Kimberly Randolph, Managing Director – Tax Practice Leader, CBIZ
In an interview with Invest:, Kimberly Randolph, managing director at CBIZ, cited the Marcum merger as a key milestone, expanding the firm’s capabilities and industry reach. With Palm Beach growing as a diverse, tax-advantaged market, CBIZ is focused on integration, technology, and talent development. “Technology is central to how we operate,” she said.
What has been the most significant change for CBIZ over the past year?
The most notable change has been the acquisition of Marcum. Bringing together two large, strong organizations has opened the door for continued growth and created new and exciting opportunities for our team members and clients.
What new capabilities has this merger added, especially to the Palm Beach office?
We’re engrained in several industries. Our transaction last year has only expanded our reach and knowledge bench. For example, CBIZ was not particularly active in the public company space in recent years, but Marcum had great depth in the capital markets arena. Furthermore, we’re aligning our practitioners more into industry specializations. This allows us to become more ingrained with the businesses we serve and to create career tracts for our professionals that are focused. We recognize the power of specializing and being equipped with insights to add value to our clients’ relationships..
What differentiates Palm Beach County from the rest of South Florida?
Palm Beach was viewed primarily as a retirement community in the past. Recent migration and population growth points more to young professionals who represent all different sectors and career stages.
The opportunities that come with that are significant. At the same time, it brings challenges, especially around residency, real estate, and related planning needs. Overall, the positives far outweigh the challenges as we see continued growth in our local and regional economy
How are you seeing the professional services landscape evolve in Palm Beach County?
There is a lot of growth and opportunity right now. More firms are entering the market, which is a positive sign. As a large firm with the ability to offer depth and breadth of services, we’re well positioned. We serve middle-market clients across industries, and with how fast things are changing, especially around technology, we see more opportunity to bring a consultative approach to our service.
What role is technology playing in how CBIZ serves clients and supports internal teams?
Technology is central to how we operate. We’re constantly working to improve our systems, align platforms, and increase automation. That creates efficiencies and allows us to do more with less. We’ve developed and are leveraging AI where appropriate. We see the power of AI and are constantly seeking out practical applications for our operations and services as well as empowering our clients to do the same.
Technology changes the employee experience. Tasks that used to take staff hours can now be automated. That gives younger professionals the chance to engage with clients sooner and take on more consulting work. For many, that’s the most rewarding part of the job. They’re out of the cubicle and into client-facing roles early in their careers.
With relationships central to professional services, how does your team go about building those long-term connections?
It starts with communication. From the moment someone joins as an intern, we emphasize that a career in professional services is about people. Clients aren’t just working with the CBIZ brand; they’re connecting with the individuals behind it.
We focus on being true business advisors. That means being part of the team — sitting at the table with our clients, their attorneys, possibly their investment advisors and other professional resources. That deepens the relationship and helps us deliver real value.
How is CBIZ working to attract and retain talent in today’s competitive landscape?
It’s about building a culture where people want to work. That means surrounding yourself with talented team members, creating an environment of respect, and having a team that supports each other.
We also make room for fun. While activities like wearing gameday shirts might seem small, they help create a sense of community. If someone comes to work, learns something new, enjoys the day, and feels like they’re doing something meaningful, then we’ve had a successful day.
How does CBIZ support employee development beyond the workplace, particularly in community engagement?
When we talk about retaining people, it’s about giving them opportunities — not just professionally, but personally too. At CBIZ, we value community engagement. Through the CBIZ Foundation and other initiatives, our teams volunteer across Palm Beach County.
We make it a priority to give everyone time and opportunity to invest in the places where we live and work.
With high-net-worth individuals and family offices relocating to South Florida, how is that influencing your tax planning services?
It’s created endless opportunities for us. We provide family office services, estate planning, and help clients think about wealth transfer and asset protection. Yes, we look at tax implications, but, more importantly, we focus on planning — making sure assets are structured correctly and that clients are protected. We guide clients through philanthropic goals. We look to bring value to our clients through proactive conversations about their long-term plans .
What tax or regulatory factors are encouraging businesses to relocate to Palm Beach County?
Florida makes it easy — we’re a tax-free state. Add to that the sunshine, lifestyle, and professional talent pool, and you have a very appealing place to do business.
Organizations like our Chambers of Commerce and economic development groups do a great job facilitating incentives and credits to support, attract and retain businesses. That support helps professional services firms like ours by helping to drive the local economy.
Given broader economic trends like inflation and higher interest rates, how is CBIZ adapting its services?
Our role is to stay proactive and informed. We help our clients understand what’s happening, how it affects them personally and professionally and how to plan for whatever comes next. It’s not about reacting to trends; it’s about thinking long-term and being strategic.
Looking ahead, what are your top priorities for the next two to three years?
Right now, our focus is on integration. We continue to embrace our combined skillsets to build on past success. That means investing in our technology, supporting our people, and staying involved in the communities we serve. It’s about building on our strengths and creating value for our clients and our people.
