Baker Tilly International has
admitted large US firm Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra (MBAF),
which is based in Miami, South Florida.
MBAF has 29 partners, more than 200
CPAs and in 2008 reported annual fee income of $59m.
The firm provides a full range of
services, including audit, tax and accounting, litigation support,
business valuation and technology consulting.
MBAF is strong in niche sectors
including auto motor dealership, community banks, broker
dealerships, healthcare, IT consulting and non-profits.
“We are the largest Florida
independent firm, not including the Big Four,” MBAF managing
partner Tony Argiz said.
Argiz said that in terms of the
number of CPAs, MBAF is larger than all firms apart from Deloitte
in South Florida.
MBAF, previously a member of
CPAmerica and Leading Edge Alliance, said a big selling point to
join Baker Tilly International was the connection it would gain
with Baker Tilly International member firms in South and Central
America.
“It made us open our eyes with the
gateway into the Americas, so we thought it was the perfect
situation and perfect fit to join the network at this point in
time,” Argiz said.
“Being in Miami, we have a huge
international presence but I think that with an organisation such
as Baker Tilly International it will provide us an even bigger
international footprint.
“[As a result of joining Baker
Tilly International] I expect to provide outward referral work but
I think the inward work might be even greater, primarily because of
our location as a gateway to Latin America.”
Argiz said Baker Tilly
International was particularly interested in the fact that about
50% of MBAF staff are bilingual and in some cases trilingual.
Argiz said the firm has plans to
double in turnover but in a measured way.
Baker Tilly International’s US member firms reported combined
revenue of $1.33bn in the year to 31 December 2009. The network of
independent firms has about 5,600 professionals in nearly 100
offices in the country.
