Two Greater Cleveland accounting firms have merged to create one of the region's largest business advisory and consulting firms.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two Greater Cleveland accounting firms have merged to create one of the region's largest business advisory and consulting firms.
Pease & Associates acquired Proper & Associates effective Monday. Both offices will fall under the Pease & Associates name, Pease CEO Joe Pease said.
The two companies have a combined staff of more than 60 employees at offices in downtown Cleveland and Beachwood. Proper founder Bill Proper is joining Pease as a partner.
The new firm will serve businesses ranging from start-ups to family businesses that have existed for generations. Services will include tax and business planning, accounting, tax preparation and reporting. And the firm plans to expand its small business, mergers & acquisitions and healthcare practice groups.
The two firms have worked together over the years. Pease's firm is 17 years old and has about 55 employees. Proper's firm is 28 years old and has five employees.
"We've built an exceptional practice here in Beachwood and enjoy a large customer base," said Bill Proper. "My staff and I are excited to join the Pease team. During our exploratory talks, it became clear that merging with Pease would afford both businesses added resources, benefiting our clientele from our augmented expertise and offerings."
Joe Pease called the new collaborative venture "exciting" and said the larger team will more expertise should be "a catalyst for growth."
"Bill has built a very successful firm, one that shares our values and is focused on providing highly personalized accounting services to their clients," Pease said. "Together, we will be able to expand our offerings as well as serve our collective client base with added expertise along with the convenience of multiple locations."
Pease is among the largest CPA firms in Northeast Ohio and is a current and seven-time recipient of the Northcoast 99 "Great Places to Work" award, which recognizes the region's top workplaces.