Madison, Wis. (Nov. 17, 2005) -- Wipfli LLP, a CPA and consulting firm with offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota, has joined one of the largest CPA firm associations in the United States. The recently announced merger of associations The Global Alliance and Moore Stephens North America, Inc. (MSNA) creates a new organization that will extend the reach and service offerings of Wipfli and 34 additional member firms throughout North America. Wipfli LLP was previously a charter member of The Global Alliance.

The new association will be known as Moore Stephens North America (MSNA) and is comprised of member firms with combined revenues of over $600 million. The merged entity’s operations will be relocated from Bethesda, Md., to New York City. The new organization will still be part of Moore Stephens International Limited, a worldwide network consisting of over 330 leading independent accounting and consulting firms with more than 500 offices in over 90 countries and total revenues of almost $1.25 billion.

The diversity of large and mid-size firms under one umbrella adds a unique ingredient to the combination. While the new association has a revenue base that would place it within the top 10 of all CPA firms, the breadth of knowledge contained within the network enables it to serve small clients as well as publicly traded companies.

MSNA will foster collaboration on client engagements both domestically and internationally, provide business referrals, and operate special interest groups for the generation of ideas and information exchange. Other member benefits will include continuing education, conferences, workshops, alliances with strategic partners, and a Web site for conducting research and sharing information.

“We are thrilled by the merger,” says Bill Young, Global Alliance vice chair and Wipfli’s managing partner of industry practices. “When clients need assistance, it is our responsibility to help them. The diversity of the member firms and the worldwide nature of the organization provide us with enormous resources to solve business issues, especially on the international level.”

Steven Sacks, executive director of the merged association, adds, “The Big 4 firms are shedding work they cannot do for their attest clients to regional and mid-size firms. This will present the new group with a great opportunity to deliver a broader array of value-added services, while establishing brand equity in the marketplace.”

About Wipfli

With more than 700 associates and 18 offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Wipfli ranks among the largest CPA and consulting firms in the nation. Wipfli can advise in all areas of business, from finance and operations to human resources, information technology, and customer relationships. Wipfli’s clients include manufacturers, health care organizations, financial institutions, nonprofit entities, dealerships, contractors and developers, small businesses, and individuals. Wipfli’s 75-year legacy of helping its clients succeed is a point of pride for each of the firm’s partners and associates. For more information, visit www.wipfli.com.