Accountants Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon joins RSM

Dublin-based accounting firm Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon has joined RSM, the sixth largest network of audit, tax and consulting services in the world. The firm, led by founder and managing partner John Glennon, will rebrand as RSM Ireland from May 3rd.

BTRG is Ireland’s eighth biggest accounting firm, with fee income of €16 million, 12 partners and 120 staff. It has offices in Dublin, Offaly and Laois. RSM has 38,500 staff in 120 countries, and an annual network fee income of $4.6 billion (€4.07bn).

Mr Glennon said the strength of RSM members in the US and UK was a key factor in its decision to switch from the Baker Tilly network. Baker Tilly in the UK switched to RSM in 2015.

More staff

“This was an opportunity to join again with former colleagues,” he said.

He predicted this will be a catalyst for significant growth for the Irish business, with an additional 20 staff to be hired this year and the workforce forecast to rise by 50 per cent over the next five years.

About half of the firm’s new business in the past two years has been in the area of foreign direct investment and Mr Glennon expects it to benefit from referrals from RSM. “They have a lot of exciting work in Ireland and a keen interest in the country,” he said.

The firm has signed trilateral agreements with RSM in the US and UK that will result in dedicated Irish desks in London, Chicago, New York and San Francisco over time.

“One of the things that attracted us to RSM was that they are a single brand around the world,” Mr Glennon said. “It’s also the number five firm in the US.”

RSM Ireland will also integrate its management consulting business with the UK firm. “We hope to leverage off their expertise in that area.”

He also expects the link with RSM to bring overseas secondment opportunities for staff and access to the network’s training facilities in Chicago and the Netherlands.

Jean Stephens, chief executive of RSM International, said, "It is critical that we have a strong firm in Ireland that can support our delivery of global client services."