Armanino merges in SAOS

Armanino, a Top 25 Firm based in San Ramon, California, has added Strategic Accounting Outsourced Solutions, extending Armanino's outsourcing capabilities, particularly in the nonprofit and family office sectors.

SAOS has been recognized on the Inc 5000 fastest-growing firms list for three years in a row.

"SAOS is a values-driven team with a passion for strategic client support in outsourced accounting and advice," said Armanino Advisory LLC CEO Matt Armanino in a statement Wednesday. "Their people, specialized expertise and strong service culture align perfectly with ours, and together we'll deliver even greater impact for our clients. The need for outsourced services, especially in complex areas of finance, payroll, human resources, tax, fund administration and nonprofit strategic development outsourcing, is only growing, and this combination allows us to expand our outsourced finance offerings and scale faster to meet this major need."

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Armanino ranked No. 18 on Accounting Today's 2025 list of the Top 100 Firms, with $716 million in annual revenue. Armanino alone has 273 partners and over 2.800 employees. SAOS has one partner, Brittany Russell, and 26 staff.

The deal will enable SAOS to enhance its reporting capabilities for clients and robotic processing automation tools.

"For us, this was all about alignment of values, culture and long-term vision," said SAOS CEO Kim Discenza in a statement. "Armanino has always stood out for its client-centric philosophy and forward-thinking mindset, which sets them apart from other large accounting and consulting firms. But what truly matters is that their culture reflects our own: one that prioritizes people, fosters a strong sense of belonging, and empowers employees as the foundation of long-term success. We share a commitment to integrity, innovation, and delivering exceptional value to our clients. This partnership represents an exciting step forward for our employees and clients, and we're proud to be joining forces with people who see the future the way we do."

Koltin Consulting Group CEO Allan Koltin advised both firms on the combination. 

"Armanino and SAOS recognize the future of the profession is in high-touch turnkey solutions like outsourced accounting that are responsive to what clients need in today's business environment," he said in a statement. "Both firms share a commitment to growth grounded in client success and creating solutions designed to solve mission critical challenges, making for a strong cultural alignment and an easy decision to come together."

The merger is the third since Armanino received a minority investment from private equity firm Further Global Management last October, helping fuel its aggressive M&A strategy, which has seen the firm finalize over 20 combinations since 2019. Following the deal, Armanino adopted an alternative practice structure. 

In May, Armanino expanded into Utah by adding Cooper Savas LLC, a CPA firm based in Salt Lake City. In February of this year, Armanino acquired Boca Raton, Florida-based ERP and technology consulting firm Complete Business Solutions. In 2023, it acquired New York-based Janover; Bemel, Ross & Avedon LLP, a Los Angeles-based business management firm; and two entertainment-oriented firms, Royalty Compliance Organization, a music rights and royalty auditing firm in St. Louis, and Blue Sky Group, a music business management team in Nashville. In 2022, it merged in Philadelphia-based Drucker & Scaccetti.

(Listen: "Inside Armanino's success.")