Indiana's largest CPA firms: a survey of those with 15 or more certified public accountants in Indiana.

• Position: ACCOUNTING

INDIANA BUSINESSES have a wide range of choices when it comes to accounting, tax and advisory firms. The Big 4? They're all here, plus a few more in the Top 10, even more in the Top 100, all offering accounting and payroll work to sophisticated technology advice and international tax strategies.

Alerding & Co. LLC

Headquarters: Indianapolis, 317/569-4181

Other Indiana offices: Greensburg, 812/663-9999 www.alerdingandco.com

Managing partners: Michael P. Alerding, Michael A. Stanton, Michael E. Farmer

Founded: 1998

Industry segments: Closely-held businesses

Baden, Gage & Schroeder LLC

Headquarters: Fort Wayne, 260/422-2551 32 CPAs/19 other professionals

Other Indiana offices: Kendallville, (1/2), Indianapolis, (3/2) www.badencpa.com

Managing director: Perry M. Schroeder

Founded: 1980

Industry segments: Manufacturing, construction, financial institutions, service

Indiana revenue: 35 percent audit/accounting, 35 percent tax, 30 percent advisory

"In Fort Wayne we have lion's share of the market in construction and a good share in financial services," says Perry Schroeder. Manufacturing is also important. "We really have high-level managers who devote at least 80 percent of their time in each of those areas."

Its global client base, in all countries in North America, in Europe and Asia, has grown considerably in the last few years. If a local client wants to set up a subsidiary, the firm works with an affiliate to get it done. Indiana companies are branching out internationally to tap low-cost labor markets or developing country markets, he says, but it goes both ways. "We're also getting interest from businesses in China to establish a U.S. presence." One client from Israel recently set up a sales office in Fort Wayne. "We take care of clients anywhere in the world.

"Our clients are primarily closely held businesses for whom we provide comprehensive accounting and advisory services," says Schroeder. "We have been called in with increasing frequency to assist clients with their succession plans and business valuations as many business owners in the Baby Boomer generation are considering their exit strategies and plan for retirement."

Blue & Co. LLC

Headquarters: Carmel, 317/848-8920

Other Indiana offices: Indianapolis, 317/633-4705 Columbus, 812/376-9245 Seymour, 812/522-8416

Number of CPAs/other professionals: Carmel (24/14), Indianapolis (14/23), Columbus (5/4), Seymour (7/16) www.blueandco.com

Managing partners: Robert A. Abel (Carmel), Edmund R. Abel (Indianapolis), James D. Lienhoop (Columbus), Michael A. Fleetwood (Seymour)

Founded: 1970

Industry segments: Health care, construction, non-for-profit, manufacturing/ distribution, agribusiness, closely held businesses, growth companies

Indiana revenue: 34 percent audit/accounting, 23 percent tax, 43 percent management advisory/ consulting

Bradley & Associates Inc.

Headquarters: Indianapolis, 317/237-5500 www.bradleycpa.com

Managing partner: Gregory M. Bradley

Founded: 1983

Industry segments: Health care

Bucheri McCarty & Metz LLP

Headquarters: Kokomo, 765/236-2300

13 CPAs and other professionals

Other Indiana offices: Wabash, 260/563-0567

(4 CPAs and other professionals) Logansport, 574/722-3911 (2 CPAs and other professionals)

www.bmmcpas.com

Managing partners: R. Charles Bucheri, Gregory A. McCarty, Ronald I. Metz

Founded: 1978

Industry segments: Professional service organizations and owner managed business

Indiana revenue: 40 percent audit/accounting, 40 percent tax, 20 percent management advisory services

BGBC Partners LLP

Headquarters: Indianapolis, 317/633-4700

47 CPAs and other professionals

Other Indiana offices: Greenwood, 317/887-4072 www.bgbc.com

Managing Partner: Steve Eichenberger

Founded: 1990

Industry segments: Manufacturing, construction, distribution, real estate, not for profit, governmental

Indiana revenue: 43 percent audit/ accounting, 44 percent tax, 13 percent management advisory services

BKD LLP

Headquarters: Springfield, Mo. Indianapolis, 317/383-4000 63 CPAs/88 other professionals

Other Indiana offices: Bloomington (8/11), Merrillville (5/17), Fort Wayne (20/21), Evansville (29/30) www.bkd.com

Partner-in-charge: Theodore D. Dickman (3 offices)

Established in Indiana: 1917

Industry segments: financial institutions, manufacturing, not-for-profit, government, distribution, construction, real estate and health care

Indiana revenue: 40 percent audit/accounting, 42 percent tax, 18 percent advisory

BKD is a Top 10 CPA and advisory firm. "We are very focused from a specialization standpoint," says Ted Dickman. "We think that breeds better service and better advice."

"For BKD Indiana we have some unbelievable tax niches," says Dickman. "We literally have 25 people in Indiana specializing in four tax areas." Those are international tax, state and local tax, cost segregation, and research and experimentation credits. "Most firms don't have the degree of specialty in those areas. For us it's a big differentiator."

BKD has seen growth across the board in the last few years, some it as a result of the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which he says created 20 to 25 percent more work for accounting firms. "The Big 4 overnight had more than they could humanly handle," he says. Middle-market companies looked for alternative service providers.

Clifton Gunderson LLP

Headquarters: Peoria, Ill., 309/671-4500

39 CPAs, 126 other professionals in Indiana offices: Indianapolis, 317/574-9100, Schererville, 219/864-7300, Fowler, 765-884-1620 www.cliftoncpa.com

Managing partners: Walter F Kelly and R. James Alerding, Indianapolis

Founded: 1960

Industry segments: Construction, agribusiness...