Top 10 accounting firm Baker Tilly said Monday it plans to acquire Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs, a top 100 firm based in Miami, establishing its presence in South Florida.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Upon completion of the transaction, Berkowitz Pollack Brant CEO Joseph Saka will join Baker Tilly as its Florida managing principal.
Baker Tilly said in a Dec. 15 media release that the planned acquisition strengthens its Southeast and New York presence and advances the firm’s strategy to connect key East Coast markets.
“Berkowitz Pollack Brant’s established presence in Miami and New York City deepens Baker Tilly’s regional capabilities and complements its national offerings, including specialists in tax consulting, assurance, risk, CFO advisory, and digital services,” the Chicago-based accounting firm said.
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Berkowitz Pollack Brant is a firm clients trust because they know the market, they know the community, and they know the work, said Fred Massanova, chief growth officer at Baker Tilly.
“Combining that depth of insight with Baker Tilly’s national scale creates a level of capability and perspective that is increasingly essential in today’s environment,” he added. “Together, we can help clients move faster, make better decisions, and take on opportunities with even more confidence.”
“This combination reflects who we are and where we’re headed as a firm,” said Baker Tilly CEO Jeff Ferro. “Berkowitz Pollack Brant brings exceptional talent, deep regional roots, and capabilities that strengthen our ability to serve clients across the East Coast and beyond.”
Founded in 1980, Berkowitz Pollack Brant has earned a national reputation for its strength in real estate taxation and for advising high-net-worth individuals and families, both in the U.S. and abroad. Its multilingual team—fluent in nearly a dozen languages—will expand Baker Tilly’s ability to serve clients with cross-border needs.
The firm has offices in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and New York City.
“This is the right move at the right moment for our firm,” Saka said. “Our clients operate across markets and borders, and they’re looking for advisers who can match that reach. Joining Baker Tilly gives us the platform, the talent, and the technology to support them in a bigger way while keeping the personal relationships and South Florida roots that define us.”
Richard Berkowitz, JD, CPA, founding and executive chairman of Berkowitz Pollack Brant, added, “We are enthusiastic about combining our complementary cultures with the sixth-largest firm in America. Our team will have expanded resources to assist our clients in accomplishing their goals, and we will have enhanced opportunity to recruit outstanding professionals to grow our firm.”
Allan Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised both firms on the deal, said this combination works because both firms see the same opportunity in the market.
“Baker Tilly gains a proven leader in South Florida, and Berkowitz Pollack Brant gains a national platform to accelerate its growth. Clients ultimately benefit from deeper expertise and expanded capabilities,” Koltin said.
This marks the latest in a string of M&A deals Baker Tilly has made since receiving private equity backing from Hellman & Friedman and Valeas Capital Partners in February 2024—the biggest being a megamerger with top 15 accounting firm Moss Adams, which officially closed in June.
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