RSM expands in Riverina with purchase of boutique firm
The acquisition sees RSM re-establish its presence in regional town Temora after a 40-year absence.
RSM has acquired regional NSW firm Granleese McEwen in a deal which will see the mid-tier expand into Temora, Junee and West Wyalong this month.
The strategic purchase of the family-owned business comes after RSM’s acquisition of Esperance-based firm Arc Accounting and Financial Services in Western Australia in April.
RSM chief executive partner Jamie O’Rourke said he saw Granleese McEwen as a “good fit”.
“We are thrilled to welcome the team from Granleese McEwen to RSM,” he said.
“The addition of Temora, Junee and West Wyalong offices to our network is a testament to our dedication to providing exceptional service to our clients and expanding our presence in the region.”
He said RSM saw an opportunity to buy the firm after founding partner and director Bob Granleese’s decided to retire.
“Granleese McEwen identified that a merger with RSM Australia would be the best succession and transition strategy,” Mr O’Rourke said.
Granleese McEwen partner John McEwen said his firm’s familiarity with RSM was a factor in the decision to sell.
“We were using [RSM] for company liquidations and so forth and they were a well-recognised firm and a national one that seemed like they’d be the best fit.”
Mr McEwen will join RSM as a senior manager and Sheree Schmidt as a personal assistant.
Partners Bob Granleese and his son James will provide consultancy services to oversee the firms’ transitional period.
RSM would not disclose the terms of the deal that taps into the Riverina region’s lucrative agribusiness and manufacturing opportunities.
According to economic consultant Remplan, Riverina is NSW’s most valuable agricultural region and one of the most productive in the country.
“As Australia’s food bowl, we expect the region to continue to be one of the country’s most significant drivers of economic growth,” Mr O’Rourke said.
Mr McEwen said that RSM saw value in his firm’s ties to the local farming community and that its clients could expect better services under the RSM brand.
“We’ve got a lot of agricultural clients, especially out of the Temora office … pretty much all of the clients have been happy to come across under the RSM banner.”
Mr McEwen added that “seeing how bigger firms do it” was “educational” and that he is optimistic about his clients’ future.
“We can give [our clients] a lot more services that they can make use of once they present any situation to us,” he said.
