Top 30 accounting firm Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt, which has long been known as HCVT, has rebranded as Holthouse while also announcing on Oct. 29 that it has established an employee stock ownership plan.
The transition to the Holthouse brand is underway and will continue over the coming months, with the full rollout expected in early 2027, the firm said.
The rebranding to Holthouse carries forward the name of chairman Phil Holthouse, who co-founded the Los Angeles-based firm in 1991 with Jim Carlin and John Van Trigt.
“Employee ownership is a big step for us, and a new name felt like the right way to mark it,” Holthouse CEO Vicken Haleblian said in a statement. “When our three founders started out, I don’t think any of them pictured a firm of more than 800 people. A lot has changed since then, but not what our founders started with. The focus has always been on technical expertise, sound judgment, direct access, and exceptional service, and we will continue that as Holthouse.”
While several of the top 100 accounting firms in the U.S. by revenue have taken on outside capital from private equity firms and other investors, Holthouse says the ESOP shows its commitment to remain independent.
“We want to stay independent,” Haleblian said. “It has defined who we are for 35 years, and it’s a big part of why people choose to build their careers here. The ESOP helps us continue that.”
By implementing an ESOP, the firm says it will be giving eligible employees an ownership stake that they earn over time.
“Our firm has always been about our people and our clients,” Phil Holthouse said in a statement. “Historically, the partners have owned the firm, and we look forward to extending that to our employees.”
The accounting firm operates from 16 offices in five states, including two offices opened in 2026: its first in Colorado and its third in Utah.
Photo credit: Holthouse
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Tags: Accounting, accounting firms, esop, Firm Management, HCVT, Holthouse, rebrand, rebranding
