Spotlight On: Mary Roberts, Managing Director, Baker Tilly
October 2025 — Mary Roberts, Managing Director with Baker Tilly, sat down with Focus: to discuss the recent acquisition of Hancock Askew, how economic uncertainties are impacting the accounting industry, and how the company is leveraging new and emerging technologies to better serve clients. “At Baker Tilly, we do our best to be a one-stop shop that can support our clients through the entire life cycle of their business,” Roberts said.
How does Baker Tilly’s acquisition of Hancock Askew tie into the firm’s expansion plans in the Southeast, and what opportunities does that market offer?
Hancock Askew joined Baker Tilly in early May. Previously, Hancock Askew offered typical accounting services along with advisory and litigation support. With Baker Tilly, we have many more service lines and resources as part of a much larger firm serving the middle market.
From a regional perspective, Baker Tilly gains new offices in Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah, Jacksonville, and Orlando, and merges with the existing Baker Tilly team in Tampa.
The team members that I was managing ended up going into different service line groups where Baker Tilly provides specialty advisory services. Today, we are all in a group called Financial Advisory Services.
My primary focus now is connecting with clients and potential clients about the broad spectrum of M&A services the firm provides. We are bringing a Southeast presence to Baker Tilly. The merger provides our local team with more resources and industry expertise to better serve clients.
How has your company culture evolved, and how would you describe the new culture?
Hancock Askew was always focused on “you first,” which was very client-focused. Baker Tilly is also very client-centric. We are trying to ensure that clients receive the typical accounting and tax services that they need, and now we are also talking to them about any other advisory services in order to be a Value ArchitectTM to enhance our clients’ shareholder value.
We do our best to be a one-stop shop that can support our clients through the life cycle of their business. Hancock has done a great job of seamlessly integrating into the Baker Tilly culture. Everyone has been very friendly, helpful, and accommodating to ensure that the team has everything it needs to be successful.
What emerging trends are you observing in the Atlanta metro area, and how is Baker Tilly positioning itself to capitalize on these developments?
Atlanta is an expanding market right now, and the Southeast overall is growing rapidly. The Carolinas and Georgia seem to be a focus for those companies coming from California and Florida. The combination of the legacy Hancock Askew offices in the Southeast region and Baker Tilly’s services will help us serve clients.
What are the most pressing challenges confronting Baker Tilly and the wider accounting sector, and how is your firm turning these obstacles into strategic opportunities?
The accounting sector serving the middle market is consolidating to better serve clients. For example, Baker Tilly merged with Hancock Askew in May and Moss Adams in June to build out a national footprint to become the sixth largest firm in the industry with 100 offices and 11,000 professionals.
The accounting, tax, and advisory services market is competitive, and middle-market corporate and private equity clients have high expectations from their service providers, which is always challenging. However, I do not see a whole lot to be concerned about. Baker Tilly is a great firm that has, and continues to invest in the people, resources, and expertise to help clients.
What new types of support or services are clients asking for today as it relates to mergers and acquisitions and business advisory?
The level of buyer due diligence has increased. Private equity (PE) groups and family offices have high expectations in terms of what the sellers are required to provide.
This means that a quality of earnings analysis, which can be provided by Baker Tilly or other service providers, is becoming more of a requirement, as opposed to something that is just nice to have. In addition, clients are looking for investment bankers, like Baker Tilly Capital, to lead a competitive sale process to find the right partner and maximize the value and structure of a transaction, and Baker Tilly to provide M&A tax advice.
What challenges or opportunities are arising from emerging technologies, particularly AI, in the advisory space?
Baker Tilly’s Digital team advises clients along their digital and AI journey, from assessments and strategy development, through implementation and optimization. AI is here and having an impact on the accounting and advisory services provided. Many people are nervous about it; however, I believe that Baker Tilly can advise clients to be more effective and efficient. Clients will require accounting, tax, and advisory services providers to utilize and optimize AI’s capabilities.
What substantial regulatory or compliance trends are you tracking that could affect your clients’ businesses?
There have not been any specific new regulatory or compliance trends that have impacted our clients’ businesses meaningfully.
How have economic uncertainties shaped your approach to advisory services?
Tariff uncertainties are something that Baker Tilly is paying close attention to and discussing with clients. This is especially true if those clients are in the process of thinking about selling their business, as tariffs could be impactful on revenues, EBITDA margins and business valuation ranges. These uncertainties, along with other US and global macroeconomic factors, have definitely impacted deal flow, and many business owners, including private equity funds, are putting potential deals on hold to see what the future has in store. In these situations, Baker Tilly works with clients as a Value Architect TM to improve processes and performance to help clients fuel growth and profitability.
Looking ahead, what are Baker Tilly’s top priorities for the near term, and how do you envision the firm’s role evolving within the Atlanta and Southeast market?
Baker Tilly’s top priority is to continue to serve our middle market clients with the accounting, tax, and advisory services that we provide. In addition, we have a great opportunity to build the Baker Tilly brand and pursue new potential clients in Atlanta and the Southeast. I anticipate that Baker Tilly will host or sponsor more events, build its referral network, and call on companies directly to offer the firm’s services.
What is the outlook for the accounting industry as a whole?
The accounting industry is not going away anytime soon, but the industry has a few challenges that appeal to college students looking to enter the accounting profession. However, I do think that is changing. For example, the legislation in Georgia has recently reduced the requirements to become a CPA. In addition, accounting is more than just auditing and tax — our professionals serve clients with a number of advisory services and are truly business consultants. Baker Tilly believes that the accounting industry is exciting, challenging, and growing — all of which should appeal to professionals who want to have satisfying, long-term, successful careers.
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