BKD is acquiring a portion of Grant Thornton LLP’s Wichita audit and tax practices, effective June 1, 2018.
As part of the deal, one partner and 16 other professionals from GT will join BKD’s local offices in Wichita. With approximately 2,650 employees and 280 partners, BKD provides a wide range of assurance, tax and accounting outsourcing services.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Grant Thornton, based in Chicago, ranked 6th on Accounting Today’s 2018 list of the Top 100 Firms. BKD, based in Springfield, Missouri, ranked 13th.
Grant Thornton has annual revenues over $1.7 billion and operates 59 offices. BKD has 36 offices in 16 states, and its fiscal year 2018 revenues were approximately $600 million. The firm also serves clients around the world as the largest U.S. member of Praxity, AISBL, a global alliance of independent firms.
“We want to extend a warm welcome to our new BKD team members,” BKD CEO Ted Dickman said in a statement. “Grant Thornton’s commitment to client service in Wichita, and its deep experience in this market, will help us achieve our goals as we move forward.”
The deal is expected to grow the capabilities of both BKD’s North Region and its existing Wichita office.
“We are excited to welcome Grant Thornton staff members and clients to our office,” said BKD Wichita managing partner Bill Pickert in a statement. “The combination of our two practices allows us to enhance our service and provide even more long-term advancement opportunities to our combined staff. The Grant Thornton practice brings a deep bench of experience and capabilities to our team and a tremendous group of clients.”
Despite the deal, Grant Thornton plans to continue to provide professional services in Wichita, according to Dan Powers, office managing partner of Grant Thornton in Wichita. “BKD is an impressive firm with a sterling track record of quality client service; by adding members of our talented team, BKD will be even better positioned to serve the Wichita business community,” he stated. “This sale allows us to focus on providing core clients and industries with advisory, tax and audit services that are aligned to our market strategy.”
