The Rising Stakes of CPA Firm M&A
M&A has increasingly become an important lever of growth for CPA firms. M&A activity in the accounting sector has accelerated in 2025, with over 30 firm mergers reported in Q1, driven by private equity investments. Too often, the IT integration piece is underestimated. Because technology underpins client experience, compliance and employee productivity, poorly orchestrated IT integration can erase deal synergies before they are realized.
Over the years, a structured IT playbook has proven essential for successful CPA firm M&A. At Netgain, we’ve refined one through dozens of integrations. Our framework helps CIOs and managing partners confidently embrace inorganic growth by minimizing risks, reducing disruption and accelerating time-to-value.
A Structured Approach, Not Ad Hoc Firefighting
Ideally, we engage during the due diligence phase, partnering with firm IT leaders to surface risks and establish integration prerequisites before the deal is finalized. By the time the ink is dry, our clients have a clear view of the integration plan and the expected cost savings.
Our approach is organized into four key phases, each supported by dedicated workstreams across Core IT Infrastructure, Applications and Data, Security and Compliance, and Licensing and Third-Party Vendors.
- Technical Due Diligence: Assess the target firm’s IT landscape, uncover red flags and quantify required investments.
- Integration Strategy and Planning: Design a target-state architecture, build migration runbooks, and align security and compliance checkpoints.
- Execution (Day 1 through Transition): Implement connectivity, migrate infrastructure and applications, enforce security and consolidate vendors.
- Post-Integration Optimization: Fine-tune performance, retire legacy systems, reconcile licenses and transition to steady-state operations.
Each phase produces clear deliverables, from a due diligence report to a post-integration scorecard, so stakeholders know exactly where things stand.
Embedding Security From Day One
For CPA firms, the risks are not just operational but also regulatory and reputational. That is why our playbook embeds cybersecurity and compliance at every stage – from baseline assessments during diligence to advanced threat detection during execution – ensuring the combined firm meets or exceeds industry standards.
With solutions like Netgain’s Nexus360 XDRTM platform, we bring 24/7 monitoring, multi-factor authentication, geo-blocking and regulatory checkpoints directly into the integration process. Compliance is not bolted on after the fact. It is built in from the start.
Leveraging Proven Tools and Platforms
Integration speed matters. The longer two firms run on disconnected systems, the more risk and cost pile up. CIOs who rely on proven migration tools and automation cut integration timelines significantly. At Netgain, we equip firms with exactly those capabilities, including high-performing cloud solutions such as CPA Cloud Essentials. These help us recreate or migrate infrastructure quickly, safely and with minimal disruption.
Putting Talent First
Technology integration is ultimately about people. Our playbook emphasizes user-centric transitions through clear communications, onboarding, training and early support. This minimizes disruption and maximizes adoption so your employees and clients feel continuity, not chaos.
A Path to Normalized IT and Accelerated Growth
With Netgain’s proven methodology, CIOs and managing partners can approach M&A knowing IT will be an accelerator, not a bottleneck. Our playbook reduces risks, ensures compliance and delivers a normalized IT stack with enhanced governance and an elevated security posture. This becomes the foundation for sustainable growth.
Final Word
In today’s CPA firm M&A environment, IT integration is strategy, not just execution. Firms that recognize this will protect client service, avoid costly setbacks and realize deal value faster. Netgain’s M&A Playbook provides the proven path forward.
Sumeet Sabharwal is the CEO of Netgain, where he leads the charge in aligning people, purpose and technology to support CPA, legal and healthcare organizations. With decades of experience in scaling and evolving IT services, he brings a practical, client-centered approach to leadership. Read more about Sumeet.