Weiser LLP has merged in nearby Leslie Sufrin and Co. PC, a boutique accounting, audit, tax and consulting firm that specializes in servicing publishing, media, information and communication businesses.

In a move to deepen its penetration into southwestern markets, middle-market software and consulting concern Enterprise Resource Group, headquartered here, has acquired Houston-based Burch Consultants.

Marking its second deal in a month, top-ranked firm Armanino McKenna acquired Cupertino, Calif.-based ValueNomics Research Inc. in late April, boosting its business valuation and litigation support practice, and strengthening its presence in Silicon Valley and San Diego.

The Resnick Group LLC, based here, has merged its practice with New York-based accounting and financial consulting firm Druckman Hill LLP.

With two dozen deals currently in the pipeline, business advisory and financial services provider Fiducial says that acquisitions will be the main engine of its growth over the next three years.

RSM McGladrey Financial Process Outsourcing, a unit of national CPA and business consulting firm RSM McGladrey, has acquired Madison, Wis.-based Franchise Services Options and Houston-based Restaurant Reporting Plus -- two of the nation's larger providers of back-office outsourcing services to restaurants.

Super-regional firm Plante & Moran has expanded its services and presence in the Chicagoland area with the addition of Wetmore & Associates, a boutique firm specializing in benefit plan audits.

In a move to deepen its penetration into southwestern markets, middle-market software and consulting concern Enterprise Resource Group, headquartered here, has acquired Houston-based Burch Consultants.

Tax and accounting software provider Creative Solutions Inc. has acquired the tax software line of Cincinnati-based Accountware for undisclosed terms.

Marking its second deal this month, top-ranked firm Armanino McKenna has acquired Cupertino, Calif.-based ValueNomics Research Inc., boosting its business valuation and litigation support practice and strengthening its presence in Silicon Valley and San Diego.

Daszkal Bolton LLP, an area CPA and business advisory firm, has merged with the practice of DeWoody & Co., effective immediately. Terms were not disclosed. DeWoody & Co. specializes in tax and accounting services for high-net-worth individuals in north Palm Beach County. As a result of the union, Daszkal Bolton has opened a 21-person office in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. That unit will be headed by DB principal Jeff Bolton. "As the Big Four national CPA firms jettison clients to service larger national and multi-national companies, we expect middle-market professional services firms such as ours will continue to benefit," said Bolton. "We are gaining clients because they have ready access to our expertise and resources and understand our commitment to grow as they grow." Going forward, the firm will operate under the Daszkal Bolton brand. The merger boosts Daszkal Bolton's total employees to 100 in its two offices.

South Bay area CPA and business advisory firm Windes & McClaughry Accountancy Corp. said that it would merge its practice with Torrance-based Timothy Good & Co., effective immediately. Terms were not disclosed. Going forward, the consolidated firm will operate under the Windes & McClaughry brand. The addition of Timothy Good & Co. bolsters Windes & McClaughry's partner ranks to 24 shareholders. "The South Bay is a growing, dynamic market, and we are very excited to expand our presence there," said Jack Hinsche, managing partner of Windes, in a statement. One of the larger accounting firms in the South Bay area, Good serves a variety of privately held businesses with financial statements, tax planning, and estate and trust services. Founded in 1926, Windes offers audit and assurance, business valuation, cost segregation, employee benefits, estate and trust planning, human resources recruiting and consulting, litigation support, and tax planning and consulting.

A consortium of seven investment firms has ponied up $11.3 billion to acquire diversified financial data concern SunGard. The investment roll call -- led by tech-centric investment firm Silver Lake Partners -- includes Bain Capital, The Blackstone Group, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP, Providence Equity Partners and Texas Pacific Group. Under the terms of the agreement, SunGard stockholders will receive $36 in cash for each share of SunGard common stock they hold. The deal is expected to be complete by the third quarter of 2005. SunGard serves more than 20,000 customers in roughly 50 countries.

Mid-Atlantic CPA and business advisory firm Beard Miller Co. LLP said that it would merge with the Pine Brook, N.J.-based practice of Radics & Co., effective April 1. Terms were not disclosed. Going forward, the consolidated firm will operate under the brand Beard Miller. The marriage with Radics & Co. brings four partners and 20 staff members to Beard Miller. The union will bolster Beard's financial services practice, which, following the merger, now serves more than 175 financial institutional clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including 50 in New Jersey. "This merger supports our overall growth strategy, focusing on markets and industries in which we have a significant presence," said Lamar Stoltzfus, chairman and chief executive partner of Beard Miller. With 55 partners and nine offices, Beard Miller ranked No. 48 on Accounting Today's 2005 Top 100 Firms list with annual revenue of $34.7 million.

Super-regional CPA and business advisory firm Plante & Moran said that it would merge in BKR Dupuis & Ryden, a Flint, Mich.-based concern, effective July 1. Terms were not disclosed. Going forward, the firm will operate under the brand Plante & Moran PLLC. The union with BKR adds seven partners, 60 staff and $7.5 million in revenue to Plante & Moran. Bill Hermann, P&M's managing partner, said that the marriage with BKR "closes the gap" in the firm's geographic footprint in mid-Michigan, better positioning it in the Flint, Saginaw and midland corridor markets. Established in Flint in 1932, BKR is the among the oldest and largest accounting firms in the Flint area. Plante & Moran will operate out of BKR Dupuis & Ryden's Flint offices, while staffers from BKR's offices in Ann Arbor will relocate to Plante & Moran's office there. The addition of BKR boosts Plante & Moran to a total of 204 partners, a total staff of 1,450 and annual revenue of roughly $210 million. Plante & Moran ranked No. 15 on Accounting Today's 2005 Top 100 Firms ranking.

Maryland CPA and business advisory firms Linton, Shafer & Co. and Warfield Garrett & Associates have merged their practices. Terms were not disclosed. Going forward, the firm will operate under the brand Linton Shafer Warfield & Garrett. The newly merged entity will have six partners and a total staff of 30. Linton Shafer was founded in 1965, while Warfield Garrett began in 1993. The now-consolidated firm offers tax planning and preparation, management consulting, and audit and accounting services.

Tri-state area CPA and business advisory firm Eisner has divested Eisnerfast LLC, its fund accounting and back-office affiliate, to SS&C Technologies Inc., a Windsor, Conn.-based provider of financial management software and outsourcing services. Under the terms of the sale, SS&C will pay $25.3 million in cash for the unit, which delivers back-office accounting and administration services to on- and off-shore hedge and private equity funds, funds of funds, and investment advisors. Eisnerfast provides more than 250 funds with an internal accounting infrastructure, including portfolio accounting, investor accounting, books and records, tax reporting, and performance analysis. Rahul Kanwar, managing director of Eisnerfast, will continue in that capacity under the new ownership. Eisner said that due to the current regulatory climate, the firm decided to focus on its core audit and tax services

-- The Thomson Corp. has acquired Atlanta-based Tax Partners, a provider of sales and use tax compliance services, and will fold the concern under its RIA Compliance unit umbrella. Terms were not disclosed. RIA Compliance is a division of Thomson Tax & Accounting. "Adding Tax Partners to our offerings will provide Thomson Tax & Accounting with an important tax compliance service component, enabling us to offer an end-to-end solution to our clients," said Brian Peccarelli, executive vice president of Thomson Tax & Accounting Corporate Markets and general manager of RIA Compliance, in a statement. In 2004, Tax Partners filed more than 540,000 tax returns and remitted $7.5 billion in taxes for clients.

Regional CPA and business advisory firm WithumSmith+Brown has merged with Morristown N.J.-based Gershon, Pierce, Lissak & Co. Terms were not disclosed. Founded in 1984, GPL provides financial planning and tax compliance services, estate and trust administration, litigation support, joint defense funds administration, and forensic accounting services. The union adds seven partners and 26 staffers to WithumSmith+Brown and brings the firms partner total to 27. In 2004, WS+B posted revenues of roughly $31 million. The marriage with GPL marks the second merger in as many months for WSB. In January, it merged in another New Jersey firm, Mendlowitz Weitsen, which added three principals and 10 staff members.

Rager, Lehman & Houck, a regional CPA and business advisory firm in Maryland and Pennsylvania, said that it has merged with local practice John T. Cecil, effective Jan. 1. Terms were not disclosed. The combined entity will do business going forward as Rager, Lehman & Houck. Randy Rager will continue as managing partner. Frederick, Md.-based John T. Cecil, which brings principal John Cecil and 14 staff members to the union, specializes in tax and accounting services. Meanwhile, RL&H has six partners and 40 staff members. RH&L has offices in Westminster, Md., as well as Hanover, Gettysburg and York, Pa.