ACT Top 100 Firms

overview

FULL/EMPTY

from page 4

Goldenberg Rosenthal has dropped off the list as a result of its merger last year with fellow T100 Firm Amper, Politziner & Mattia. Interestingly, while many firms boosted their revenue (and their ranking on the T100) with mergers in 2008, many of those we just mentioned took place after the close of the acquirer’s fiscal year — which means those boosts won’t show up until our 2010 report.

In the meantime, two firms stand out for their exceptional growth last year — Kearney & Co., which grew an astonishing 51 percent providing services to the federal government, and Marcum & Kliegman, which grew by over 48 percent, and is rapidly consolidating its position as one of the pre-eminent firms in the New York region.

DEPENDS ON THE GLASS

The signals, then, are mixed. Those who would judge whether accounting’s glass is half full or half empty will find plenty of evidence on either side.

Perhaps more important, those who would suggest putting off a judgment entirely can make a strong case. Everyone, after all, is watching the economy with bated breath. Accountants can offer clients all sorts of services to help them through tough times — but only if the clients survive and are willing to pay. Recruiting efforts over the past few years have eased some of the staff shortages that plagued the profession in recent years, and layoffs in other fields may encourage more people to enter accounting — but again, a full staff isn’t much use if you don’t have engagements for them to work on. The potential switch to IFRS seems to offer an oppor-

tunity for consulting work on a level with the Year 2000 problem — but the new head of the Securities and Exchange Commission has expressed doubts about the speed and advisability of the current roadmap for that switch.

In the end, hard numbers and facts don’t determine whether the glass is half full or half empty — it’s a matter of opinion, attitude and approach. Coming out of a solid 2008, with growth rates well above that of the economy as a whole, more and better-trained staff than ever, and a roster of services that can benefit struggling clients immediately, it would be reasonable for the Top 100 to view the year ahead of them with more optimism than pessimism.

The final judgment must wait until next year, of course, but in the meantime, we’re sure the Top 100 Firms will be busy trying to fill their glasses.

BEYOND THE TOP 100: FIRMS TO WATCH

Every year, we survey almost twice as many firms as can fit in a 100-firm list, and every year we single out a number of those that fell below the revenue threshold as Firms to Watch in the coming year. To pessimists, this may seem like a consolation prize, but optimists will see it as a launching pad, as almost every year a few Firms to Watch graduate up to the Top 100. This year, the optimists are definitely in a position of strength, since a near-record seven firms from last year’s FTW list entered the Top 100.

Here then — ranked by revenue, but chosen for a combination of revenue and strong growth rates — are a number of firms to expect big things from in the next year.

Firm Headquarters Chief executive Kemper CPA Group Greenfield, Ind. Ronald Dezelan Kennedy and Coe Salina, Kansas Kurtis Siemers Cohen & Co. Cleveland Randy Myeroff Yeo & Yeo Saginaw, Mich. John Kunitzer Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker Portland, Maine John Chandler Reinsel Kuntz Lesher Wyomissing, Pa. J. Andrew Weidman Clark Nuber Bellevue, Wash. David Katri Perry-Smith Sacramento, Calif. Robert Perry-Smith Brown Smith Wallace St. Louis Harvey Wallace Windes & McClaughry Long Beach, Calif. Jack Hinsche Macias Gini & O’Connell Sacramento, Calif. Kevin O’Connell Feeley & Driscoll Boston Thomas Feeley Wolf & Co. Boston Daniel DeVasto Padgett, Stratemann & Co. San Antonio John Wright Jackson Thornton & Co.* Montgomery, Ala. George Smith Hagen Streiff Newton & Oshiro Addison, Texas Peter Hagen Note: Firm estimate NA Not available/applicable