Arlington, Va.-based Ascend has added Houston-based IPA 300 firm Miller Grossbard Advisors (MGA; FY25 net revenue of $18.7 million) to its platform, bringing seven partners and approximately 60 staff.
Effective Sept. 1, the firm’s tax and advisory services will operate as Miller Grossbard Advisors, with attest services provided by MGA Assurance.
“We were looking for a partner who would invest in MGA without changing what makes us who we are,” said Brian Miller, partner at MGA. “Ascend keeps our name, our team and our client decisions here in Houston, and gives us the resources to be here for the next 35 years.”
Ascend launched in January 2023 with backing from private equity firm Alpine Investors. The platform partners with regional accounting firms and provides resources including growth capital, technology, recruiting and training, an offshore captive and back-office services.
“Innovation has always been part of MGA’s success in Houston,” said Jamie Billings, Ascend’s head of platform M&A. “We felt that entrepreneurial spirit from our earliest conversations, along with a deep commitment to client service and to building one of the best places to grow a career in public accounting.”
