Tansy Jefferies, National Transfer Pricing Leader Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach Office Leader, RSM US LLP

In an interview with Invest:, Tansy Jefferies, principal, national transfer pricing leader, and Fort Lauderdale/West Palm Beach office leader, discussed the firm’s growth, evolving global tax challenges, and the increasing role of data and technology. “We’ve seen a surge in demand for our consulting services, particularly in areas like cybersecurity, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and regulatory compliance,” she said.

What have been the most significant milestones and achievements for RSM in South Florida over the last year?
We’ve been growing steadily, adding to our teams in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. We’ve seen significant growth in financial services, private equity, industrials, and business and professional services. We’ve also been strengthening our community partnerships. We have a strong relationship with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and are very active there. Additionally, we’ve been involved in philanthropy. Each year, we select one charity to support through our Power of Love campaign and Birdies for Love fundraising programs, which are tied to our sponsorship of the RSM Classic, a PGA Golf Tour event. This year, locally, we partnered with Kids In Distress (KID), hosting a volunteer day and raising significant funds for the organization. We’re proud to be engaged in our local community in this way.
On a global level, RSM reached a major milestone, hitting $10 billion in revenue across our network. We’re only the sixth accounting firm ever to achieve this. As someone working in international tax with multinational clients, this was particularly exciting. It reinforces our standing as a truly global organization and strengthens our ability to serve multinational companies, especially in a diverse business hub like South Florida. Another exciting development is the announced merger between RSM U.S. and RSM U.K. Typically, our network consists of independent firms owned by local partners, but this merger is a unique step in the accounting industry. It positions us as a first-choice advisor for companies with cross-border operations between the United States, Canada, the U.K., and Ireland. It also integrates our service centers in El Salvador and India, creating a combined $5 billion organization with 23,000 professionals. The merger is currently undergoing regulatory approval, with completion expected later this year.

What are some major global trends shaping how middle-market companies approach cross-border transactions?
One of the biggest challenges right now is navigating tariffs. They significantly impact how companies manage their global transactions and supply chains. We work closely with our trade advisory team — based right here in Fort Lauderdale — to help clients strategize around these uncertainties, especially regarding China, as well as potential developments with Canada and Mexico. We’ve seen a surge in demand for our consulting services, particularly in areas like cybersecurity, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) and regulatory compliance. Middle-market companies are facing new challenges, and we’re focused on helping them navigate these complexities with confidence.
Another major issue is the United States withdrawing from OECD tax negotiations. This creates a complex landscape for multinational companies, as they must navigate the interaction between global tax laws and the unique U.S. tax system. Our team helps companies, particularly multinationals in Broward County, understand the implications, ensuring they aren’t subject to double taxation and helping them structure transactions effectively to mitigate risks associated with global minimum tax rules.

How do data and technology play a role in these global tax challenges?
It all comes back to data. Understanding tax implications and mitigating risks requires companies to know where their data is globally, how to extract it, and how to process it efficiently. Many of our conversations with clients ultimately turn into discussions about data and technology. There is an increasing demand for transparency, with companies required to share extensive information with tax authorities. Ensuring that data is accurate and accessible is a major challenge. As a result, we do a lot of work in tax technology, including integrating tax compliance with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. It’s an area where we’re seeing significant demand right now. A key value proposition we bring to our clients looking to enhance systems is our network of strategic alliances with technology solutions such as NetSuite/Oracle, Microsoft, Blackline, SAP, Salesforce, and ServiceNow, to name a few.

What opportunities do middle-market companies have when expanding internationally, and how does RSM help them capitalize on them?
There are significant opportunities for companies to rethink their global footprint and supply chains. In South Florida, we see many regional headquarters managing operations across Latin America and the Caribbean. We work closely with these companies to create a more integrated approach to managing their business, particularly regarding taxation and operational efficiencies. RSM provides a holistic perspective by first understanding their industry and business challenges and then working through the best options for their audit, tax, consulting or technology needs. We ensure our clients receive integrated solutions rather than siloed advice. Everything is interconnected — tax considerations impact technology, which impacts supply chain decisions, and so on. Our approach is to bring all of these elements together to help companies maximize profits, repatriate cash efficiently, and optimize their financial structures, while instilling confidence in the executives, boards, or shareholders.
Given the current economic uncertainty, especially with fluctuating interest rates, we help clients understand what this means for financing decisions, whether through debt or equity structures. We spend a lot of time working with clients on these broader strategic questions, ensuring they have the right resources in place for investment and expansion.
Additionally, we work extensively with private equity firms on mergers and acquisitions, particularly when acquiring international entities. Whether companies are expanding organically or through acquisitions, we provide the expertise needed to navigate international complexities and integrate operations successfully.

How do you see the region evolving in terms of global investment in the coming years?
We’re fortunate to have a very tax-friendly environment, which makes Florida an attractive place for both businesses and individuals. Our climate, high standard of living, and strong infrastructure, including airports and ports, continue to make South Florida a major magnet for corporate relocations and high-net-worth individuals. We’re still seeing a steady influx of high-net-worth individuals moving into the region. Our family office practice is growing as a result, helping families manage their estates, businesses, and investments. Private equity is another area where we continue to see strong growth, as well as financial services and hedge funds. To support this expansion, we’ve even relocated key professionals from the Northeast to South Florida, particularly within our family office and fund practice groups. We see this trend continuing, and we’re committed to building on these opportunities in the years ahead.

What are your top priorities for RSM over the next two to three years?
Talent is one of the biggest challenges facing the accounting industry today. There has been a decline in students choosing accounting as a career and sitting for the CPA exam, leading to a more competitive talent pipeline. We’re working closely with the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA) to support and promote the profession, encouraging more students to consider careers in accounting. At RSM, we’ve made significant investments in talent acquisition, retention and recruiting programs. Our Fort Lauderdale office is a prime example—we have the penthouse suite in one of the top office buildings in the city, and we take pride in creating an environment that people want to be part of. We have a hybrid work model, encouraging employees to come into the office at least three times a week. Demand for in-office collaboration is so high that we sometimes face space constraints, which is a great problem to have.
Beyond office space, we’ve also invested heavily in technology to improve the employee experience. We’ve integrated our HR, performance management, and recruiting tools into a single platform, making it easier for employees to engage with their career development at RSM. Attracting and retaining top talent remains a priority, especially as we compete with other industries that offer competitive salaries and may not require the same level of education as a CPA. We’re working hard to strike that balance, showing prospective accountants that the investment in their career is worth it. One of our biggest differentiators is our culture. RSM is known for having a strong, inclusive culture, and that’s something we leverage to recruit the diverse, high-quality talent we want to bring into the firm.