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Firm Management

Dean Dorton Picks Up Shilts CPA in Florida

The deal with Shilts CPA, effective Dec. 1, expands the top 100 accounting firm's valuation and forensic accounting offerings.

Jason Bramwell

Dec. 05, 2024

Top 100 accounting firm Dean Dorton is expanding its specialized forensic accounting and valuation services for clients after bringing aboard Shilts CPA, a forensic accounting and valuation firm based in Jacksonville, FL, on Dec. 1. 

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Josh Shilts, founder and CEO of Shilts CPA, is now a director in Dean Dorton’s Valuation and Forensic Services practice.

David Bundy

“Bringing Josh Shilts and his team into Dean Dorton represents a pivotal step in our strategic growth,” Dean Dorton President and CEO David Bundy said in a statement. “By adding these resources to our current outstanding group, we can increase service offerings to our clients. We are now positioned to better serve our clients in valuation, financial litigation, and fraud detection. We are excited about the opportunities this presents for our clients and our firm.”

According to Lexington, KY-based Dean Dorton, the transaction expands its valuation and forensic accounting offerings, including: 

  • Financial litigation support: Providing expert analysis and testimony in financial disputes. 
  • Forensic data analysis: Leveraging technology to uncover hidden financial patterns and discrepancies. 
  • Valuation: Providing expert valuation services for complex securities, estate and gift tax situations, corporate planning and financing, buy-sell agreements, and intellectual property assets .
  • Expert witness services: Supporting clients in complex litigation with clear, defensible expert testimony. 

“Our clients are seeking more specialized services, particularly in valuation and forensic accounting, and this transaction equips us to provide that expertise,” Bundy said. “We look forward to bringing these expanded resources to our clients.”

Josh Stilts, who founded Stilts CPA in 2015, said about joining Dean Dorton, “We’ve built a strong reputation in forensic accounting and valuation services. Joining Dean Dorton allows us to extend our reach and leverage greater resources to support our clients. We look forward to growing together.”

This is Dean Dorton’s first M&A deal since July when it acquired DeRosa Mangold Consulting, a SaaS solutions provider based in Waco, TX.