Leading Edina Accounting Firm to Merge With Chicago-Based Firm

A Chicago-based professional services firm will merge with Edina accounting firm Moquist Thorvilson Kaufmann LLC (MTK), the company announced Thursday.

The merger between BDO USA and MTK will take effect Monday. It expands BDO’s presence in Minneapolis by the addition of 60 staff, including six partners. MTK is the 13th largest accounting firm in the state, according to Twin Cities Business.

“I want to welcome all of the partners and staff formerly with MTK to BDO. This combination provides BDO with a sizable presence with excellent growth potential in the important Twin Cities market," a news release quoted BDO CEO Wayne Berson. “Through our previous Alliance relationship, we have a history of collaboration on client work and business development with our new partners and staff. This familiarity will be extremely valuable as we integrate the practice with BDO.”

MTK launched in 1990. BDO cited the firm’s strong client base in the manufacturing and software technology industries, as well as “a significant employee benefit practice.” Since 1996, MTK has been a part of the BDO Seidman Alliance—which is nationwide association of independently owned local and regional firms that help each other.

“We have always enjoyed working with BDO partners and staff since we joined the BDO Seidman Alliance seventeen years ago. BDO has a very compatible service philosophy that will make our transition into the firm as seamless as possible,” the release quoted Kevin Moquist, partner and former Managing Partner of MTK. “We've established a long history of creating strong relationships with family-owned and emerging businesses in the Twin Cities market. By combining with BDO we will build on that tradition by bringing our clients a wider array of solutions, broader industry experience, and the full coverage of BDO's global network. These expanded resources will empower us to help our existing clients grow and become even more successful.”