Pasadena-Based KROST CPAs to Combine With EisnerAmper

Pasadena-based KROST CPAs, a firm with an 85-year history in Southern California, is set to join EisnerAmper, one of the largest business consulting firms in the world. The combination, announced on Tuesday, August 20, is expected to close in September.

KROST, founded in 1939, brings eight partners and a staff of more than 100 professionals to EisnerAmper from its offices in Los Angeles, Woodland Hills, and Pasadena. The award-winning firm has built a reputation as a full-service accounting, tax, and business consulting organization servicing the hospitality, technology, financial services, manufacturing, real estate, sports and entertainment, nonprofit, and other sectors.

Jason Melillo, CEO of KROST, expressed pride in the firm’s accomplishments and enthusiasm for the merger.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together, building the firm into a highly respected regional institution with an 85-year history,” Melillo said. “I’m also very excited for us to join the fastest growing firm in the nation and to expand and enhance our service offerings and client capabilities.”

The combination aligns with EisnerAmper’s strategic goal of expanding its presence in Los Angeles. Jay Weinstein, EisnerAmper’s Vice Chair of Industries and Markets, emphasized the importance of this move.

“It’s strategically critical that we expand our presence in America’s second largest city,” Weinstein stated. He added, “I can’t think of a better partner than KROST, which has maintained a standard of excellence for more than eight decades.”

KROST’s leadership sees the merger as a necessary step to remain competitive in an evolving industry. Paren Knadjian, Principal of M&A and Capital Markets at KROST, explained the rationale behind the decision.

“The profession is evolving,” Knadjian said. “To stay relevant and, more importantly, to continue to provide a wide array of evolving services to our clients, we need the additional expertise and capital that a firm like EisnerAmper can provide.”

EisnerAmper, a global firm with approximately 450 partners and 4,500 employees, is comprised of EisnerAmper LLP, a licensed independent CPA firm that provides client attest services, and Eisner Advisory Group LLC, an alternative practice structure that provides business advisory and non-attest services.