Aprio, a Top 25 Firm based in Atlanta, is expanding to Southern California by acquiring Kirsch Kohn Bridge, a firm based in Woodland Hills, effective Nov. 1.

The deal will grow Aprio’s geographic footprint while enabling it to expand into new local markets and industries. Financial terms were not disclosed. Aprio ranked No. 25 on Accounting Today’s 2024 list of the Top 100 Firms, with $420.79 million in annual revenue, 210 partners and 1,851 professionals. The deal will add five partners and 31 professionals to Aprio. 

In July, Aprio received a private equity investment from Charlesbank Capital Partners. 

KKB has been operating for six decades offering accounting, tax, and business advisory services to industries including construction, real estate, professional services, retail, and manufacturing. “There is tremendous synergy between Aprio and KKB, which enables us to further elevate our tax, accounting and advisory capabilities and deepen our roots across California,” said Aprio CEO Richard Kopelman in a statement. “Continuing to build out our presence across the West Coast is an important part of our growth strategy and KKB  is the right partner to launch our first location in Southern California. Together, we will bring even more robust insights, perspectives and solutions to our clients to help them propel forward.”

The Woodland Hills office will become Aprio’s third in California, in addition to its locations further north in San Francisco and Walnut Creek. Joe Tarasco of Accountants Advisory served as the advisor to Aprio on the transaction. 

“We are thrilled to become part of Aprio’s vision for the future,” said KKB managing partner Carisa Ferrer in a statement. “Over the past 60 years, KKB has grown from the ground up to suit the unique and complex challenges of our clients. As we move forward with our combined knowledge, we will accelerate our ability to leverage innovative talent, business processes, cutting-edge technologies, and advanced solutions to help our clients with even greater precision and care.”

Aprio has completed over 20 mergers and acquisitions since 2017, adding Ridout Barrett & Co. CPAs & Advisors last December, and before that, Antares Group, Culotta, Scroggins, Hendricks & Gillespie, Aronson, Salver & Cook, Gomerdinger & Associates, Tobin & Collins, Squire + Lemkin, LBA Haynes Strand, Leaf Saltzman, RINA and Tarlow and Co.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Donald Trump’s plan to end income tax on tips would have to be paid for, injecting a note of caution into one of the president-elect’s key campaign pledges.

“This is one of the promises that he wants to deliver on,” Johnson said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. “We’re going to try to make that happen in the Congress. You’ve got to do the math.”

Johnson paired his comment with pledges to swiftly advance Trump’s economic agenda once the newly elected Congress is in place with Republican majorities in the House and Senate. The former president rolled out a series of tax-cut proposals during his successful bid to return to the White House, including rescinding taxes on overtime, Social Security checks and tips.

“You have got to make sure that these new savings for the American people can be paid for and make sure the economy is a pro-growth economy,” said Johnson, who was among allies accompanying Trump to an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

Congress faces a tax marathon next year as many of the provisions from the Republicans’ 2017 tax bill expire at the end of 2025. Trump’s declared goal is to extend all of the personal income tax cuts and further reduce the corporate tax rate.

A more immediate challenge may be ahead as Trump seeks to install loyalists as cabinet members for his second term starting in January, including former Representative Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services and former Representative Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence. 

Gaetz was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, which he has denied. RFK Jr. is a vaccine skeptic and has endorsed misleading messages about vaccine safety.

Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect’s son who has been a key player in the cabinet picks, said he expects many of the choices will face pushback.    

“Some of them are going to be controversial,” Trump Jr. said on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures. “They’re controversial because they’ll actually get things done.”

‘Because of my father’

Trump Jr. suggested the transition team has options if any candidate fails to pass Senate muster.

“We’re showing him lists of 10 or 12 people for every position,” he said. “So we do have backup plans, but I think we’re obviously going with the strongest candidates first.”

Trump Jr. said incoming Senate Majority leader John Thune owes his post to the president-elect.

“I think we have control of the Senate because of my father,” he said. “John Thune’s able to be the majority leader because of my father, because he got a bunch of other people over the line.”

The American Institute of CPAs and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy expanded access to its pilot program helping accounting students complete the 150-credit requirement for CPA licensure.

The Experience, Learn & Earn program, which has thus far focused on participants recruited directly by firms, companies, not-for-profits and government entities, now allows accounting graduates who are unaffiliated with a participating firm or employer to sign up, as long as they are employed full time.

“While we designed the program for accounting graduates and entry-level professionals, it’s gratifying to see participants from a diverse range of states, age groups, gender and ethnicities,” Mike Decker, vice president of CPA examination and pipeline at the AICPA, said in a statement. “That’s a testament to the enduring value of the CPA credential, from the newest graduates to mid-career professionals.”

The program currently has 105 students enrolled. Registration for the spring 2025 semester is currently open until Jan. 1, 2025. Participants can earn up to 30 college credits through online courses through Tulane University’s School of Professional Advancement at discounted rates. 

“In a time where we are all working on ways to provide flexibility and increase accessibility to candidates in all stages of their journey to becoming a CPA, it is encouraging to see the continued interest and support of the ELE program from both candidates and employers,” NASBA executive vice president Wendy Garvin said in a statement. “An expanded offering to individuals not associated with a participating employer is an exciting evolution of the program.”

To learn more about the ELE program, visit experiencelearnearn.org, which includes information for students, firms and other organizations that want to sponsor candidates. Send questions or comments to [email protected].