24 / Sector Performance Awards 2015

www.acquisition-intl.com/2015-sector-awards

GBQ Consulting is a national consulting firm that provides advice and assistance to clients through our valuation, financial opinion, dispute advisory and forensic advisory services. Our consulting team is made up of dedicated pro-

fessionals who are all experts in their respective areas.

We serve corporations, law firms, private equity firms, CPA firms, insurance companies, boards of directors, ESOP fiduciaries, financial services entities, and government organizations. With offices in Ohio, Indiana, New York and

Pennsylvania, we work with both privately held and publicly traded companies across all industries and geographies.

Best in Sector: Financial Services & Independent Accounting Firm of the Year

GBQ Consulting

Sector Performance Awards 2015 / 25

Through our ability to provide world class valuation quality and services, GBQ has grown to become a national practice. Our experienced professionals possess extensive experience in the valuation of businesses, complex financial instruments and intangible assets of both privately held and publicly traded companies. Our valu-ations are performed for the purposes of financial reporting, transaction advice, succession planning, estate and gift taxation and ESOPs. We also specialize in fairness opinions and solvency opinions.

Because we help companies of all sizes, across all industries, the challenges we face often involve a wide variety of strategic imperatives. Though often challenging, this also affords us the opportunity to add value and really make an impact for our clients.

Thanks to our taking up of leadership roles and speaking engagements with all the national players in the industry, GBQ’s team is at the forefront of any changes or developments in the industry. We take continuing education seriously and our staff includes accredited members of the CFA Institute (CFA), the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (CVA), the Institute of Business Appraisers (CBA), and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA/ABV).

Although there may be several constituent parties associated with a particular client’s matter (audit firm, SEC, IRS, board of directors, investors), in the final analysis, the client’s needs should be what motivates outcomes. The outcome (or deliverable) is important, but the process and path to the outcome can make a difference with regards to the experience for all stakeholders and by proactively resolving issues as and when they arise, we strive to create a win-win situation.

While others only think about the “project,” GBQ is able to tap into a vast network of experts in other fields and we make this knowledge and expertise available to our clients. We help clients resolve challenges that impact their day-to-day operations by connecting them to resources that are skilled in those particular areas. Yes, we are valuation experts, but our clients and the referral sources that recommend us think of us as more than that; they think of us as partners and problem solvers.

GBQ Consulting’s approach to client service is ‘holistic’. Because our team consists of seasoned business professionals, we are able to look beyond the task at hand. We ask insightful questions and proactively identify problems and provide creative solutions. Client service is paramount and the trusted advisors that introduce us to opportunities know that we always offer our best advice to their clients whether or not we end up doing business together. It’s about doing the right things for the right reasons all the time and by always putting the client’s needs first, great service is a natural outcome.

GBQ’s founders built a firm where associates were given ample room for personal career growth and were supported by partners who truly cared about the individuals who worked at the firm. While the firm has changed dramatically over the years, we have retained our focus on the individual associates. Personalized career development plans mean that associates are motivated to do a great job and to take care of our clients.

“Entrepreneurial spirit, independent expertise” is more than just a marketing tagline at GBQ – it’s in our DNA. We encourage people all across the firm (not just at the highest management levels) to think and act as entre-preneurs. The firm wants people to bring forward new ideas about client service, personnel development, new service offerings and other growth and improvement initiatives.

Much like our clients, we are an entrepreneurial company and not only do we understand the challenges that business owners and management teams often face but we need to be at the cutting edge of what’s happen-ing in our industry at all times.

The most prevalent trends over the past 12 months include the evolution of certain valuation and accounting treatment of matters pertaining to privately held companies, the impact of the JOBS Act on liquidity and the increased complexities around performance-based compensation metrics associated with transactions.

GBQ is thrilled and honoured to have been awarded ‘Best in Sector’. It is always special to be acknowledged by an independent organization and it is particularly gratifying to be recognized for the efforts outside of our core market. We believe that we owe our success to the dedication of our professionals and their commit-ment to providing a broad range of world class valuation services to our clients. Our practice has achieved exponential growth and success, and as we continue to strive for excellence, we anticipate a continuation of our remarkable growth trend.

Company: GBQ Consulting LLC Name: David BookbinderEmail: dbookbinder@gbq.com Web Address: www.gbqconsulting.com Address: 1515 Market Street, Suite 802 / Philadelphia, PA 19102Telephone: 215.568.2303