GBQ Partners LLC (GBQ), an INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) Top 100 tax, accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Columbus, OH, announced that it has acquired Lillie & Co. and Lillie Resource Group, effective Dec. 2, 2024. This strategic acquisition complements GBQ’s existing credit union and financial services practice and expands the firm’s capabilities to empower growth.
GBQ’s Credit Union and Financial Institutions team has exclusively focused on empowering the industry’s growth, offering diverse expertise, background, and education, and providing resources to our clients far beyond basic audit and tax services. With clients ranging from $1 million to $1.7 billion in assets, GBQ offers tailored solutions to support organizations at every stage of growth. Following the acquisition, GBQ will rank #3 in the nation for national market share among audit firms, #1 in Ohio, and #1 on Ohio’s list of public accounting firms by total credit union client assets.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Lillie & Co. and Lillie Resource Group teams and clients to our GBQ family,” said GBQ’s Director, Financial Services Scott Runyan. “Our shared commitment to the industry is reflected in our combined growth in size, scope, and client relationships. Together, we are better positioned to provide comprehensive, best-in-class solutions to empower growth of our clients’ businesses.”
This acquisition marks GBQ’s second in the industry, following our 2011 acquisition of Condit & Associates LLC, a firm specializing in serving credit unions. By integrating the teams into GBQ, the firm adds significant expertise in fraud and bond claim recovery while also expanding educational resources for clients.
Lillie & Co. was founded in 2003 by Steve Lillie, who began his career with a Big 4 firm before specializing in the credit union niche with Condit and Associates LLC. Together with his team of 14 individuals, they have built a strong reputation for delivering assurance and compliance services tailored to the needs of credit unions. In 2022, Lillie & Co. transitioned its compliance services to form Lillie Resource Group.
“Joining forces with GBQ is a natural next step for our team and clients,” said Steve Lillie, Founder and President of Lillie & Co. “We share the same values and a passion for supporting the credit union industry. This partnership allows us to deliver the same exceptional service while giving our clients access to GBQ’s extensive range of solutions designed to meet their evolving needs.”
Keri Lillie, Partner of Lillie Resource Group, added, “We look forward to combining our expertise and creating a best-in-class compliance and consulting team with extensive experience in the financial sector. Together, grounded in mutual principles with a shared approach to client service, we’ll deliver tailored solutions to support financial institutions in confidently navigating complex compliance requirements.”
Learn more about GBQ and our commitment to empowering growth by clicking here.
About GBQ
For 71 years and counting, our purpose is clear: we empower growth; growth of our people, our communities and our clients’ businesses. A Top 100 tax, accounting and consulting firm, we’re driven by the outcomes that we know can change the lives of those we work with and for. We’ve learned that this is what matters most to our stakeholders. It is this purpose that drives and inspires us every day. It’s why we exist.
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