Ascend, a US-based strategic partner for regional accounting firms backed by private equity firm Alpine Investors, has acquired Kirkland, Washington’s Sweeney Conrad, a full-service accounting and advisory firm.

The deal adds 14 partners and 117 staff to Ascend’s platform. The acquisition also strengthens Ascend’s presence on the West Coast, supporting regional firms to remain independent while accessing national-level resources.

President Nishaad Ruparel said, “Our partnership allows Sweeney Conrad to make the most of those circumstances. Clients in the Puget Sound region will receive deeply personal service in increasingly modern ways, and the firm’s next generation of talent will carry forward its special history while embracing innovations that make work more rewarding.”

Founded in 1980, Sweeney Conrad has consistently been recognised for excellence in firm culture and as a leading accounting practice, with accolades from Inside Public Accounting, Accounting Today, Puget Sound Business Journal, and CPA Practice Advisor.

Sweeney Conrad CEO Sam North added: “We’ve found a great partnership of independent firms that will help us better serve the families, businesses, and communities that we’ve always supported. Ascend provides the cutting-edge technology, talent, and resources to maximize our potential as a thriving, future-ready firm.”

As part of the transaction, Sweeney Conrad will adopt an alternative practice structure separating non-attest and attest services. Tax and business advisory will be delivered through Sweeney Conrad Advisors LLC, affiliated with Ascend, while attest services will remain under an independently owned and licensed CPA firm.

Explore the full story on Ascend’s West Coast strategy and its impact on regional accounting practices.

Photo credits to Nishaad Ruparel’s LinkedIn