February 2026 Recap: Accounting Industry Firm Updates in 10 Mins

February continued to show how quickly the accounting industry is evolving as firms expand capabilities, pursue strategic acquisitions, and strengthen leadership teams. Across the profession, firms are investing in technology, building advisory services, and positioning themselves for growth in an increasingly competitive market. This month’s roundup highlights several notable developments, including major firm acquisitions, new technology-driven services, and key leadership appointments shaping the next phase of firm strategy. Together, these updates offer a snapshot of how accounting firms are adapting their business models, expanding their footprints, and preparing for the future of the profession.

M&A Updates

UHY Acquires Larson Tax Partners in St. Louis

UHY has expanded its Midwest presence with the acquisition of St. Louis-based Larson Tax Partners, a firm serving closely held businesses and affluent families. The move strengthens UHY’s national tax practice and enhances its ability to support middle market companies navigating growing regulatory and operational complexity. The deal also adds to UHY’s growing acquisition streak following its private equity investment from Summit Partners, signaling a continued push to scale its national platform across key regional markets.

Sorren Acquires Connected Accounting in California

Sorren has expanded its California footprint with the acquisition of Los Angeles-based Connected Accounting, a technology-focused firm known for its digitally enabled accounting solutions. The combination strengthens Sorren’s push toward integrated platforms and technology-driven service delivery while expanding its presence in a major West Coast market. Backed by DFW Capital Partners, Sorren has been building a multi-state advisory platform through rapid acquisitions, and this latest addition further advances its strategy of scaling technology-enabled client services.

Doeren Mayhew Expands into Alabama with Dent Moses Deal

Doeren Mayhew has entered the Alabama market through the acquisition of Dent Moses LLP and its affiliate Impact Technology Group, adding audit, tax, outsourced accounting, and managed IT capabilities to its platform. The transaction establishes the firm’s first Alabama office and brings new leadership and professionals into the organization. Firm leaders highlighted the strategic importance of Impact Technology’s managed services capabilities as Doeren Mayhew continues expanding its technology-driven service offerings across its growing national footprint.

Cherry Bekaert Acquires RKE, Expands California Presence

Cherry Bekaert has strengthened its West Coast presence through the acquisition of Richardson Kontogouris Emerson LLP, a Torrance-based advisory and accounting firm serving middle-market clients across several industries. The transaction expands Cherry Bekaert’s capabilities in the Los Angeles region while pairing RKE’s local relationships with the firm’s national advisory platform. Structured to integrate both advisory and attest services into Cherry Bekaert’s network, the move highlights the firm’s continued push to expand its reach in key regional markets.

Armanino Partners with Accrual on AI Workflows

Armanino has partnered with Accrual to deploy an AI native accounting platform designed to embed agentic AI directly into core accounting workflows. The initiative begins with AI-enhanced tax preparation, intelligent review, and proactive planning for individual tax returns, with plans to expand into audit, advisory, and firm operations. As an early strategic partner, Armanino will also help shape Accrual’s product roadmap, reflecting the firm’s broader push to modernize accounting processes and build intelligent, end-to-end advisory workflows.

MHP Integrates Thompson Palmer into Wyoming Operations

McGee Hearne & Paiz LLP has integrated Thompson Palmer & Associates of Jackson, Wyoming, expanding its footprint within the state and strengthening its regional advisory capabilities. The combination adds new partners and staff while deepening services across tax, audit, and client accounting. The transaction also reflects continued growth within the Ascend platform backed by Alpine Investors, as regional firms seek to preserve local independence while gaining access to broader resources and technology-enabled capabilities.

People Updates

HCJ CPAs & Advisors Promotes Aaron Beard to Partner

HCJ CPAs & Advisors has promoted Aaron Beard to partner, recognizing his long-standing contributions to the firm’s tax practice and internal technology initiatives. Beard joined the Little Rock firm in 2011 and works closely with partnerships, closely held corporations, and multistate tax clients. In addition to client service, he leads the firm’s tax department software committee focused on technology adoption and workflow improvements. The promotion highlights HCJ’s continued emphasis on developing internal leadership and strengthening its tax capabilities.

EY Names Kristi Eckert Cincinnati Managing Partner

EY has appointed Kristi Eckert as office managing partner of its Cincinnati office, effective March 1, succeeding Jeremy Vaughan, who has served for five years. Eckert brings more than two decades of global consulting experience across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Latin America. She has been deeply involved in talent development, community engagement, and major client leadership initiatives. EY stated that the appointment reflects its continued investment in regional leadership and client service as the firm strengthens its presence in the Cincinnati market.

Mauldin & Jenkins Appoints Benjamin Ellis as CIO

Mauldin & Jenkins has named Benjamin Ellis as chief information officer, reinforcing the firm’s focus on technology leadership as it advances its digital strategy. Ellis will oversee the development and execution of the firm’s technology roadmap, ensuring systems and infrastructure support both current operations and long-term growth initiatives. With experience in cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, cloud modernization, and private equity-backed environments, Ellis’s appointment signals the firm’s continued push to integrate technology into client service and operational performance.

REDW Promotes Nicole Brown to Operations VP

REDW Advisors and CPAs has promoted Nicole Brown to vice president of business operations, expanding her leadership role across the firm’s growing national platform. Since joining the firm in 2024, Brown has led initiatives to modernize practice management, standardize policies, and strengthen operational alignment across offices. In her new role, she will oversee firmwide operational strategy while supporting mergers and acquisitions integration. The promotion reflects REDW’s continued focus on building scalable systems and operational discipline as the firm expands.

Winding River Consulting Adds Rachel Anevski to Leadership Team

Winding River Consulting has added Dr. Rachel Anevski as managing director of leadership and people, strengthening the firm’s capabilities in leadership development and organizational strategy. Anevski advises professional services firms on executive development, coaching, succession planning, and change management as organizations navigate growth and transformation. The firm stated that her addition enhances its ability to support accounting and advisory firms in building leadership pipelines, developing talent across the employee lifecycle, and preparing organizations for long term evolution.

Schneider Downs Names Adam Goode as CEO

Schneider Downs has announced a leadership transition to a single chief executive officer structure, naming Adam Goode as CEO effective July 1. Goode will succeed co-CEOs Steven Thompson and Chris McElroy, who have jointly led the firm since 2020 through a period of growth and expansion. A longtime leader within the consulting practice, Goode played a key role in building several advisory services. The shift to a single CEO model reflects the firm’s strategy to streamline leadership and position itself for its next phase of growth.

Service Updates

KPMG LLP Launches Tax AI Accelerator Program

KPMG has introduced a Tax AI Accelerator Program designed to help corporate tax departments move beyond experimentation and begin integrating generative AI into everyday tax operations. The program combines hands-on technical training with real-world tax applications, enabling teams to experiment with AI tools in a secure environment using KPMG’s Digital Gateway platform. With companies such as Duke Energy already participating, the initiative reflects growing demand for practical AI skills as tax teams begin rethinking how compliance and advisory work will be performed.

GHJ Adds Blueprint CFO to Expand Advisory Services

GHJ has expanded its advisory platform through the addition of Blueprint CFO, a fractional CFO services firm founded by Jim Downes. The combination brings strategic finance leadership to businesses that need executive-level financial guidance without hiring a full-time CFO. By integrating fractional CFO services with its tax, audit, and advisory capabilities, GHJ is positioning itself to support clients navigating growth, restructuring, and operational complexity while expanding its presence across Southern California.

Whitman Advisory Launches Interim CFO Service

Whitman Advisory has launched a new interim CFO service designed to help businesses maintain financial leadership during periods of transition, rapid growth, or operational disruption. The offering places experienced finance executives into organizations quickly to oversee key functions such as cash flow management, ERP implementation, and board reporting. With flexible engagement options ranging from short-term assignments to fractional roles, the service aims to help organizations stabilize operations and maintain strategic momentum during leadership changes.

So, What’s Brewing in the Accounting Firm World?

From strategic acquisitions and new service offerings to leadership transitions across major firms, February’s developments underscore how actively the accounting industry continues to evolve. Firms are scaling advisory capabilities, investing in technology and AI, and strengthening leadership structures to meet changing client expectations. As competition intensifies and firms pursue new growth strategies, these moves provide valuable insight into where the profession is heading next. We will continue tracking the most important developments across accounting firms in the months ahead.