Wipfli again ranked among Accounting Today’s top firms

Wipfli, following a strong year of strategic growth and increased client impact, has once again been ranked among the top 20 accounting and consulting firms by Accounting Today.

Logging an impressive increase in net revenue to $401 million, Wipfli also ranked above average in net revenue growth among other ranked firms.  

“During the second half of our fiscal year that ended in May 2020, the global pandemic challenged us all to embrace change and adapt at a rapid pace to ensure our clients continued to receive outstanding, uninterrupted service,” said Managing Partner Kurt Gresens. “I’m proud to say the team at Wipfli rose to that challenge and met unprecedented global disruption with the confidence and integrity of a firm well prepared for the future. Ranking #19 is a great confirmation of our impact.”

In addition to expanded tax, audit and accounting needs, the COVID-19 pandemic created a more urgent need for organizations to adopt technologies and revamp their strategy to meet the new normal. Wipfli’s multi-year strategy to expand digital services meant the firm was well-positioned to respond to those needs.

“Significant demand and awareness around digital transformation is driving the growth in technology consulting,” said Ken Kortas, business solutions group leader. “Every organization has had to reflect on their go-to-market strategies — how they engage their customers, their suppliers, their employees — and understand how to meet each of these constituencies via technology, i.e., digital transformation. This has led to mobile and application development, revamping websites and a full throttle ahead on cloud computing. We were on this path and then the pandemic hit and it only accelerated the market needs.”

Other key growths driven by the pandemic were consulting services in managing disruption, supply chain and workforce management, business stability planning and estate planning.

In addition to organic growth, the firm has experienced growth from strategic mergers and acquisitions designed to expand its digital and consulting services.

The firm has completed more than 20 mergers and acquisitions in the past five years.

“Our M&A strategy focuses on combining resources with firms that expand our industry and consulting expertise to meet the needs of small- and medium-size organizations,” said Brian Blaha, Wipfli’s growth leader. “We know the needs of those groups are as significant as large enterprise companies, and they need solutions tailored by our team that fit their unique needs.”

Wipfli first broke into the Top 20 list in 2018 and has continued rank nationally every year since.

“We’re proud of our strong growth but equally proud of how high our client satisfaction feedback continues to be,” Blaha said. “It’s one thing to grow. It’s another to grow throughout the U.S. and increase the quality of our services and impact on our clients. That’s what really drives us to be more innovative every year.”

For more on Wipfli’s results, see this year’s annual report.