Schneider Downs
Schneider Downs & Co., Inc. is a Top 60 independent CPA firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, providing audit, tax, consulting, risk advisory, wealth management, retirement, and investment banking services across 15+ verticals via three U.S. offices and a global PrimeGlobal network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Schneider Downs does
Schneider Downs & Co., Inc. is a Top 60 independent CPA and professional services firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with additional offices in Columbus, Ohio, and McLean, Virginia. Founded in 1956 and operating with 501-1,000 employees, the firm delivers audit and assurance, tax compliance and advisory, business consulting, risk advisory and cybersecurity, SOC examinations, wealth management, retirement plan administration, investment banking, and digital solutions across 15+ industry verticals including manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, higher education, automotive dealerships, not-for-profit, and government.
The firm's technology stack is led by SD Digital and includes LumenFI, an AI-driven finance platform using generative AI and machine learning to provide real-time financial insights; simpLEASE, proprietary lease accounting software addressing ASC 842 / IFRS 16 compliance; SD inSITE for performance evaluation; Solver for extended financial planning and analysis; Microsoft Dynamics ERP implementation support; and ADAPT data analytics methodology. The firm also maintains a Responsible AI Solutions practice covering AI audit, governance, monitoring, and risk management, and partnered with FusionAIrre in June 2026 to integrate the Ape-X agentic AI platform into external-party assurance engagements.
Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements priced on quote-based engagement terms, organized across seven core service streams: audit and assurance, tax services, consulting (business advisory, risk advisory, IT risk, process improvement, transaction advisory), private client services, SDAdvantage retirement solutions, SD Digital (technology and AI solutions), and SD Capital (investment banking). The firm sells exclusively through direct shareholder-led engagement across the U.S. East and Midwest with international coverage via its founding membership in the PrimeGlobal association. Customer base spans enterprise and mid-market accounts (including PNC, Federated Hermes, XTI Aerospace, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and a long tail of regional manufacturing, automotive dealership, construction, higher-education, and nonprofit clients) with no disclosed revenue concentration figures.
Schneider Downs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Schneider Downs
- Legal name
- Schneider Downs & Co., Inc.
- Website
- https://schneiderdowns.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Schneider Downs & Co., Inc. is a Top 60 independent CPA firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, providing audit, tax, consulting, risk advisory, wealth management, retirement, and investment banking services across 15+ verticals via three U.S. offices and a global PrimeGlobal network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Schneider Downs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Services / Accounting & Advisory
- NAICS
- Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Security Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Advisory (BPAKADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Regulatory Change, Governance & Compliance Management (GRC) (FSACAJAK)
Keywords
Where Schneider Downs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Schneider Downs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Audit and Assurance Services: Independent financial statement audits, ERISA/employee benefit plan audits, SOC examinations (SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, SOC for Cybersecurity, SOC for Supply Chain), international assurance, and compliance services for public and privately held entities.
- Tax Services: Tax compliance and consulting for business tax, individual tax, not-for-profit tax; state and local tax (SALT); international tax; managed tax services; R&D tax credits and incentives; tax transaction advisory including due diligence and transaction cost analysis.
- Consulting Services: Business advisory including accounting advisory, transaction advisory, forensics and litigation, valuation services, managed accounting, business restructuring; risk advisory services including internal audit, IT risk advisory, cybersecurity, ESG consulting, third-party risk management, SOX compliance; and process improvement consulting.
- Private Client Services: Wealth management, estate and succession planning, private family office, tax and personal financial services, and philanthropy services for high-net-worth individuals.
- Retirement Solutions: Retirement plan fiduciary risk assessment, design, administrative, and advisory services through SDAdvantage Retirement Solutions.
- SD Digital / Technology Solutions: Digital modernization, intelligent automation, data analytics and Power BI, Microsoft Dynamics ERP implementation, custom development, and AI-powered LumenFI platform.
- SD Capital (Investment Banking): Full-service investment banking and value advisory services for middle market companies, including M&A advisory, company sales, and transaction support.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Schneider Downs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Schneider Downs is a Top 60 independent CPA and professional services firm providing audit and assurance, tax compliance and consulting, business advisory, risk management and cybersecurity, SOC examinations, wealth management, retirement plan services, investment banking, and technology consulting through its SD Digital arm. The firm serves public companies, privately held businesses, nonprofits, government entities, and high-net-worth individuals across the U.S. from offices in Pittsburgh, Columbus, and McLean.
Product overview
Schneider Downs offers a portfolio of professional services across accounting, tax, consulting, and digital solutions. SD Digital serves as the technology arm providing AI-powered finance solutions, proprietary lease accounting software (simpLEASE), data analytics tools (ADAPT), intelligent automation/RPA services, and Microsoft Dynamics ERP implementation. Core AI product is LumenFI, an AI-driven finance platform using generative AI and machine learning. The SOC Services practice delivers compliance examinations across multiple frameworks. The Responsible AI Solutions practice provides governance and risk management for AI systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LumenFI: AI-powered finance platform designed to provide real-time, secure financial insights for organizations using generative AI and machine learning.
- simpLEASE
Products and services
- Audit and Assurance Services Independent financial statement audits, ERISA/employee benefit plan audits, SOC examinations (SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, SOC for Cybersecurity, SOC for Supply Chain), international assurance, and compliance services for public and privately held entities, not-for-profits, and government entities.
- Tax Services Tax compliance and consulting for business tax, individual tax, not-for-profit tax; state and local tax (SALT); international tax; managed tax services; R&D tax credits and incentives; and tax transaction advisory including due diligence and transaction cost analysis.
- Consulting Services Business advisory including accounting advisory, transaction advisory, forensics and litigation, valuation services, managed accounting, business restructuring; risk advisory services including internal audit, IT risk advisory, cybersecurity, ESG consulting, third-party risk management, SOX compliance; and process improvement consulting.
- Private Client Services Wealth management, estate and succession planning, private family office, tax and personal financial services, and philanthropy services for high-net-worth individuals, business owners, executives, and families.
- Retirement Solutions Retirement plan fiduciary risk assessment, design, administration, and advisory services through SDAdvantage Retirement Solutions for 401(k), defined benefit, ESOP, and health and welfare plans serving middle-market, closely held businesses.
- SD Digital / Technology Solutions Digital modernization, intelligent automation, data analytics, Microsoft Dynamics ERP implementation, custom development, and AI-powered finance solutions through the proprietary LumenFI platform and simpLEASE lease accounting software.
- SD Capital (Investment Banking) Full-service investment banking and value advisory services for middle market companies, including M&A advisory, company sales, and transaction support led by Peter J. Lieberman.
- SOC Services System and Organization Controls examination services including SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, SOC for Cybersecurity, and SOC for Supply Chain reports delivered by integrated IT, internal audit, and external audit professionals for service organizations across industries.
- Responsible AI Solutions AI consulting practice offering AI Audit Services, AI Governance Framework, AI Monitoring Tools, and AI Risk Management to help organizations identify and manage AI-related risks and anomalies across AI systems.
- Intelligent Automation Automation services including Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology to help organizations automate manual processes such as billing, data extraction, and back-office operations.
- LumenFI AI-powered finance platform by SD Digital that provides real-time, secure financial insights using generative AI and machine learning to help finance and accounting teams improve performance and reduce decision-making time.
- simpLEASE Accounting Proprietary lease accounting software built to solve FASB ASC 842 and IFRS 16 lease accounting challenges for organizations ranging from those with two to two thousand leases.
Quantifiable outcome
- Identified $900,000 R&D tax credit for a professional services client—nearly twice the amount found in previous years
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Schneider Downs
Customer profileNamed customers25 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles8 records
Schneider Downs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Feature4 records
Schneider Downs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- FusionAIrre, Inc.coreSchneider Downs partnered with FusionAIrre, Inc. (Raleigh-based agentic AI company) on June 4, 2026, to combine FusionAIrre's Ape-X Assurance AI platform with Schneider Downs' cybersecurity, risk management, and advisory expertise. The collaboration aims to help enterprises modernize how they manage and respond to external-party assessments including customer due diligence, regulatory inquiries, security questionnaires, and compliance reviews—transforming external-party assurance from a reactive, manual process into a faster, more scalable, and defensible business capability that protects revenue and enables growth.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Schneider Downs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Baker Tilly US: Top 15–20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with a similar mid-market focus and comparable service mix including audit, tax, consulting, risk, and digital/advisory offerings. Most structurally comparable to Schneider Downs in scale and service breadth.
- Wipfli: Top 20 U.S. accounting firm serving mid-market and closely held businesses with audit, tax, advisory, technology, and outsourcing services. Comparable regional anchors and target customer profile to Schneider Downs.
- Plante Moran: Large independent CPA and advisory firm with strong mid-market and manufacturing/automotive practices. Comparable service breadth and proprietary technology investments, with similar regional concentration in the Midwest.
- CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen): Top 10 U.S. accounting firm with a similarly diversified service portfolio across audit, tax, wealth advisory, and digital, and a comparable mid-market and nonprofit focus. Directly comparable on service mix and customer segments.
- Marcum LLP: Top 20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm serving mid-market and large clients with audit, tax, advisory, and technology services. Highly comparable on service breadth and mid-market go-to-market.
- Withum: Top 25–30 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with a strong technology, life sciences, and emerging-company practice. Comparable middle-market positioning and service diversification.
- Forvis: Top 10 U.S. accounting firm formed from the merger of FORVIS and BKD, with comparable mid-market, healthcare, and nonprofit practices. A meaningful competitor in overlapping geographies and segments.
Broad incumbents
- Crowe LLP: Top 10 U.S. accounting firm with broader national reach and similar risk advisory, SOC, and digital services. Competes head-to-head on mid-market and SEC engagements.
- BDO USA: Top 5–6 global accounting network's U.S. member firm, materially larger but competing in the same upper-mid-market audit, tax, and advisory segments with deeper technology and global resources.
- RSM US: Top 5 U.S. accounting firm focused on the middle market with a closely comparable service mix across audit, tax, consulting, and risk advisory; directly competes for the same Schneider Downs target customer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Schneider Downs social profiles
Digital presenceSchneider Downs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance13 records
Schneider Downs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Schneider Downs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Schneider Downs subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Schneider Downs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Schneider Downs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Schneider Downs
What does Schneider Downs do?
Schneider Downs is a Top 60 independent CPA and professional services firm providing audit and assurance, tax compliance and consulting, business advisory, risk management and cybersecurity, SOC examinations, wealth management, retirement plan services, investment banking, and technology consulting through its SD Digital arm. The firm serves public companies, privately held businesses, nonprofits, government entities, and high-net-worth individuals across the U.S. from offices in Pittsburgh, Columbus, and McLean.
Is Schneider Downs a public or private company?
Schneider Downs is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Schneider Downs founded?
Schneider Downs was founded in 1956. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Schneider Downs based?
Schneider Downs is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Schneider Downs make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Audit and Assurance Services are the primary driver. The others are tax Services, consulting Services, private Client Services, retirement Solutions, SD Digital / Technology Solutions and SD Capital (Investment Banking).
Who are Schneider Downs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Baker Tilly US, Wipfli, Plante Moran, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Marcum LLP, Withum and Forvis. Broad incumbents are Crowe LLP, BDO USA and RSM US.
Does Schneider Downs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Schneider Downs.
What industry is Schneider Downs in?
Schneider Downs's product category is Professional Services / Accounting & Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKADAG, Security Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Advisory, with a secondary code of FSACAJAK, Regulatory Change, Governance & Compliance Management (GRC). Its NAICS code is 541211.