Spotlight On: Sheri Fiske Schultz, Managing Partner, Fiske Advisory, a Springline company

Key points:

• • Private equity and AI are reshaping accounting firms and accelerating Fiske Advisory’s growth.
• • Fort Lauderdale’s emergence as a business hub is driving demand for forensic and valuation services.
• • Clients increasingly want strategic advisory, fraud analysis, and risk management support over basic compliance work.

May 2026 — Invest: sat down with Sheri Fiske Schultz, managing partner of Fiske Advisory, to discuss how private equity investment, rapid advances in technology, and shifting talent dynamics are reshaping the accounting and advisory landscape. Reflecting on a transformative year for the firm, Fiske shared how new resources and capabilities are enabling long-term growth while keeping Fort Lauderdale at the center of the firm’s future. “Fort Lauderdale — and the greater tri-county market — is no longer a small market; it’s a hub, and with the resources behind us we can bring higher-level forensic and valuation capabilities to clients across South Florida and beyond — utilizing the best technology available to deliver extraordinary service,” Fiske Schultz said.

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What were some of the most significant shifts you experienced over the past year, and how have they influenced the direction of the firm?

This past year has really been a period of meaningful evolution for us. Fiske was acquired by private equity, specifically Trinity Hunt, which formed a platform called Springline Advisory. We are certainly not the only firm going through this type of transformation. There has been a significant influx of private equity firms investing capital in accounting firms, which is relatively new to our industry.

Traditionally, private equity focused on companies with tangible products, manufacturing, or distribution. Now they are actively seeking acquisitions in the professional services accounting space. It has become extremely competitive because there are not that many strong, established accounting firms, and multiple buyers are pursuing the same targets. We closed on December 16, 2025. 

Early in 2025, I decided this was the best strategy for the future of our clients and team members because of technology and resources needed for growth. With AI becoming transformative into accounting and advisory services, it became clear that the significant investment in technology, specifically AI, is virtually impossible without significant resources and a larger structure behind us. Joining a private equity platform enables us to access tools and capital unavailable to standalone firms.

Particularly in forensic accounting, the ability to perform high-level data analytics has been instrumental. AI allows us to work more efficiently, generate deeper insights, and increase revenue because we can leverage technology to handle portions of the analysis faster. At the same time, it does not replace our people. We still need experienced professionals to interpret results, explain outcomes, and provide expert witness testimony when needed.

How have workforce dynamics shifted over the past year, particularly in attracting and retaining talent?

Talent was very hard to come by for several years, especially after COVID, when many people exited the workforce. In our experience, tax preparation was the hardest hit area. Advisory work, including forensic and valuation services, was historically easier to staff because professionals are often drawn to consulting and analytical work, rather than compliance-based functions.

This past year, that dynamic has flipped. It has gone from an employee’s market to an employer’s market. Now we can interview multiple candidates and choose the best fit, rather than trying to compete for a limited pool of applicants. We are a small firm of about 26 people, so every hire matters, and the ability to build the right team supports our immediate and longer-term growth plans.

What makes Greater Fort Lauderdale such a strategic location for your firm?

Fort Lauderdale is incredibly well positioned in the middle of the tri-county area of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. We have the port close to our office, and transportation has improved significantly. Brightline, for example, makes regional connectivity much easier, and it changes how efficiently you can move around South Florida. This has contributed to Fort Lauderdale’s increased growth with larger companies’ relocating, and expanding here. This is no longer a small market. It has become a hub, and I am proud of what the region has done to attract companies and talent.

How has Springline Advisory expanded your capabilities and opened up new opportunities?

There are now ten firms to date under the Springline platform, and not all of them offer the services we provide as we are a boutique advisory firm. Yes, we have a tax department, but we also have a strong consulting practice that includes forensic accounting and business valuation. Within the platform, we become a destination for specialized work. When other firms encounter valuation or forensic matters, they send those clients to us, wherever they are located. 

Springline is also coordinating with us to build a national practice. My roots are in Fort Lauderdale, and I will never leave this market, but I have always wanted to be one of the largest forensic valuation firms in the country. Now we have the resources and support to pursue that goal from here.

How has the firm’s identity evolved, particularly as a previously women-owned business?

That has been the one downside. We were very proud to be a certified women-owned business, and that certification mattered deeply to me. As minority owners today, we are no longer able to maintain that certification. That said, in selecting Springline as our strategic partner it mattered to me that so many of Springline firms are women-led and that women are represented on the platform’s executive leadership team. 

Our values and deep commitment to empowering women have not changed. We remain women-led and our workforce similarly reflects that. As Managing Partner, I continue to prioritize helping and empowering other women. I participate in Mentoring Monday, and I emphasize reserving time in my schedule for mentorship. The certification was meaningful, but the commitment behind it continues.

Are you seeing changes in how clients approach your services or what they expect from advisory firms today?

Absolutely. Traditional tax compliance has increasingly become a commodity. Clients now want and need consulting and strategy. They want a partner who helps them grow, plan, and understand succession planning. The work is shifting away from compliance and toward advisory services and AI is accelerating that shift. Technology can handle certain basic tasks faster, but it cannot replace consulting. It can provide information, but clients still need experienced advisors who understand context and can guide decisions. Plus, AI is only as good as the end user, and professional judgment is required to interpret results and deliver insight clients can trust.

Another major driver of demand is fraud and litigation support. Florida is a very litigious environment, and we see fraud across organizations of all sizes. The “fraud triangle” is real: pressure, opportunity, and rationalization. When internal controls are weak and financial strains rise, the risk of misconduct increases — from employee theft to partner disputes. We trace the funds, analyze banking activity, and distinguish legitimate transactions from improper ones.

We’ve expanded our team of professionals with broad ranges of fraud experience, because the demand for this work continues to grow. At the same time, we do not aim to have recurring litigation clients; our goal is to help clients implement strong internal controls so that issues don’t recur. Unfortunately, many clients still fail to put the recommended safeguards in place. 

Looking ahead, what is your outlook and top priorities for the firm?

Our outlook remains strong, and we are well positioned for sustained growth. I have budgeted for significant expansion and expect at least 20% revenue increase driven by rising demand for specialized advisory services — particularly forensics, valuation, and risk management. As commercial litigation continues to increase in complexity and volume, the need for advanced forensic analysis and data-driven insights will remain essential.

We have already increased our staffing for 2026 and expect to add additional colleagues during the first half of 2026. Technology will remain central, but it must be paired with skilled professionals who can interpret results, communicate clearly, and deliver insights clients can trust.

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