Atlanta accounting firm Bennett Thrasher has merged in Graves Technology, a technology consultancy also based in Atlanta.
The two firms have worked together for years, but by merging in Graves Technology, Bennett Thrasher will able to add technology services formally to its existing set of services. The new technology services division will be named Bennett Thrasher Technology Services, and will have technology consultants throughout the Southeast, including Georgia, Florida and North Carolina.
Along with client accounting services, the combined firm will offer enterprise system implementation and management services, IT governance, scalability, security and mitigating risk for clients through consulting on internal controls over technology.
“This collaboration is a natural fit for Bennett Thrasher,” said co-founding partner Rick Bennett in a statement. “Graves Technology and Bennett Thrasher are founded on similar cultures, and are focused on family, integrity and serving our clients for greater success. Having worked as a client of Graves Technology for more than seven years, we know first-hand that we share a similar commitment to providing the best value and service to our collective clients.”
Graves Technology founder Chad Graves will lead Bennett Thrasher’s new Technology Services Team as a partner of the firm. Jim Dougherty, who also joins the firm from Graves Technology, will serve as a director of the Technology Services Team. With the addition of staff from Graves Technology and recent organic growth, Bennett Thrasher will now have more than 257 professionals across the firm.
“It’s a great feeling to be returning to Bennett Thrasher,” said Graves. “I began my career at Bennett Thrasher and it was during my time there that inspired me to form Graves Technology. As I rejoin the firm, I look forward to applying the knowledge I have gained in successfully growing Graves Technology to help position Bennett Thrasher as a leader in the technology services industry.”
Bennett Thrasher is the eighth largest accounting firm in Atlanta. It ranked 99th on Accounting Today’s 2016 list of the Top 100 Firms, with $36.23 million in annual revenue, and ninth on the Regional Leaders list for the Top Firms in the Southeast.
