What Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith does

Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith (BMSS) is a privately-held, member-owned certified public accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, founded in 1991. The firm delivers tax planning and compliance, financial reporting and assurance (audit, employee benefit plan audits, peer review, SOC), and a broad business advisory practice spanning business valuation, forensic accounting, transaction advisory, CFO/controller advisory, client accounting, HR advisory, and government contracting (DCAA) consulting. BMSS serves 10,000+ active client relationships across 14 industry verticals — including construction, manufacturing, government contracting, healthcare, real estate, nonprofits, technology, oil and gas, financial institutions, and private equity — and claims clients in all 50 states from 8 offices in Alabama and Mississippi.

BMSS generates revenue on a quote-based, time-and-expense or fixed-fee professional services model, typically under multi-year engagements, and is compensated primarily through billable hours, retainer arrangements, and outsourced service contracts. Beyond core accounting, the firm operates a "BMSS Family of Companies" that bundles adjacent revenue streams: Abacus Technologies (IT, cybersecurity, managed services, business intelligence, and AI solutions), BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions (a fee-for-service registered investment advisor providing financial planning and investment advisory), and Payroll & Benefit Solutions (HCM, payroll, and PEO services). The firm is a member of BDO Alliance USA, which extends its resource base and referral network while preserving independent ownership. Go-to-market is consultative and relationship-driven, supported by industry-specific webinars, educational content, and thought leadership that target mid-market and enterprise clients in the Southeast US and beyond.

Name

Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith

Legal name

BMSS, LLC

Website

https://bmss.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith (BMSS) is a privately-held CPA and advisory firm in Birmingham, Alabama, founded in 1991, serving 10,000+ clients across 14 industries from 8 offices in Alabama and Mississippi, with integrated tax, audit, advisory, government contracting, IT/cyber, wealth, and payroll services through its Family of Companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tax Services: Tax planning, compliance, and advisory services for businesses, individuals, estates and trusts, and state/local tax matters
2. Assurance & Audit Services: Financial reporting, assurance services, employee benefit plan audits, and SOC reports
3. Business Advisory Services: Business advisory, transaction advisory, valuation services, forensic accounting, CFO/controller advisory, and client accounting solutions
4. Wealth Management: Fee-for-service Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) providing financial planning and investment advisory services through BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions
5. Technology & Data Services: IT, cybersecurity, business intelligence, and AI services through Abacus Technologies
6. Payroll & Benefits Services: Outsourced payroll, HR, and PEO services through Payroll & Benefit Solutions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BMSS is a Certified Public Accounting firm that delivers tax, accounting and auditing, and business advisory services to businesses, individuals, estates, and trusts. Beyond the core CPA offerings, the firm operates a Family of Companies that bundles technology/cybersecurity (Abacus Technologies), wealth management (BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions), and outsourced payroll/HR/PEO (Payroll & Benefit Solutions) into an integrated service offering, with deep industry specialization across 14 verticals such as construction, government contracting, manufacturing, healthcare, and real estate.

Product overview

BMSS Advisors & CPAs is a Certified Public Accounting firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services organized around three core pillars: Tax Services (business, estate/trust, individual, and state/local tax), Accounting and Auditing (financial reporting, assurance, EBP audits, peer review, SOC reporting), and Business Advisory (valuation, forensics, transaction advisory, CFO advisory, client accounting services, HR advisory, EOS). The firm operates the BMSS Family of Companies, which includes affiliated brands Abacus Technologies (IT, cybersecurity, managed services, and AI solutions), BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions (RIA for financial planning), and Payroll & Benefit Solutions (HCM, payroll, PEO services). The firm also provides specialized Government Contracting Services including DCAA support and Technology & Data advisory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tax Services Tax planning, compliance, and advisory services covering business taxation, estate and trust taxation, individual taxation, and state and local tax matters.
• Accounting and Auditing (Financial Reporting) Financial reporting, assurance services, employee benefit plan audits, peer review services, and SOC (System & Organization Controls) reporting for businesses and benefit plans.
• Business Advisory Consulting services including business valuation, forensic accounting, transaction advisory, CFO/controller advisory, client accounting services, HR advisory, SOC reporting, and EOS implementation.
• Government Contracting Services DCAA support, contract administration advisory, policies and procedures development, and systems support for federal government contractors.
• Wealth Management Financial planning and investment advisory services for privately-held business owners, executives, and high-income professionals.
• Payroll & Benefits Payroll and benefits administration services providing outsourced human capital management.
• Technology & Data Technology and data advisory services helping clients with IT, data, and digital transformation.
• Abacus Technologies Wholly-owned subsidiary providing IT, managed services, business intelligence, information security, information assurance, and AI solutions to BMSS clients.
• BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions Wholly-owned fee-for-service Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) providing financial planning, investment advisory, and risk identification services for privately-held business owners, executives, and high-income professionals.
• Payroll & Benefit Solutions (PBS) Wholly-owned outsourced human capital management provider offering payroll, HR, and PEO services customized to client needs.
• AI Advisory Services Advisory service helping clients understand and leverage artificial intelligence for business improvement.
• Valuations Business valuation services for transactions, disputes, financial reporting, and strategic decision-making.
• Forensic Services Forensic accounting services supporting investigations, fraud detection, litigation support, and dispute resolution.
• Transaction Advisory Transaction advisory services supporting M&A buy-side and sell-side due diligence, deal structuring, and post-transaction integration.
• HR Advisory Services HR advisory services supporting clients with employment regulation compliance, HR management, and people strategy.
• CFO/Controller Advisory Services CFO and Controller advisory services providing interim or fractional finance leadership and controller-level support.
• Client Accounting Services Outsourced client accounting services providing ongoing bookkeeping, accounting, and financial management support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving clients across all 50 states
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments15 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BDO Alliance USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMSS is a member of BDO Alliance USA, which enhances the firm's resources and capabilities while maintaining independent ownership. This alliance provides access to additional expertise, tools, and resources for serving clients.
• Abacus TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of BMSS Family of Companies - provides proactive technology solutions including business intelligence, managed services, information security, information assurance, and artificial intelligence services.
• BMSS Wesson Wealth SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of BMSS Family of Companies - a fee-for-service Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) providing financial planning and investment advisory services for privately-held business owners, executives, and high-income professionals.
• Payroll & Benefit Solutions (PBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of BMSS Family of Companies - serves as outsourced human capital management provider offering payroll, HR, and PEO services customized to client needs.
• Sovereign's CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint webinar partner for Business Ownership as Stewardship presentation on succession planning and stewardship beyond valuation or transaction.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Warren Averett: Birmingham, Alabama-headquartered Top-30 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with strong Southeast presence across tax, audit, advisory, and wealth — directly overlapping BMSS's geography, services, and mid-market client base.
• Carr, Riggs & Ingram: Large Southeast-based Top-30 CPA and advisory firm with offices across AL, MS, GA, FL, TN, and TX — directly comparable in regional footprint, vertical specialization, and service mix to BMSS.
• Dixon Hughes Goodman (DHG / Forvis Mazars): Top-20 U.S. accounting firm (now part of Forvis Mazars) headquartered in the Southeast with deep industry specialization and BDO Alliance-style national affiliation — a closely comparable peer in scale and service mix.
• Mauldin & Jenkins: Southeast-based Top-100 CPA firm with strong government contracting, construction, and nonprofit practices across Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee — closely comparable vertical mix and regional footprint.
• Frazier & Deeter: Atlanta-headquartered Top-50 CPA and advisory firm with strong mid-market, technology, and government contracting practices — closely comparable size, service mix, and Southeast geography.
• Wipfli: Top-20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with strong mid-market and PE-backed client base — comparable size, industry specialization, and outsourced accounting/managed services model.
• Plante Moran: Top-15 U.S. accounting and business advisory firm with deep industry specialization and an integrated services model — closely comparable in scale, family-of-services structure, and advisory orientation.
• Cherry Bekaert: Top-25 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with strong Southeast and government contracting presence — directly comparable in vertical mix, mid-market focus, and service line breadth.

Broad incumbents

• BDO USA: Top-5 U.S. accounting firm and BMSS's BDO Alliance USA sponsor — provides national resources that BMSS accesses while remaining independent; competes for the same mid-market and PE advisory work.
• Crowe: Top-10 U.S. public accounting and consulting firm with strong government contracting, healthcare, and financial services practices — competes for many of BMSS's vertical-specialized mid-market engagements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bmsscpas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith