Strategic investment in accounting is no longer a niche topic reserved for the largest firms. As firms confront succession challenges, capital constraints, talent shortages, and the need to invest in technology, leaders are exploring a wider range of ownership and growth models — from traditional mergers to alternative practice structures and private equity-backed platforms. This panel will examine how the investment landscape is changing, what is driving interest in outside capital, and how firms of different sizes are thinking about long-term sustainability and growth. Private equity’s appeal has largely centered on access to capital for technology, M&A, new service lines, and liquidity for partners, while also introducing a very different operating mindset for firms.
