Jackson, Rolfes, Spurgeon & Co. (JRS), one of Cincinnati's largest public accounting firms, has announced its merger with Plante & Moran, PLLC, the 12th largest public accounting and management consulting firm in the country. The merger will take effect July 1, 2009. This merger brings benefits to the Cincinnati clients of both firms and provides added opportunities for the JRS staff.JRS and Plante & Moran have worked together on a project basis over the last several years and found the synergies of the two firms provided a compelling benefit for JRS's clients.

Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P. (CB&H) has acquired the Miami-based accounting and consulting firm of McKean, Paul, Chrycy, Fletcher & Co. (MPCF). Four MPCF partners will be joining the leadership of CB&H. Jamie Byington and Joel Chrycy will join as tax partners, and Larry Fletcher and Michael Weinstein will join as audit partners.

By Grover Rutter CPA/ABV, CVA, BVAL Current economic conditions have a significant impact on the fair market value of business enterprises and also on the valuation process. This article is not intended to be a complete treatise on business valuation. However it does provide a few tips and reminders for accounting practitioners to keep in mind when they consider taking on business valuation assignments.

Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI), LLC, the fourth largest CPA firm in the Southeast, announced that it has merged with the Maitland, Florida accounting firm FelsingRankin LLC. Effective January 1, FelsingRankin's Maitland operations were consolidated into Carr, Riggs's Central Florida practice unit in Winter Park. The Winter Park office was established in October 2007 through the merger of Winter Park-based firm Cuthill & Eddy LLC with CRI.

Content provided by Accounting Transition AdvisorsMany firms are wondering how the economy should impact a decision to go forward with M & A deals right now or in the near future. We believe there are several things for you to consider based on what we are hearing from firms that are interested in growing through M & A deals.Our clients are telling us:Collections problems. Many firms are experiencing difficulty collecting client fees which can quickly lead to cash flow issues.Client Attrition. Clients are going out of business or are selling their businesses.

AccountingWEB staff writer Teresa Ambord attended the recent CCH audio seminar: FAS 141(R): Business Combinations: Understanding and Applying FAS 141(R) and FAS 160.

The local accounting firms of Cross, Fernandez & Riley, LLP (C/F/R) and Beckert, Price, & Rowse, P.A. (BPR & Company) recently announced a merger. Effective August 1, 2008, BPR & Company will be recognized as Cross, Fernandez & Riley, LLP"BPR & Company has a very rich tradition in Polk County and we have a great deal of respect for their team," stated Jim Cross, Managing Partner of Cross, Fernandez & Riley, LLP.