2025 Agenda

Private equity isn’t inevitable: It’s perfectly possible for accounting firms to remain proudly independent — but to do that, they need to address the many issues that PE-backed accounting firms are solving by taking on private equity money. That means new approaches to strategy, services offerings, staffing, partner retirements, raising capital, and much more.

A key consideration for accounting practices that want to remain independent is finding the capital they need to invest in staff, new technologies, and growth strategies — particularly those that involve M&A. Fortunately, more and more players are entering the field, from banks and venture capital firms to ESOP advisors and beyond. This session will dive into the details.

Join Bob Lewis of The Visionary Group for an inside look at the key factors that enhance—or diminish—an accounting firm’s value. Bob will break down what buyers and potential merger partners look for in a candidate firm, offering practical insights to help you strengthen your firm’s position in the market and maximize its worth.

*Must attend both sessions to qualify for the 1 hour of CPE credit.

Veteran deal-maker, Phil Whitman, will take accounting firm leaders through the structure of a “typical” private equity deal to discuss important issues like price, rollover equity, levels of control, the “scrape” and how partner compensation is handled after a deal, and much more. The first part of the session will deal with smaller firms, and the second part with midsized and larger deals.

*Must attend both sessions to qualify for the 1 hour of CPE credit.

Discover the pivotal milestones of the past four years as CPA firms have partnered with private equity. This session dives into how these deals have reshaped firm growth, culture, strategy, talent, and client relationships—offering a clear view of where the industry is headed next.

Private equity’s theses for CPA+ platforms is increasingly nuanced and increasingly linked to the believability of a firm’s organic growth prospects. In this session, Stuart Ferguson explores what today’s Investment Committees (ICs) actually underwrite: commercially led organic growth, the maturity of commercial excellence, and—critically—the scalability of the talent engine. He will also frame the portfolio opportunities and risks created by AI and outline an inorganic strategy that moves beyond CPA consolidation into adjacencies where a platform has a defensible “right to win.”

When private equity firms invest in accounting firms, they’re ultimately acquiring two assets: client relationships and the teams that serve them. But if those teams are unhappy or misaligned with the deal, the value of the acquisition can deteriorate quickly — and right now, online, accountants’ perceptions of private equity are often skeptical at best. In this session, Big 4 Transparency draws on its proprietary database to reveal what really happens when firms take on private equity investment. We’ll examine the data behind these deals, uncover the impact on retention and morale, and explore strategies for keeping employees engaged through transition.

In this session, a panel of top experts and deal-makers (including our conference co-chairs) will survey the current state of play in the accounting profession — covering everything from what types of firms can expect to be able to make a PE deal and how those deals are changing, and how that is impacting the broader profession, laying a groundwork for the more granular discussions to come on Day 2.

Join us for an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and networking in a relaxed setting. It’s the perfect chance to connect with peers, industry leaders, and speakers, discuss the day’s sessions, and build valuable relationships in the accounting and private equity sectors. Whether you’re seeking partnerships, fresh insights, or great conversation, this event is a must-attend part of the conference experience.

The path to taking on private equity can take many forms; in this session, accounting firm leaders and industry experts share the main milestones on that path, including the sort of discussions firms should be having internally, the critical questions they need to ask themselves, how to bring together a partner group on a final decision, the due diligence they should be doing on their PE partners.

What does PE want? Leaders from the private equity side of the equation share why they’re interested in accounting, what they’re looking for in accounting firms, and how they see the relationship developing in the future.

Get ready for a dynamic, fast-paced session where thought leaders in private equity and capital funding take the stage to share their perspectives on its role in accounting. Each speaker will have just 6 minutes to present, ensuring focused, high-energy discussions. This is your chance to hear from industry experts and learn how different firms are navigating the intersection of private equity and accounting. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and actionable takeaways.

Once the ink on a private equity deal dries, accounting firms enter a new phase of their existence — one that requires fresh thinking, different reporting structures and new approaches. This session looks at how firms can balance accountability and autonomy, leverage the new resources that are available to them, develop new strategies, and turbocharge their growth with PE at their side.

Private equity is reshaping the accounting profession—fueling growth and modernization for some firms, while raising concerns for others. Drawing on exclusive joint survey data from Accounting Today and Intapp, this session will feature Intapp’s Global Managing Principal for Accounting & Consulting, Tom Koehler, alongside Grant Thornton Advisors LLC CEO Jim Peko.

Jim Peko will share his firsthand experience leading through a private equity transformation, while Tom Koehler will offer unique insights and experience powering transformation in leading global firms.

Together, they will tackle a key question many firm leaders are asking: Can private equity catalyze transformation, and what does it mean for cultural and structural dynamics?

Both before and after a deal, private equity will rouse a lot of emotions inside an accounting firm — and change a lot of people’s roles. Experts will discuss how to keep both partners and young staff on side, how to communicate with clients, and how to help everyone adjust to a firm’s new structure.

Our co-chairs return to the stage to wrap up the event, highlighting the most important takeaways from the previous two days, offering their key insights, and taking questions from the audience.