Accounting & Tax Acquisitions in Ohio
Ohio Accounting & Tax Deal Themes
Recent acquisitions in Ohio’s accounting and tax sector show a consistent focus on expanding local footprint, adding advisory depth, and strengthening tax and CFO-oriented capabilities.
Across the deals, buyers range from regional and national accounting firms such as Sikich LLP, UHY, GBQ Partners LLC, Citrin Cooperman, and Cohen & Company-aligned partners like Lovell Minnick Partners. Several transactions are explicitly aimed at bringing additional partners, teams, and service lines into new or existing Ohio markets—often centered on major metro areas including Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland-Akron.
Other themes include specialization and service model upgrades. For example, BELAY acquired Fully Accountable to broaden outsourced accounting offerings for eCommerce and digitally native brands, while Arvo Tech acquired TriNet Clarus R+D, taking on a Clarus tax team and R&D tax credit software to support R&D tax credit solutions.
What Stands Out
- Footprint expansion in Ohio metros: multiple buyers increase presence in Cincinnati, Columbus, and the Cleveland-Akron area through acquisitions and office launches.
- Capability build-outs: deals commonly add audit, tax, assurance, bookkeeping/payroll, and CFO or advisory services.
- Tax specialization shows up in distinct ways: R&D tax credit capabilities were transferred via Arvo Tech’s acquisition of TriNet Clarus R+D.
- Outsourced finance and back-office services remain attractive: BELAY expanded fractional CFO/ecommerce accounting via Fully Accountable, and Core Support Partners added bookkeeping and payroll through New Vision Bookkeeping & Payroll.
| Buyer | What the deal emphasized (per provided summaries) |
|---|---|
| Citrin Cooperman | Adding audit/tax/advisory capacity and expanding a Midwest footprint |
| UHY | Entering Ohio via combining with Flynn & Company and launching a Cincinnati office |
| GBQ Partners LLC | Growing Cincinnati presence and advisory capabilities |
| BELAY | Expanding outsourced accounting and fractional CFO for digitally native brands |
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January 1, 2026
- Buyer
- BELAY
- Target
- Fully Accountable
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
BELAY, a U.S.-based virtual staffing and outsourced services provider, has acquired Fully Accountable, a Fairlawn, Ohio outsourced accounting firm that serves eCommerce and digitally native brands. The deal expands BELAY's financial solutions capabilities (including fractional CFO and ecommerce accounting) and is supported by BELAY's private equity backer, Tenex Capital Management.
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June 1, 2025
- Buyer
- UHY
- Target
- Flynn & Company
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
UHY announced it is expanding into the Ohio market through the combination with Cincinnati-based certified public accounting firm Flynn & Company. Flynn & Company's managing partner Richard T. Flynn and his team will join UHY and establish the firm's first Cincinnati office, enhancing UHY’s regional presence and service capabilities.
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March 6, 2025
- Buyer
- Arvo Tech
- Target
- TriNet Clarus R+D
- Seller
- TriNet Group, Inc.
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
TriNet has sold its wholly owned subsidiary TriNet Clarus R+D to Arvo Tech, transferring the Clarus tax team, service model, and proprietary R&D tax credit software to Arvo Tech. Terms were not disclosed; TriNet will continue to provide R&D tax credit solutions to customers under a five-year agreement while divesting the business to focus on core HR offerings.
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February 18, 2025
- Buyer
- Citrin Cooperman
- Target
- HW&Co.
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Citrin Cooperman has acquired substantially all the assets of HW&Co., an Ohio-based accounting and advisory firm, adding 14 partners and over 140 employees to its platform. The deal expands Citrin Cooperman's Midwest footprint and broadens its audit, tax and advisory capabilities across industries including healthcare, nonprofit, real estate and manufacturing & distribution.
-
- Buyer
- Lovell Minnick Partners
- Target
- Cohen & Company
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
Lovell Minnick Partners (LMP) has made a strategic growth investment in Cohen & Company, a national assurance, tax and business advisory firm. The minority growth capital will support Cohen & Company’s technology investments, expansion of service offerings, and broader strategic growth plan, while enabling an increase in employee equity ownership under a new alternative practice structure.
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December 16, 2024
- Buyer
- GBQ Partners LLC
- Target
- Wirth Lowe Wissemeier CPAs Inc.
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Columbus-based GBQ Partners LLC acquired Cincinnati-based Wirth Lowe Wissemeier CPAs Inc. (WLW), effective Dec. 16, 2024. As part of the deal, WLW partners Glenn Wissemeier and Beth Herman joined GBQ as partners as GBQ expands its Cincinnati presence and advisory capabilities.
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December 12, 2024
- Buyer
- Cohen & Company
- Target
- Tax and Wealth Management, Inc. (TWM)
- Seller
- Brian Gothot (TWM Founder and President)
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Cohen & Company, a U.S. tax and accounting firm, is acquiring Tax and Wealth Management, Inc. (TWM), a boutique CPA firm based in downtown Cleveland. The deal is expected to close in early January 2025 and will bring TWM’s ~15 professionals into Cohen & Company to expand its private client services for family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
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November 9, 2023
- Buyer
- Sikich LLP
- Target
- Thornhill Financial, LLC
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Sikich LLP has signed an agreement to acquire the operating assets of Thornhill Financial, LLC, a Cleveland-based accounting firm that provides tax, audit and financial advisory services. The deal expands Sikich's presence in the Northeast Ohio market and will allow the Thornhill team to continue operating from the Cleveland-Akron area while integrating with Sikich's local resources.
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October 30, 2023
- Buyer
- Brixey & Meyer
- Target
- Panoptica Financial
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Cincinnati-based Panoptica Financial has joined regional accounting and advisory firm Brixey & Meyer, effective October 30, 2023. The acquisition expands Brixey & Meyer’s Cincinnati market presence and augments its accounting, CFO and advisory capabilities for growth-oriented clients.
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October 5, 2022
- Buyer
- Core Support Partners
- Target
- New Vision Bookkeeping & Payroll
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Core Support Partners, a Medina, Ohio-based provider of outsourced HR, accounting, legal and back-office services, acquired New Vision Bookkeeping & Payroll, an Ohio-based bookkeeping and payroll services firm that also provides accounting and software implementation services. New Vision will operate as a Core Support subsidiary and continue to be led by founder Jacque Nuske, expanding Core Support's service offering to franchises, entrepreneurs, and small- to mid-market clients.
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October 14, 2020
- Buyer
- Brixey & Meyer, Inc.
- Target
- LAMP CFO & Accounting Services
- Industry
- Accounting & Tax
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Miamisburg-based accounting and advisory firm Brixey & Meyer acquired Columbus-based LAMP CFO & Accounting Services effective October 2020. The deal expands Brixey & Meyer’s presence and CFO services capability in the Columbus market and brings LAMP founder Jonathan Harrington into the firm.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies appear as recurring buyers in Ohio accounting & tax acquisitions?
The page highlights recurring buyers including Sikich LLP, GBQ Partners LLC, Arvo Tech, Lovell Minnick Partners, Brixey & Meyer, Inc., Core Support Partners, Citrin Cooperman, and Brixey & Meyer.
What Ohio locations are most often referenced in these acquisitions?
Transactions reference Ohio-based markets including Cincinnati, Columbus, and the Cleveland-Akron area, with the recurring deal location described as “Ohio, United States.”
Do the deals focus only on traditional tax and audit services?
No. Alongside audit and tax, the summaries also describe growth in advisory, CFO services, and operational offerings such as bookkeeping and payroll and outsourced accounting.
Are there examples of acquisitions tied to specialized tax software or teams?
Yes. Arvo Tech acquired TriNet Clarus R+D, transferring the Clarus tax team and proprietary R&D tax credit software to support customers’ R&D tax credit solutions.