President
The Visionary Group
Bob is President of The Visionary Group and one of Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People. He has relationships with key leaders in accounting firms nationwide and is a frequent speaker on M&A, private equity, and organic growth. Bob helps firms assess their ability to remain independent, build enterprise value,and creates and facilitates dozens of material transactions annually.
He created an in-depth Firm Valuation model and Build to Evolve process. The valuation model shows firms their market value and how to impact value. The Build process assesses a firm's alignment, accountability, profit refinement opportunities and creates an Independence Plan. He focuses on getting firms to make decisions based on data and facts and to avoid making emotional decisions.
His thirty-plus years of exclusive support in the accounting profession has provided Bob with the opportunity to learn from great firm leaders. Beyond his deep experience in M&A and private equity he helps firms with pricing, client upscaling, and overall growth tactics.
Bob Co-Chairs the Accounting Today Private Equity Summit, has an accounting background, and his formal education is a Bachelor of Science in Finance, and an MBA, both from DePaul University in Chicago.
For decades, accounting firms relied on a predictable formula for growth and ownership transition: Partners funded the next generation, firms financed growth from operations, and independence was the default path forward. That model is increasingly under pressure.
Accounting Today’s 2025 research revealed that one in three firms now report needing capital, driven by rising technology and AI investments, acquisition opportunities, talent challenges, and the growing cost of partner succession. At the same time, aging ownership groups and rising firm valuations are making traditional partner buyout models harder to sustain, forcing firm leaders to reconsider how they fund growth, transition leadership, and remain competitive.
This opening session will explore the structural forces creating capital pressure across the profession and examine the strategic choices firms now face.
Our conference co-chairs sit down with Dan Hood for a candid discussion on the changing economics of firm ownership, the realities of succession planning in today’s market, and the funding models that will shape the next generation of accounting firms.
For decades, accounting firms relied on a predictable formula for growth and ownership transition: Partners funded the next generation, firms financed growth from operations, and independence was the default path forward. That model is increasingly under pressure.
Accounting Today’s 2025 research revealed that one in three firms now report needing capital, driven by rising technology and AI investments, acquisition opportunities, talent challenges, and the growing cost of partner succession. At the same time, aging ownership groups and rising firm valuations are making traditional partner buyout models harder to sustain, forcing firm leaders to reconsider how they fund growth, transition leadership, and remain competitive.
This opening session will explore the structural forces creating capital pressure across the profession and examine the strategic choices firms now face.
Our conference co-chairs sit down with Dan Hood for a candid discussion on the changing economics of firm ownership, the realities of succession planning in today’s market, and the funding models that will shape the next generation of accounting firms.
With private equity, alternative practice structures and continued consolidation reshaping the accounting profession, understanding where your firm fits in today’s market—and what drives its value—has never been more important.
This session will take firm leaders inside the factors that potential buyers and investors consider when evaluating an accounting firm, from growth, profitability and client mix to leadership depth, talent, technology, geography and market position. It will also unpack common deal terminology and misconceptions, the metrics that can increase or diminish value, and the less obvious intangibles that influence buyer interest.
Whether you’re considering a transaction now, preparing for one down the road or simply want to understand how your firm stacks up in a rapidly changing market, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of what your firm looks like through a buyer’s eyes—and what it may actually be worth.
As private equity interest in accounting firms accelerates, the path from initial outreach to a successful deal is proving more nuanced than many expect. From sourcing and valuation to partner alignment, governance, and post-deal integration, acquiring an accounting firm requires a deep understanding of both the business model and the people behind it.
In this interactive session, industry advisors Allan Koltin, Bob Lewis, and Phil Whitman—who field calls from PE firms every day—share what you need to know before pursuing a transaction. Each will offer a brief, focused perspective on what drives successful deals, common missteps, and how to effectively evaluate and engage with target firms.
The session will then open into a town hall-style discussion, giving PE firms the opportunity to ask candid questions and pressure-test their approach in real time. Whether you’re actively deploying capital or exploring the space, this is a chance to get unfiltered guidance from advisors who understand both sides of the table. Moderated by Accounting Today.
Note: Space is limited to encourage open, high-value discussion.
Private equity has already reshaped the accounting profession—but what happens next? In this interactive town hall, industry leaders will explore how capital, consolidation, technology, and talent pressures are transforming firm ownership and operations. Will private equity become the dominant ownership model? Can independent firms continue to compete and thrive? And what will the next generation of accounting firms look like five to ten years from now? Join this forward-looking discussion on the forces shaping the future of the profession and what firm leaders should be doing today to prepare for tomorrow.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.