Top 300 accounting firm Opsahl Dawson has joined forces with Hauser Jones & Sas (HJS), a Bellevue, WA-based full-service CPA firm.
The combination of the two firms expands Opsahl Dawson’s presence into Bellevue, joining its existing Washington offices in Vancouver, Lacey, and Longview/Kelso. The Vancouver-based firm now has a team of 180 partners and professionals.
“We are both home-grown Washington firms built on hard work, strong values, and dedication to our people, our clients, our profession, and our communities. We have both perfected the client service model and have the most engaged employees in the industry,” Opsahl Dawson CEO Aaron Dawson said in a statement. “Both firms are on an endless pursuit of excellence, and we never stop evolving. Our combination elevates that mission in so many ways that will benefit our people and our clients.
“Southwest Washington is in need of a firm that offers not only tax services but also audit and assurance specialties,” he added. “Combining two great firms has a way of accenting our great attributes. We get to build on each other’s strengths. Plus, I started my career in Bellevue 15 years ago at Clark Nuber, and it is great to be back.”
Founded in 1979 in Vancouver, Opsahl Dawson specializes in tax and accounting services for small businesses.
HJS, founded in 2016, has a focus on financial institutions and closely held businesses. Its specialties include accounting, auditing, internal audit, tax, bookkeeping, consulting, strategy, future planning, and mergers and acquisitions services.
“Among the first criteria we evaluated was the cultural fit between our organizations, and we found that Opsahl Dawson’s values meshed very well with our own. Their people-first culture is a natural extension of our teamwork, commitment, and integrity values,” said Ellen Sas, managing partner of HJS. “And on top of that, we knew we would be joining a forward-thinking firm pursuing cutting-edge technology, with access to deep resources and experience in growth, operations, and recruiting. This was the right time for us, with the right people.
“As a local firm, we faced the staggering pace of technological change and significant staffing challenges impacting the entire accounting industry,” Sas continued. “Our combination with Opsahl Dawson gives us a deeper bench of expertise in multiple technical areas, which will allow faster and more accurate results in even the most complex situations.
“Our team will benefit from expanded career options, professional development, and the opportunity for equity ownership at an earlier stage in their careers,” she added. “In addition, by reducing much of the back-office and administrative burden and adopting scalable technology solutions, our sharpest leadership minds can return to focusing on client-related matters—activities that got us excited about the profession in the first place.”
Opsahl Dawson is the brand name under which Opsahl Dawson & Co. LLP and Opsahl Dawson & Company Advisors LLC provide professional services. Opsahl Dawson & Co. and Opsahl Dawson & Company Advisors practice as an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations, and professional standards. Opsahl Dawson & Co. is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients, while Opsahl Dawson & Company Advisors and its subsidiary entities provide tax, advisory, and other non-attest services to its clients.
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