Effective June 30, 2020, Cummings, Ristau & Associates, a public accounting firm based in St. Louis County, Missouri, will combine its practice with Anders CPAs + Advisors. Partners David J. Ristau, CPA and Mark H. Cummings, CPA, along with 19 staff members will join Anders, bringing the firm’s total partners and staff to 230 with revenues of approximately $41.5 million.
Formed in 1996, Cummings Ristau carved out a unique and strong expertise in serving the banking industry in Missouri and Illinois. The partnership will provide the opportunity for Anders to add a new niche and expand the firm’s financial institution footprint. Cummings Ristau partners and staff will move to the Anders downtown office this summer.
“Adding a strategic partner with an established niche unique to our industry offerings, is important to our vision for growth, and we found a great match with Cummings Ristau,” said Robert J. Minkler, Jr., CPA/CGMA, Anders managing partner. “Given the current environment and the increasing relationship between clients, accountants and their bankers as a result of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other parts of the CARES Act, the timing of this merger will add value and expertise for clients from both firms. The role community banks and financial institutions will play in the recovery and growth of our economy has never been greater and we welcome the opportunity to provide them with the services and information they will require.”
Cummings Ristau provides audit, tax, regulatory compliance and loan review services to banks and credit unions. In addition, the firm also provides agreed upon procedures, IT audits, bank directors’ examinations, employee benefit plan audits and internal control reviews. “We are excited to join Anders and become a part of this diverse and expanding firm,” said Ristau, who has more than 30 years of Big 4 and banking experience including his time at Cummings Ristau. Anders resources will provide a new line of advisory services as well as enhanced tax and audit capabilities to our clients, along with great administrative, human resources and marketing support for our team.”
While Anders has served the broker/dealer and financial services industries since the firm’s inception, Minkler says the depth of experience Cummings Ristau brings to Anders “will provide us the ability to serve these clients at a deeper level and bring our expertise in technology, systems, best practices and other services to these banking clients.”
Cummings, who has served as a Big 4 partner and bank executive vice president, CFO and director concluded, “we have been searching for the right partner for some time and have found one in Anders. Our values of providing clients with personal attention, making a difference to their bottom line and being committed to developing long-term relationships is exactly in step with Anders mission, vision and core values. We look forward to be a part of the firm’s growth and strategic plan for the future.”
