Chicago, Illinois, Jan. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wipfli, one of the top 20 accounting and consulting firms in the United States, announced today that the partners and associates of Chicago-based Kessler Orlean Silver & Co., P.C. (KOS) have joined the firm effective January 1. This combination marks the sixth Chicagoland combination for Wipfli in three years.
“We are pleased that Kessler Orlean Silver & Co. chose to join Wipfli. The addition of this long-time Chicago firm signifies another significant step toward further strengthening our firm’s physical presence in this key market and helping us to better serve mid-sized Chicagoland businesses with deeper resources locally,” said Rick Dreher, Wipfli’s managing partner. “We feel fortunate to have found a firm with a shared dedication to providing high-quality service and a similar focus on helping small and mid-sized businesses reach and exceed their goals.”
Founded in 1928, Deerfield, Illinois-based KOS has been providing accounting, tax and management consulting services to privately held businesses and high-net-worth individuals in the Chicago area for nearly 90 years. The firm has strong focuses on serving privately held businesses, nonprofit organizations, higher education entities, and high-net-worth individuals. As part of this combination, 50 KOS professionals, including seven partners, have joined Wipfli.
When asked about the reasons KOS chose to combine with Wipfli, KOS Managing Partner Jeff Arnol said, “Our clients are continually adapting to an ever-changing business landscape that presents many challenges to small and mid-sized businesses. While we are proud of the many decades we have served the Chicago market as an independent firm, Kessler Orlean Silver and Company has always been committed to providing our clients with the best solutions possible to help them achieve their goals. By combining with Wipfli, we are better positioned to help our clients capitalize on the opportunities ahead, providing more industry-focused specialization and having access to a larger resource pool of diverse experience and niche expertise, while continuing to provide that same exceptional service to our clients. In addition, as part of a larger firm, we will be able to continue attracting top talent and provide more professional opportunities and training to develop our employees. We are pleased to be moving forward with Wipfli, an extraordinary firm with a strong commitment to the Chicagoland market and a similar service approach and culture.”
Allan D. Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised both firms on the combination, commented, “Wipfli has become a major force in the Chicago market literally overnight and I believe their expansion will only continue to increase. Their depth of resources, great leadership and entrepreneurial culture continue to be the major reasons why successful firms all over the country are combining with them. There were many acquirers that wanted KOS to join their firm, but in the end they felt the “Wipfli Way” was the best fit for their people and their clients. KOS has been admired and respected for many decades in the Chicago market for their exceptional technical expertise and client service.”
The combined firm will have more than 1,900 associates and 47 office locations across the United States and two offices in India.
About Wipfli
Wipfli ranks among the top 20 accounting and business consulting firms in the nation. For over 88 years, Wipfli has provided private and publicly held companies with industry-focused assurance, accounting, tax and consulting services to help clients overcome their business challenges today and plan for tomorrow. The firm’s clients include agricultural businesses, manufacturing companies, construction companies, real estate companies, health care organizations, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, private equity firms, units of government, dealerships and individuals. Through the firm’s membership in Allinial Global, Wipfli can draw upon the resources of firms from around the world, helping businesses whenever and wherever they need it. For more information, visit wipfli.com.
About Kessler Orlean Silver & Co.
Deerfield, Illinois-based Kessler Orlean Silver (KOS) serves businesses and individuals in multiple states providing business consulting, auditing, accounting and bookkeeping, and tax services. With an 80-year history, the mid-sized accounting firm provides innovative accounting solutions to business owners, executives and managers, private investors, and professionals.
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CONTACT: Jennifer Hacker Olsen Wipfli LLP 952.548.3389 [email protected]