Anders + Summit Merger Story
One of the first major factors I evaluate in the early discussions is culture. Most mergers fail if the culture of the organizations merging is too far apart, or where the owners of the firm being evaluated do not have the right chemistry to fit into the acquiring firm. Summit was a clear “yes” on both of those issues. Jody and Adam are the type of individuals who will flourish as partners in Anders, and Anders will easily be able to integrate Summit and fit the axiom of 2 + 2 = 6.”
We were all intrigued by Summit’s uniqueness. We were fascinated by how differently they approached things. It was thrilling to see two puzzle pieces fitting together with each firm’s expertise and offerings that complement each other. In addition to the service offerings, the cultures of each firm fit together perfectly. Culture is a challenge for many firms. When companies aren’t intentional about culture, it often just “is what it is.” Anders, on the other hand, has always been pro-employee; the firm recognizes the value of its employees and the contri- butions they make. Summit makes this a priority as well.”
This merger grew from a desire to partner with a cutting- edge firm who already had a solid presence in the digital world. With more and more companies offering services online and remotely, we were specifically looking for a firm that offered Virtual CFO services. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel if someone in the industry has already worked out the kinks.
With that kind of partnership in mind, we set out to find an accounting firm that would align with our culture, goals, and best practices. With Summit being a key player in the accounting world, we were familiar with the way Jody and Adam were revolutionizing the industry with their Virtual CFO offerings. The Virtual CFO offering initially attracted us as a complement to our Outsourced Accounting Services (OAS)—typically known as Client Advisory Services (CAS) across the industry. Then, as we peeled back the layers, we saw there were a lot more benefits. The efficiencies that Summit has been able to develop are no secret. Their alternate weekly billings philosophy, service delivery, technology stack—all that as it relates to Virtual CFO Services is a definite benefit. But then I started seeing how we could take some of those things and apply them to different areas of our firm because we have traditional tax and audit services, as well as other advisory services. Some of
the things they’ve gone through the pain of learning are going to benefit other areas of the firm. One component that drew me to Summit is the fact that the firm is fully distributed. These last couple of years, the pandemic has thrown a lot of offices off track. We had to pivot and figure out how to continue providing services when we couldn’t meet with clients in person—something that Summit has been doing for nearly the past decade. So, when the country shut down, businesses, Anders included, had to figure out how to take a step back and learn how to work in the virtual world. For the Summit team, on the other hand, the next day was just another workday. It’s impressive how Summit has built such a strong culture with a fully remote team. The fact that Summit has not only figured out how to do it but also maintains its culture and brand is a huge benefit.
-MIKE STAFFORD (ANDERS)
-ANTHONY ZECCA (CEO OF GROWTH PATH PARTNERS LLC)
“ We were instantly drawn to Summit. When we looked at
in response. This approach is reactive: Many times clients don’t know what services they need—they just need help. The Summit approach, on the other hand, is proactive. Their cash flow forecasting helps guide clients through strategic business decisions. The pathway to a more successful business.
an invaluable advisor within the digital agency space. They cracked the code on client needs, and then scaled to meet it. When we thought about combining that value with our expertise in several different industries, we realized how much we could accomplish together, enabling us to serve clients across North America, regardless of geographic location.”
what they offered and where they wanted to take their Virtual CFO service, we saw how they lined up with what we think is going to happen in the market over the next decade or two and got excited. It makes sense why clients are drawn to Summit. CPA firms traditionally ask clients what they need and then provide services
-ROBERT MINKLER, JR.
Summit has also done an amazing job of developing a niche—becoming
-DAVE HARTLEY (ANDERS)
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