Market Street Partners, PLLC (MSP), a Chattanooga accounting and advisory firm, announces that they have joined Smith + Howard, a leading Atlanta-based full-service accounting firm, effective August 15, 2023.
The combination of the two firms provides strategic investment for MSP to expand resources and capabilities to its clients and opportunities for its team and marks a significant step in Smith + Howard's growth plans. MSP’s partners and staff will join Smith + Howard, with Kyle Bryant serving as Managing Partner of the Chattanooga office.
“Joining forces with Smith + Howard is an exciting chapter for our team and clients,” said Kyle Bryant, Co-Founding Partner at MSP. “We look forward to bringing an enhanced array of resources and expertise to our clients, while maintaining the close relationships, personal touch and local presence that our clients value, and deep engagement in our community."
"The addition of Market Street Partners to our family of companies is a perfect fit, as we share closely aligned values, visions and a dedication to providing high-quality, personalized service to our clients,” said Sean Taylor, CEO of Smith + Howard. “With our firms united, we are expanding our footprint in the Southeast region, setting the path for broader geographic growth, while enhancing the breadth and depth of services we provide."
MSP is a fast-growing firm, known for their exceptional client care and quality of services. The Financial Times recognized MSP as one of the Fastest-Growing Companies in the Americas for 2023, the firm recently debuted on the Inc. 5000, and Accounting Today recognized MSP among the 2022 Best Firms for Technology and Best Firms to Work For. Accounting Today also named Kyle Bryant, Managing Partner, to its 2023 MP Elite, which recognizes the “outstanding leadership” of Managing Partners and CEOs nationwide.
Smith + Howard was recently recognized as a Fastest Growing Firm in the nation and a Top 200 Firm in the nation by INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA), the firm’s 13th consecutive appearance on the Top 200 list. The firm has been named a Best of the Best firm in the nation by IPA for the past 13 years.
The unification of the two firms will bolster MSP’s service offerings to its clients and provide a pathway to accelerated innovation in processes and technology, opportunities for its people and an attractive career for future talent.
Market Street Partners will operate under the Smith + Howard name, delivering the same high standard of service to clients and opportunities for its employees that have been a hallmark of the firm since its founding.
Both Taylor and Bryant agreed that along with commonalities in services, industries and vision, the firms share very similar cultures. “When Smith + Howard launched our 10-year vision in 2020, maintaining our culture was non-negotiable. It is core to who we are, and we will not sacrifice culture for the sake of growth. It was important for us to find a firm that shared that view,” said Taylor. Bryant agrees, “Finding a firm who would provide us with additional resources, investment and technology was important, but even with each of those boxes checked, a culture match was the ultimate deciding factor. We’re very confident that we have found the right firm in all respects.”
Allan D. Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised both firms on the combination commented, “Smith + Howard is known nationally as one of the highest-performing accounting and advisory firms in the country. They wanted their first deal to be a strong culture fit with a great firm in their geographic footprint, and that is exactly what happened here. Market Street Partners is one of Tennessee’s youngest and fastest-growing firms, and they will be a welcome addition to S+H. My guess is this deal will serve as a springboard for other successful firms to join S+H.”
Smith + Howard operates under an alternative practice structure. In that arrangement, Smith + Howard, PC, a licensed CPA firm, provides audit and other attest services to its clients, while Smith + Howard Advisory LLC provides tax, accounting and advisory services to its clients.
About Smith + Howard
Smith + Howard is a top tax, accounting and advisory firm serving businesses across the U.S. in the construction, distribution, hospitality, manufacturing, nonprofit, real estate and technology sectors. Along with traditional services, the firm offers sales and use tax, international tax consulting, enterprise risk services, SOC reporting, technology consulting and process automation, among other offerings through its family of companies. Smith + Howard is the brand name under which Smith + Howard PC and Smith + Howard Advisory LLC provide professional services. Wealth management services are provided through Smith + Howard Wealth Management, LLC, an SEC-Registered Investment Adviser, and sales and use tax services are offered through Synexus Tax Solutions™, LLC. To learn more, visit www.smith-howard.com.