Weaver & Tidwell, which bills itself as the Southwest’s largest independent accounting firm, is getting a bit larger. Last week the firm announced it is merging with Brehm & Co., whose six certified public accountants and other staff will relocate to Weaver & Tidwell’s offices in Dallas.

Accounting Today reports that Weaver & Tidwell was the 105th largest accounting firm in the country in 2004. With the addition of the Brehm staff, the 55-year-old firm will employ 186 individuals.

Brehem & Company was founded in 1994 by Marie Brehm, who joins Weaver & Tidwell as a Partner after the merger. Brehm & Co. specializes in construction accounting but also counts non-profit organizations, medical service companies, manufacturers and distributors as clients.

“Our existing clients will benefit by the availability of a wide variety of accounting and tax services,” said Brehm. “Many of them will be able to take advantage of Weaver and Tidwell’s experience in employee benefits and its financial advisory services.”

The merger is a landmark one for Weaver & Tidwell where previous mergers were undertaken in order to produce a firm with competitive scale. This merger, in contrast, has been undertaken in order to grow the firm’s talent pool in a niche that is experiencing considerable growth.

“The construction industry in North Texas is growing,” said W.M. “Mack” Lawhon, Weaver and Tidwell’s managing partner. “The strategy of combining our resources and existing capabilities with Brehm & Company’s experience and client base will create tremendous synergy.”