About

CRJ Consulting serves New England-based CPA firms focused on growth by improving profitability, organic growth, and merger and acquisition activity. Since 1997, firm principal Carl Johnson has orchestrated 25 mergers and acquisitions ranging in size from $500,000-$10M.

Carl offers guidance throughout the full mergers and acquisitions process as well as advisory services focused on CPA firms in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. He frequently serves as a sounding board for firm managing partners and senior leadership, helping them address operational and partner issues, improving firm profitability, strategies to grow their bottom line, their top line, and how to be the best CPA firm in their marketplace.

After 14 years as managing partner of Blum Shapiro, which became the largest regional CPA firm based in New England, Carl Johnson established CRJ Consulting in 2016 to share his knowledge and lessons learned with small to mid-size CPA firms. Under his watch, Blum Shapiro grew from a $14M practice with 100 employees in one office, to a $72M business with 430 employees across three states and six offices.
  • More About Carl

    In his early years with Blum Shapiro, Carl observed and participated in a major transition from the original founding partners to a new generation of accountants and firm leadership and consequent challenges and opportunities. He was elected to partnership in the mid-1990’s, moved into the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer in 2000, and took the reigns as Managing Partner in 2002. Under his leadership, significant growth was accomplished through strategy and vision, while always following the firm’s mission and staying true to its ethical and quality values.

50

Consulting Clients Since 2016

25

Negotiated & Completed Mergers

20

Years Matching CPA Firm Buyers & Sellers

RECENT MERGER &
ACQUISITION PROJECTS

  • Developed firm profiles and financials to position a firm to be attractive to buyers
  • Researched and introduced over 30 candidate firms as buyer or seller
  • Negotiated and consummated 15 mergers and acquisitions
  • Maximized value of deal to seller firms

RECENT ADVISORY 
PROJECTS

  • Met monthly and quarterly with partner groups
  • Acted as sounding board for managing partners
  • Created a deferred compensation program for partners
  • Recruited key employees 
  • Conducted firm retreats
  • Negotiated retiring partner agreements

CONTACT CARL

carl@crjconsults.com  |  860.712.9666

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