Spotlight On: Jon Tomberlin, Atlanta Office Managing Partner, Forvis Mazars

Key points:

• • Forvis Mazars is growing through global connectivity, organic expansion, and local client relationships.
• • AI is helping the firm deliver more efficient, higher-value services while keeping people at the center.
• • Atlanta’s international business ecosystem continues to create strong long-term growth opportunities.

August 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Jon Tomberlin, Atlanta office managing partner at professional services firm Forvis Mazars, discussed the firm’s organic growth, global network, AI strategy, and long-term outlook in Atlanta. “I am very bullish on the Atlanta market, the profession, and the services we provide,” Tomberlin said.

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How would you describe the past 12 months for Forvis Mazars, and how has the new global network influenced the Atlanta office?

It has been a good year for us. We have continued to grow, with revenue up roughly 4% over the past year. This remains a strong result compared with peers, especially because our growth has been almost entirely organic rather than driven by mergers and acquisitions.

The firm opened new offices in Seattle and Minneapolis, while here in Atlanta, we added a nonprofit practice leader and continued building our private client and family office practice. Remaining a partner-owned and partner-led organization is an important differentiator because it keeps decision-making close to clients.

The global Forvis Mazars network has also created significant opportunities for the Atlanta office. Atlanta’s position as an international business hub allows us to win work we might not otherwise access through relationships across the global network. We are closely connected with German companies and continue to see increasing demand from Japanese-owned businesses in the region. In the last six months alone, we have secured major international audit engagements while seeing even more opportunities in international tax work. That global connectivity lets us bring worldwide expertise to clients while maintaining local relationships.

How has demand for your advisory, tax, and consulting services evolved, and what trends are you seeing among clients?

Demand for audit and tax services remains very strong. Increased competition, much of it driven by private equity-backed firms pursuing growth, has put pressure on pricing, but we welcome that because it pushes us to demonstrate value through client service rather than compete solely on price.

Consulting demand is softer right now, largely because of deregulation and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, both of which can cause clients to delay spending. One bright spot is AI integration and digital transformation. Clients are seeking practical help as they navigate uncertainty around AI and broader technological change.

How is Forvis Mazars using AI and innovation to improve client service and internal operations?

AI has become part of virtually every business conversation. We view AI and digital tools as opportunities to work faster and do more for clients, but clean, reliable data must come first.

We are using AI to handle more routine, repetitive work, freeing our people to focus on interpretation and higher-value counsel. We always have a human in the loop reviewing the output because we want to make sure the work is accurate and appropriate.

Client expectations have shifted. Early on, clients were asking for guidance on setting up AI and controls. Now they increasingly want practical applications and a clear path to return on investment. They want to know what they can put in place to become more efficient and create more value.

Our annual C-suite Barometer research supports this nationally. Nearly 90% of U.S. organizations have restructured teams to support AI implementation, and 3 in 5 executives say AI is creating new roles, not just cutting costs. 

Talent remains one of the profession’s biggest challenges. How are you attracting, developing, and retaining people?

More students are choosing accounting as a major, particularly here in Georgia, and the quality of new graduates continues to strengthen as we move further past pandemic-era disruptions. We have built new multi-track manager training programs to complement existing staff-level training, and we are strengthening leadership development at every level.

One of the most common questions I get from interns and recruits is whether AI will replace them. I unequivocally say no, unless you let it. As long as we continue learning and using AI to become better, faster, and more efficient, we will continue to grow and provide value to clients.

Our firm continues to be recognized nationally for training and development. We are also growing our offshore subsidiary, which launched on April 1, to supplement local hiring and help us stay competitive on pricing. The relationships we develop with clients will continue to drive our work forward, with AI helping us and our clients become more efficient.

Forvis Mazars has been recognized as a top workplace. How has investing in culture contributed to the firm’s growth?

The Forvis Mazars merger and global network have been pivotal for attracting strong talent, and strong talent wants to work at a good place. The firm we have developed is attractive to young professionals and students who want to be part of a growing organization.

Simultaneously, we are seeing the quality of available talent improve, which is exactly what this profession needs. When you supplement that with technology, we are poised to continue growing and helping clients reach their goals. I am very bullish on the Atlanta market, the profession, and the services we provide.

What challenges are your clients bringing to the table today?

Clients are increasingly focused on efficiency, both in revenue-generating processes and back-office operations, and AI adoption is accelerating that trend.

Tax policy continues to evolve as provisions from this year’s tax legislation are implemented. For our clients, it is largely business as usual as we help them adapt, because every couple of years tax policy seems to change dramatically.

The deregulatory environment is a double-edged sword. It has softened demand for some compliance-driven consulting work while increasing the appetite for practical efficiency and process improvement projects. Clients want partners who can help them move quickly and confidently, rather than simply provide a check-the-box process. 

Where do you see the greatest opportunities for Atlanta and its business community?

Atlanta remains a vibrant international market. Hosting World Cup matches this summer has been a tremendous showcase of the city’s readiness and hospitality on a global stage. It is exciting to see the world looking at Atlanta for the right reasons.

Local government continues to work well to support business growth, regardless of political differences. That stability matters to companies considering relocating here. Our leaders are working together to make Georgia and Atlanta strong, business-friendly destinations. 

Within our business, we see growth opportunities in local government, nonprofit clients, private clients, and healthcare consulting. 

What is your outlook for Forvis Mazars in Atlanta over the next five years?

Over the next five years, we will continue prioritizing sustainable organic growth over acquisition-driven growth. That strategy has served our firm and our clients very well.

We will continue investing in AI-enabled service delivery, always paired with strong human judgment. Forvis Mazars U.S. remains committed to a partner-owned, partner-led model, which allows us to make decisions with a long-term perspective, just as we have done for more than 100 years.

Our structure allows us to prioritize stewardship, constantly working to make tomorrow better than today for our clients, our people, and our communities. That requires us to think and invest for the long term and make decisions that benefit future generations.

Locally, our goal is clear. We want to be a Top 10 firm in the market, mirroring the firm’s national position. We feel we have a good path to get there, and Atlanta is one of those places where we see tremendous growth opportunities.

Want more? Read the Focus: Atlanta report.