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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.