President
The Visionary Group
Bob is President of The Visionary Group and one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People. He has developed deep relationships with key leaders in accounting firms nationwide and is a frequent speaker on M&A, private equity, remaining independent, and building firm value through organic growth in the accounting profession.
His focus for the last thirty years has been only in the accounting profession. Bob helps firms build value and understand their options. His group is involved in dozens of M&A and private equity transactions annually and they created the “Build to Evolve” (BTE) process for accounting firms. BTE is a structured partnership to help firms develop an independence plan or a transition strategy if independence or an internal succession is not an option.
Bob has extensive experience supporting firms in need of a transition plan, structuring deal frameworks, negotiating M&A transactions and assisting with partner buy-ins and buyouts, and compensation plans. Through Visionary’s BTE process he helps firms analyze and upscale their client base, leverage better pricing structures, address capacity, expand advisory opportunities, and increase firm value. He was an accountant and has 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.
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.