Accounting & CPA — CPA Firm M&A Accelerates as Frazier & Deeter Expands to Midwest; IRS Fraud Risks Escalate on Multiple Fronts; AI Payroll and Practice Management Integration Deepens

Accounting & CPA · 2026-05-05

TODAY'S SIGNAL — May 4, 2026 brings a convergence of three themes reshaping the CPA landscape. First, consolidation: Frazier & Deeter's acquisition of Copeland Buhl marks a Top 50 firm's first Midwest footprint, reinforcing the ongoing national land-grab among mid-market firms seeking geographic density. Second, trust infrastructure under stress: a novel IRS phishing scam via physical mail is…