Despite Uptick in Acquisitions, Little Pressure to Accelerate Microsoft Dynamics Partner Deals, Says One Executive

Middle market tax, accounting, and consulting firm RSM, formerly known as McGladrey, has been experiencing positive growth recently. The firm's revenue rose 18 percent in 2014 to $4.4 billion, making it the fastest growing of the top global accounting networks (it has associated firms in 110 countries).

RSM's US consulting division has grown its headcount 25% organically in the last 12 months, says consulting practice leader Gary Sturisky, and the acquisition of another 200 employees via last week's announced acquisition of Junction Solutions will expand its footprint, and its partnership with Microsoft, even further.

While the RSM-Junction Solutions deal follows soon after two other significant Dynamics partner purchases in the US - Sonata Software's acquisition of IBIS Inc and HCL's deal for PowerObjects - Sturisky says there is no greater urgency due to market movements or the perception that smaller firms with Dynamics expertise are in demand by larger firms.

"We do not see more urgency to do [deals] based on industry movements. That is outside of the rationale for our decision to make an acquisition. It's based on the mutual benefits and the accretive benefits. Predominantly we make a deal if it will be good for our clients and our people," he says.

What attracted RSM to Junction was their industry expertise, ability to add value on global ERP projects, and matching values as a services firm. Also, their vertical expertise was an important quality.

"[The Junction Solutions team] are ...