RSM US LLP (RSM) – the nation’s leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market – announced that the leaders and staff of Gregory, Sharer & Stuart (GSS), a leading accounting firm in St. Petersburg, Florida, are joining RSM. The firms have signed a definitive agreement for RSM to acquire substantially all the assets of GSS, and the transaction is expected to close on Oct. 1, 2019, subject to certain terms and conditions.

This transaction expands RSM’s growing presence in the broader Tampa Bay market—where RSM has an office located in downtown Tampa—and adds more than 60 professionals to the broader Tampa Bay team, as well as an office in downtown St. Petersburg. It also enhances the firm’s growing audit, tax and consulting practices through GSS’s deep knowledge and experience, and complements RSM’s industry focus by supplementing its expertise, especially in real estate and construction, insurance, not-for-profit, manufacturing and health care.

GSS Office Managing Shareholder Jim Newman, the firm’s executive leadership committee and other shareholders will join RSM as partners, and their team will transition to RSM US LLP upon closing. Together, the firms will offer RSM’s full line of services and become the 5th largest accounting firm in the Tampa Bay market.

“We have worked with the outstanding team at RSM over the past five years as a member of the RSM US Alliance, and we are excited to take this important step forward by joining RSM,” said Newman. “Our firms share a client-centric approach to doing business, and the same values, culture and people-focused philosophy. We especially look forward to continuing to provide the same outstanding service to our GSS clients, while offering a broader array of solutions—new consulting solutions, in particular—to meet their ever-changing business needs. This transaction will also provide our professionals with expanded growth and development opportunities.”