Local accounting firm merges with North Dakota firm — No. 23 top CPA company
Spokane accounting firm McDirmid, Mikkelsen & Secrest PS has agreed to a merger with North Dakota-based Eide Bailly, the company announced Thursday.
The local firm will change its name to Eide Bailly in June, when the deal becomes effective.
Company officials say the deal will not mean reductions to the staff of just over 50 workers in Spokane.
If anything, the merger with much larger Eide Bailly should lead to additional hiring here as the firm expands services for customers, said principal Andrew McDirmid.
The Spokane firm has traditionally specialized in financial services for privately held firms and medical groups. That focus will not change, other than having a fuller range of accounting and auditing options, McDirmid said. "We will continue making our decisions locally," he added.
MMS is considered Spokane’s second largest CPA firm based on total employees. Moss Adams, with around 75 employees, is the largest. Moss Adams, based in Seattle, has national offices and moved into Spokane when it acquired local firm McFarland & Alton in 1999.
Eide Bailly, headquartered in Fargo, N.D., is ranked the 23rd largest U.S. accounting firm. That size made it an appealing partner when considering whether to join forces with Eide Bailly, McDirmid said. It has more than 20 offices in 10 states
“Moving into the state of Washington continues our strategy to expand west of the Mississippi River and into the Intermountain Region to fully serve mid-market clients,” said Eide Bailly Managing Partner/CEO Dave Stende, in a press release.