Tax Director - Business Management

Ascend Expands in the Carolinas with GreerWalker. Home resources Ascend expands in the Carolinas with GreerWalker. September 2, 2026. Ascend, a strategic partner for regional accounting and advisory firms backed by private equity firm Alpine Investors, today announced the addition of GreerWalker, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, to its market-leading platform for regional accounting firms. GreerWalker is a full-service accounting and advisory firm serving clients across the Southeast and nationally. The firm, which reported $46.8M in revenue in 2025, is an Accounting Today Regional Leader in the Southeast, has been named an Inside Public Accounting "Best of the Best" firm for eleven consecutive years, and has consistently been named an IPA Top 200 firm (ranked at #128 in 2026). The deal adds 16 partners and approximately 135 staff to Ascend's platform. "Few regional firms possess the reputation that GreerWalker has earned when it comes to client service: problem solvers who are personal, comprehensive, vigilant, and proactive," said Nishaad (Nish) Ruparel, Ascend's President. "What's more, the firm has become one of the more fulfilling places to work in the profession's middle market by pursuing excellence in both expertise and client service. GreerWalker is partnering with Ascend because it recognizes an opportunity to lean into transformation, while holding total conviction that its own best days are ahead." "What drew us to Ascend was its vision of bringing together high-performing firms without losing the unique culture and relationships that make each one special," said Jonathan Mangels, CEO of GreerWalker. "GreerWalker has spent decades building trusted client relationships and a people-first culture, and it was important to find a partner that values those same principles. The timing couldn't be better as we look to invest in our team, expand our capabilities, and position the firm for long-term success. Joining Ascend enables us to preserve everything that has made GreerWalker successful while creating even greater opportunities for our people and clients in the future." "GreerWalker's ethos of exceptional service is immediately apparent in its long-standing client relationships, its team-oriented service model, and its deep investment in its people. We are proud to support GreerWalker as it builds on all that has made the firm special over the past four decades, and we're thrilled for what's ahead," said Jamie Billings, Ascend's Head of Platform M&A. As is common in private equity deals, GreerWalker will adopt an alternative practice structure, separating its non-attest and attest services. Effective September 1, 2026, the firm's tax and advisory services will operate as GreerWalker Advisors, LLC, with attest services provided by GreerWalker Attest, PLLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ascend was launched in January 2023 with the backing of private equity firm Alpine Investors. The platform enables regional firms with committed leadership, great cultures, and a big vision for the future to remain independent while accessing the sophisticated resources of a national firm to reach their full potential. Since inception, Ascend's partner firms have been among the most decorated in public accounting. According to Accounting Today, a record 8 Ascend partner firms appeared on the Top 25 Fastest-Growing Firms list across 2025 and 2026, and 14 Ascend partner firms were represented on Accounting Today's latest Regional Leaders list. In total, Ascend ranked No. 24 on Accounting Today's 2026 Top 100 Firms and No. 3 on the 2026 Fastest-Growing Firms list. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. About Ascend Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a dynamic platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a national firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition and training, best-of-breed technology, proprietary AI tools, leading quality management resources, an offshore captive, shared back-office services, a catalytic leadership system, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount today's industry challenges to reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.ascendtogether.com. About GreerWalker GreerWalker provides tax, accounting, and advisory services focused on the needs of privately-held middle-market companies and their owners throughout the US and around the globe. Carolinas Based GreerWalker is proudly rooted in the Carolinas, where our deep regional experience and strong community ties have helped us become one of the largest CPA firms in the area. With over 150 associates, we are one of the ten largest CPA firms in our region and among the top 130 CPA firms in the United States. We have repeatedly been recognized as one of the nation's "Best of the Best" accounting firms by Inside Public Accounting based on our overall superior financial and operational performance. Relationship Driven At GreerWalker, relationships are the foundation of everything we do. Outstanding service and innovative problem solving are our top priorities at every stage of our clients' life and business. Through our affiliate, GreerWalker Corporate Finance, LLC and our strategic partners, we offer integrated solutions - from exit planning and M&A advisory to customized wealth planning - designed to grow with our clients and their goals. Global Reach While our roots are in the Carolinas, our reach extends across the United States and around the world. Each engagement is delivered by our U.S.-based team, providing clients with a consistent and familiar experience. Our global network offers additional expertise we can draw upon when client needs call for international coordination or specialized capabilities. This flexible model allows us to serve a diverse client base - domestic and international - with responsiveness and respect for regional preferences. CLIENT SERVICE AND INNOVATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING FOR EVERY STAGE OF LIFE AND BUSINESS Recent blog. Get in touch with us. By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging. Reply HELP for more information. Please refer to our Privacy Policy.

M&A roundup: hot start to September. Published September 1, 2026 4:07 PM Updated September 1, 2026 4:18 PM CRI added Morrison & Smith; Ascend acquired GreerWalker; Nichols Cauley added LaRocco; Accuity acquired KKDLY; Grimes added Stevens and Ciccone; BGM acquired John T. Chipman; and WPWealth added Optimus Capital Advisors. CRI moves into western Alabama. Courtesy of CRI Top 25 Firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram added Morrison & Smith in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, expanding its presence in the western region of the state. CRI, based in Enterprise, Alabama, ranked No. 23 on . It reported $601 million in revenue, with 483 partners and over 2,690 employees across 41 offices. In 2024, the firm took an investment from Centerbridge Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners. Allan Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised both firms on the combination, commented, "Carr, Riggs & Ingram continues to write the book on how to select great firms and successfully integrate them. They have now completed more than 100 M&A transactions, and I have yet to hear of one that went badly. CRI screens upfront for cultural and strategic fit, as well as any firm I have seen in the country. Morrison & Smith will be a great addition to CRI. Beyond Tuscaloosa being a fantastic market, the firm has outstanding partners and associates and an excellent client base." This year, CRI acquired in Texas, and in California, New York, Texas and Washington, D.C. In 2025, it added , entering the San Antonio market, as well as Regional Leader in Indianapolis. Ascend adds Southeast Regional Leader. Top 25 Firm Ascend acquired GreerWalker in Charlotte, North Carolina, effective Sept. 1. GreerWalker is a Southeast Regional Leader, with $46.8 million in revenue, 16 partners and roughly 135 employees. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ascend, based in Arlington, Virginia, is a platform launched in January 2023 by private equity firm Alpine Partners. It acquires accounting firms with between $15 million and $50 million in revenue. It ranked No. 24 on Accounting Today 's 2026 list, reporting $590 million in revenue, with 282 partners and over 2,600 employees across 63 offices. The firm has made numerous acquisitions since its launch, most recently adding Southwest Regional Leader in Texas. In July, it added in Pennsylvania. In May, it acquired in Alabama and in Ohio. In January, it added Nichols Cauley adds employee benefits brokerage. Top 100 Firm Nichols Cauley acquired LaRocco, an employee benefits brokerage and advisory firm in Norcross, Georgia. The deal expands Nichols Cauley's employee benefits services line and expands its presence in the state. Nichols Cauley ranked No. 91 on Accounting Today 's 2026 list, reporting $75.6 million in revenue, with 46 partners and 275 employees across 11 offices. Earlier this year, the firm through a private equity-backed merger with insurance brokerage Partners Risk Services and transactions advisory firm JGH Consulting. It has since added the Accuity expands in Hawaii. Honolulu-based Accuity acquired KKDLY, expanding its presence in Hawaii. The deal adds 38 employees, growing Accuity's team to 204 employees. The firm has been expanding in the state through acquisition. Most recently, Accuity acquired in June, and Ikeda & Wong in 2025. Accuity is a partner firm of Crete Professional Alliance, a network of accounting and advisory firms that recently RIA Grimes adds tax practice. Registered investment advisor Grimes & Company added the tax practice of Stevens and Ciccone Associates. Stevens and Ciccone is a CPA firm based in Needham, Massachusetts. The acquisition adds roughly 800 tax clients to the RIA. Grimes is based in Westborough, Massachusetts, and has nearly $7 billion in assets under management. BGM enters Boston area. Bloomington, Minnesota-based BGM acquired John T. Chipman & Company in Norwood, Massachusetts. The deal establishes BGM's entry into the Northeast market. JTC partners David Foster and Lisa Gray, along with the rest of the firm's team, will join BGM and continue operating from the Norwood office. Joe Tarasco, CEO of Accountants Advisory Group, advised both parties on the transaction. WPWealth grows Texas footprint. violetkaipa - Fotolia Registered investment advisor WPWealth added Optimus Capital Advisors in Coppell, Texas, strengthening the firm's presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. WPWealth is based in Fort Worth, Texas, with 18 employees and eight offices throughout the state. It is affiliated with the Top 50 firm Whitley Penn and is listed on Accounting Today 2026 list, with $1.2 billion in assets under management.