Wipfli merges in TopLine Strategies

Wipfli LLP, a Top 100 Firm based in Milwaukee, has extended its reach to the Southwest by adding TopLine Strategies, a firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona, effective June 1.

The deal represents the ninth M&A transaction for Wipfli in three years and gives the firm its first physical office in the Southwestern part of the country.

“TopLine Strategies is an outstanding firm in the Southwest, a targeted geographic region for Wipfli’s growth,” said Kurt Gresens, Wipfli’s new managing partner, who took the reins this month. “The firm delivers the complete integration and development of sales, marketing and customer service technologies to corporations and institutions, specializing in leading technologies such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power BI, SharePoint and Salesforce, which will greatly complement and deepen Wipfli’s wide range of IT consulting services. We are pleased to welcome Tim Fargo and the entire TopLine Strategies team to Wipfli.”

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Wipfli ranked 19th on Accounting Today’s 2019 list of the Top 100 Firms, with $323.6 million in annual revenue. Wipfli has more than 2,300 associates and 275 partners.

TopLine Strategies was founded in 1987 and offers customer relationship management and business intelligence technology to businesses in the Southwest. Topline has 19 full-time employees in the U.S., including four shareholders who are all joining Wipfli.

“There are so many reasons this was a good fit for TopLine Strategies,” said TopLine CEO Tim Fargo in a statement. “Through this transaction with Wipfli we will have access to the firm’s broader network of services and resources to offer our clients so they can continue to capitalize on the opportunities ahead. Our firm is also excited to team with a firm that is committed to the consulting model and places a significant emphasis on the role of technology in the future, which is a commitment both of our firms share. In addition, our employees will be provided additional opportunities for career growth and professional development, which will help us to continue to attract and retain the best and brightest in the industry. We are very excited for what lies ahead as we move forward together as one firm.”

In January, Wipfli merged in Howe, Riley & Howe, a firm based in Bedford, New Hampshire. Gresens recently told Accounting Today he is planning further mergers (see Wipfli names new MP). “We have done a fair bit of mergers and acquisitions in the past,” he said. “I expect us to continue our merger and acquisition strategy for a couple of reasons. One, we know that there is a tremendous amount of talent and skill sets and service offerings that we can provide to our clients by merging firms who have that talent, that skill set, and those offerings. Also, we know that the technology disruption that is affecting our profession and our firm positions us well to be a landing spot for other firms who are needing to or desiring to help their clients. We're on this journey of our own transformation and the mindset around looking at the technology and the disruption from an opportunity perspective as much as anything.”