by many other larger firms over the years but felt CLA’s depth and industry expertise would provide tremendous value for their clients. They also felt the merger would allow for tremendous growth opportunities for their people. Bruner Cox represents a new breed of firm that could have easily stayed independent but felt the combination with CLA would be a win-win for their clients and staff. CLA has become the envy of the Top 15 firms in the country in that they continue to grow at a record pace but also maintain outstanding profitability and a great culture for attracting and developing high performing talent. CLA is heavily committed to building out the Ohio valley region and I wouldn’t be surprised to see other mergers here in the near future.”
