Ascend adds William Vaughan Co.

Top 25 Firm Ascend has acquired Maumee, Ohio-based William Vaughan Company.

A full-service accounting firm and a regular member of Accounting Today's Great Lakes Regional Leaders list, William Vaughan operates primarily in Northeast Ohio. It has 15 partners and more than 115 staff.

It has been named one of Accounting Today's Best Firms to Work For five years in a row, and one of The Blade's Top Workplaces for 12 years.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Our leadership team has dedicated considerable time and strategic planning to define William Vaughan Company's path forward, identifying three major priorities: maintaining our independence, investing in technology and securing access to capital for sustained growth," said CEO Aaron Swiggum, in a statement Wednesday. "Our partnership with Ascend directly addresses these priorities, empowering us to remain autonomous, accelerate innovation and support ongoing expansion. We are truly excited about this opportunity — not only to strengthen our firm but also to further invest in our talented team and continue delivering exceptional value to the clients and communities we serve."

"For over 65 years, William Vaughan Co. has earned its reputation as a trusted advisor to some of the most successful businesses and entrepreneurs in the Midwest, and as one of the best places to build a career in public accounting," Ascend's head of platform M&A, Jamie Billings, said in a statement. "This magnetic pull has generated decades of strong growth, all while the firm has held fast to its fierce independence, deeply personal client service, and exceptional culture. William Vaughan is emblematic of the firms we are building Ascend to serve, and we are proud to build upon this rich legacy together."

Ascend, based in Arlington, Virginia, was launched three years ago by private equity firm Alpine Investors. It has almost $600 million in revenue and approximately 3,000 employees. It works with accounting firms with between $15 million and $50 million in revenue.

As is common in private equity deals, William Vaughan Company will adopt an alternative practice structure, with tax and business advisory services provided by WVC Advisors, a new entity affiliated with Ascend, and attest services provided by an independently owned and licensed CPA firm.

Ascend has been extremely active on the M&A front. Earlier this month it acquired Alabama-based Regional Leader Jackson Thornton; in February, it added Wyoming-based Regional Leader McGee, Hearne & Paiz; and in January, it added Texas-based Gollob Morgan Peddy. In late 2025, it acquired West Coast Regional Leader Sweeney Conrad; earlier in the year, it added Saltmarsh, Cleveland & Gund and Glenn Burdette in June, BGW and Tronconi, Segarra & Associates in July, KSDT in September, and BiggsKofford in November.

Thanks in no small part to all those acquisitions, Ascend ranked No. 3 on Accounting Today's 2026 list of the Fastest-Growing Firms.