Smith + Howard Expands Southeastern U.S. Presence with Acquisition of Horton, Lee & Burnett

ATLANTA, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Smith + Howard, a nationally recognized accounting and advisory firm, today announced its acquisition of Horton, Lee, Burnett, Peacock, Cleveland & Grainger (known as Horton, Lee & Burnett), a prominent accounting and consulting firm based in Birmingham, Alabama. This strategic move marks Smith + Howard's entry into Alabama, strengthening its footprint in the Southeastern U.S. and extending its full suite of services to clients in the region.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

"This acquisition aligns with our strategy to combine organic growth with targeted expansions that add depth to our expertise and geographic reach," said Sean Taylor, CEO of Smith + Howard. "Horton, Lee & Burnett's exceptional team, client relationships, and values well-align with ours, and together we'll be able to provide even greater value to the businesses and individuals we serve."

Founded in 1967, Horton, Lee & Burnett has built a strong reputation for its expertise in accounting, auditing, tax, and advisory services. The firm serves a diverse client base, including real estate developers, healthcare providers, manufacturers, nonprofit organizations, and automotive dealerships. The Horton, Lee & Burnett team will join Smith + Howard, bringing decades of experience and a commitment to client success.

"Joining forces with Smith + Howard is an exciting step for our clients and our team," Brian W. Burnett, Partner, Horton, Lee & Burnett. "We share a common vision for delivering extraordinary service and practical solutions, and this move opens the door to new opportunities to serve our clients with a broader suite of services while continuing to fuel growth and innovation."

"With a 60-year operating legacy, the Horton, Lee & Burnett team built an incredible CPA and accounting services practice with a culture rooted in resilience and long-term relationships," said Neal England, Managing Director at Founders Advisors and advisor to Horton, Lee & Burnett. Chris Jenkins, Vice President at Founders Advisors, added, "It was a pleasure working with both organizations and we look forward to watching the continued success of Smith + Howard."

Following the close of the acquisition, Horton, Lee & Burnett will begin transitioning to the Smith + Howard brand.

This acquisition follows a period of strong momentum for Smith + Howard, including its recent launch of two new tax practices: Site Selection + Incentives (SSI) and State and Local Income Tax Consulting (SALT). The firm continues to expand its offerings across audit, tax, advisory, and specialized consulting, while maintaining its reputation for operational excellence and client-first service.

About Smith + Howard:
Smith + Howard is a nationally recognized accounting and advisory firm serving clients across industries including construction, distribution, hospitality, manufacturing, nonprofit, real estate, technology, and transportation and logistics. The firm delivers a full suite of services, ranging from audit, tax, international tax, transfer pricing, cyber risk compliance, and R&D tax credits to SOC reporting and more. Through its Family of Companies, Smith + Howard also provides wealth management, sales and use tax, property tax, management consulting, human capital consulting, and executive search services, supporting businesses at every stage of growth. Consistently recognized for excellence in both industry performance and workplace culture, the firm, recently ranked #83 on INSIDE Public Accounting's nationwide "Top 500 CPA Firms," #10 on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Top Workplaces for Mid-Size Companies," and earned its inaugural USA Today "Top Workplaces" honor. Learn more at www.smith-howard.com.

Smith + Howard operates under an alternative practice structure. In this arrangement, Smith & Howard, PC, a licensed independent CPA firm, provides audit and attest services, while Smith & Howard Advisory LLC delivers tax, accounting, and advisory services.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Hagendorf
Centerpiece PR for Smith + Howard
[email protected]

SOURCE Smith and Howard