Top 100 accounting firm Smith + Howard has acquired Smith Kesler & Co. (SKC), a construction accounting-focused practice with four offices across North Carolina and South Carolina, effective Jan. 31.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. SKC will now operate under the Smith + Howard brand.
Established in 1974, Spartanburg, SC-based SKC has built a strong reputation for its specialized audit and tax services, particularly within the construction industry. The firm’s team of more than 30 construction-focused professionals is led by Managing Stockholder Steve Hinds.
Smith + Howard says the addition of SKC strengthens its core accounting services and extends its construction industry client base into the Carolinas.
“We are thrilled to welcome the talented professionals at Smith Kesler & Co. to Smith + Howard,” Sean Taylor, CEO of Smith + Howard, said in a statement. “Their outstanding reputation, high-caliber client portfolio, and deep industry expertise provide a strategic advantage in our ability to serve clients. Expanding into the Carolinas allows us to introduce Smith + Howard’s world-class advisory services in a region that is central to our long-term growth strategy.”
Hinds will transition into the role of partner, overseeing regional operations, while all SKC employees will join Smith + Howard.
“As we looked to the future, we saw an opportunity to expand our reach and support construction businesses beyond the Carolinas. To achieve this, we sought a partnership with a larger firm that could offer enhanced resources for our clients and greater opportunities for our team. Equally important was finding a partner whose values and culture aligned with ours. From our first conversations, it was clear that Smith + Howard was the perfect fit, exceeding our expectations in every way,” Hinds said.
Allan Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised on this transaction, added, “Smith Kesler is widely recognized as one of the premier construction accounting firms in the Carolinas. Many top accounting firms sought to partner with Smith Kesler for its talent and client service, but its choice of Smith + Howard underscores the firm’s strong culture, entrepreneurial spirit, and collaborative approach. In just two years since receiving private equity investment, Smith + Howard has established itself as a client-focused national firm, attracting top talent and executing on its growth strategy.”
Atlanta-based Smith + Howard’s continued expansion has been fueled in part by its partnership with Broad Sky Partners, which became the firm’s first external investor in November 2022, supporting its long-term growth strategy. This is Smith + Howard’s fifth acquisition in the past 16 months. The firm merged with Market Street Partners in Chattanooga, TN, and acquired Richardson, TX-based VIP Solutions Group and VIP Search, as well as Fahrenheit Advisors in Richmond, VA.
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