It's critical to build a team around you to ensure the right questions are asked and answered.

A panelist during the Scaling New Heights conference in Orlando said that private equity firms are looking for firms with good revenue, but numbers alone don't tell the whole story.

The current wave of M&A activity is driven at least in part by the need for firms to build out their CAS practices quickly, said Joe Woodard at Scaling New Heights

Clark Schaefer Hackett is adding Rolfes & Swisher; and RKL Virtual Management Solutions is merging in Kauffman CPA.

Plus, Vertex consolidates Accelerator and Chain Flow Accelerator into single solution; and other accounting tech news.

NDH acquired McGowan Guntermann; Kostelanetz combined with Welty; and Avantax added Erin Hinzmann.

Former Baker Tilly member firms in Mexico joined CliftonLarsonAllen Global to create CLA Mexico; Marcum Technology acquired CLA's IT Enhanced Managed Services Division; Doeren Mayhew acquired Nearman, Maynard, Vallez CPAs; and Rea & Associates merged in Koontz & Parkin, CPAs.

The global accounting network will have a combined $5 billion in revenue, 40,000 employees and nearly 1,800 partners in 103 different countries.

Debate over the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; assessing last season; Etsy and sales tax; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

The new firm will be led by KPMG's U.K. CEO, Jon Holt, while Stefan Pfister, currently the boss of the Swiss arm, will become deputy CEO.

Katz, Sapper & Miller is adding Cassady Schiller; Eide Bailly merged in Edward White & Co.; Forvis plans to acquire ConTech360; and Avantax acquired GA Investment Management.

The Top 10 Firm based in Chicago is adding a Top 75 Firm headquartered in Redwood City, California in July, only a few months after receiving private equity funding.

U.K.-based IRIS Software announced its acquisition of Swipeclock, the Utah-based maker of solutions WorkforceHub and ApplicantStack.

Test your knowledge of the biggest accounting headlines of the week. No. 2 pencil not required!

The Top 50 Firm snagged a $250 million minority investment from private equity firm Bain Capital.

CliftonLarsonAllen, a Top 10 Firm, has acquired Engine B, a London-based company that helps accounting firms get more insights from client data.

The Top 25 Firm bolstered its business process outsourcing practice with the latest M&A deal.

Marcum acquired Croskey Lanni; Ascend added Blackman & Sloop and TSS; RKL eSolutions bought Techware; and the Willeford Group joined Hancock Askew.

The new advisory service follows Platform's acquisition of Walpole Financial Advisors.

The Top 25 Firm is expanding its footprint east of the Mississippi River to Ohio.