AAM MINUTE
October 2026: M&A, PE and Team Structure
Beginner’s Guide: There is no one-size-fits-all model for structuring a marketing team inside an accounting firm. Instead, the right approach depends on firm size, service complexity, internal resources and growth goals. In this article, we asked marketers from small, mid-sized and large firms to share how they structure their teams, balance generalist and specialized roles and support growth at every stage.
Seasoned Marketer: Private equity is reshaping how accounting firms compete, as the most recent CBIZ/Grant Thornton deal illustrates. Independent firms can’t outspend these huge companies, but they can out-specialize them. This article lays out six practical ways independent accounting firms can stand out, from building niche partner expertise to making that specialization visible.
Business Development: Private equity investment is changing more than revenue expectations at accounting firms. It’s reshaping how business development is planned, supported and measured. From partner accountability and cross-selling to CRM adoption and technology investments, firms face growing pressure to turn opportunities into results. This article explores what those changes mean for BD professionals and why independently owned firms can benefit from adopting many of the same practices.
Meet a Member: Travis Bradshaw is the managing director of advisory operations at CBIZ and a member of AAM’s Board of Directors. With 20 years of experience, Travis has had a front-row seat to the changes reshaping the accounting profession. From navigating mergers to helping marketing earn a more strategic role, he believes success often comes down to controlling what you can, communicating often and staying comfortable with change. In this Meet a Member, Travis shares his lessons from M&A, advice for building a career through change and why marketing should be a strategic partner from day one.
Sponsored: When your press release announces an M&A transaction, then the media, your competitors and basically everybody should know about it. Except they don’t. This article explores the good, bad and ignored aspects of M&A communication to help you keep people informed and moving forward with more trust in the process.
Specializations of Interest: Most accounting marketers start out doing a little bit of everything. Over time, marketers may discover areas they want to pursue further, while firm leaders may recognize that certain functions need more focused attention. Here are 10 marketing specializations to consider as your team grows and your career takes shape.
September New Members
Balazs Nagy, BPiON Group
Caralynn Swain, Adams Brown
Joseph Zachow, Froehling Anderson
Lexi Whitney, Lopata, Flegel & Company LLP
Megan Summa, Insero Advisors
Rachel Wald, Lutz
