What Berkower does

Berkower LLC is a privately-held Certified Public Accounting firm founded in 1985 and headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, with additional offices in Miami, Los Angeles, and Grand Cayman (operated through the co-founded subsidiary Rankin Berkower (Cayman) Ltd). The firm specializes in providing audit, tax preparation and consultation, and consulting services to alternative investment vehicles, including hedge funds, private equity funds, offshore funds, commodity pools, and fund of funds, as well as to broker-dealers, SEC registrants (IPOs/SPACs), cryptocurrency and digital-asset funds, not-for-profits, and general businesses. The firm claims to serve over 750 private investment companies and offshore funds, and was ranked 19th among top hedge fund auditors by Hedge Fund Alert in 2020. Services span financial statement audits, SSAE 18 SOC examinations, custody and performance examinations, reviews and compilations, due diligence, quality of earnings reports, tax controversy support, and start-up consulting for new fund formations. The firm does not operate proprietary technology platforms; service delivery is relationship-driven, executed by principals and senior staff through direct client engagement, professional referrals, and industry network channels.

The firm's revenue model is professional-services fee-based, billed per engagement based on scope and complexity, with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers. Berkower is PCAOB-registered, AICPA-affiliated (PCPS/CPCAF), licensed across 17 US states plus DC, and a member of IAPA's international correspondent network spanning ~45 countries. Core competitive differentiators are domain specialization in alternative investments (including the niche crypto/digital-asset sub-practice led by a Chartered Accountant from India), multi-jurisdictional regulatory coverage, and a partner-level bench with Big Four and 40+-year industry tenures. The client base is distributed across hundreds of small and mid-market funds rather than concentrated on a few anchor accounts, and recurring annual audit and tax engagements provide a predictable revenue base. Growth is driven incrementally through geographic expansion (LA, Miami, Cayman), vertical specialization (crypto funds, broker-dealers, SEC registrants), and professional-society-driven referral channels rather than through acquisitions, external funding, or technology platform plays.

Name

Berkower

Legal name

Berkower LLC

Website

https://berkower.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berkower is a CPA firm providing audit, tax, and consulting services to over 750 private investment companies, hedge funds, private equity funds, offshore funds, broker-dealers, and cryptocurrency funds, with offices in New Jersey, Florida, California, and the Cayman Islands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Fund Accounting and Auditing

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Trust Administration & Fiduciary Accounting Services (FSAAANAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Trust & Estate Tax Planning & Compliance (FSAEAKAE)

Keywords

• Investment fund auditing
• Hedge fund accounting
• Tax preparation services
• CPA advisory firm
• Alternative investment compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Iselin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Audit Services: Assurance and audit services for investment companies, hedge funds, private equity funds, offshore funds, commodity pools, and fund of funds. Includes financial statement audits, SSAE 18 SOC examinations, and custody examinations.
2. Tax Preparation and Consulting: Tax preparation, planning, and consultation services for investment funds, corporations, partnerships, and individuals. Includes tax controversy support and state/local tax guidance.
3. Consulting Services: Advisory services including performance examinations, due diligence, start-up consulting, organizational document review, structural and choice of entity matters, and quality of earnings reports.
4. Specialized Services: Reviews, compilations, litigation services, peer and quality reviews, and investor/third-party due diligence services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Berkower is a Certified Public Accounting firm providing start-up consulting, auditing, and tax preparation services to over 750 private investment companies, hedge funds, private equity funds, offshore funds, commodity pools, and fund of funds across the United States and Offshore (Cayman Islands). The firm also delivers specialized services such as performance examinations, custody examinations, SSAE 18 SOC reports, due diligence, quality of earnings reports, litigation support, and peer reviews.

Product overview

Berkower is a Certified Public Accounting firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services organized around three core areas: Audit (financial statement assurance, SSAE 18 SOC reports, peer reviews), Tax (preparation, planning, and consultation), and Consulting (due diligence, business advisory, litigation support). The firm specializes in serving private investment companies including hedge funds, private equity funds, commodity pools, fund of funds, and offshore funds, as well as broker-dealers, SEC registrants, and not-for-profit organizations. Additional services include bookkeeping, custody examinations, performance examinations, and quality of earnings reports. The firm has developed particular expertise in cryptocurrency and digital asset fund services and serves clients throughout the United States and offshore (Cayman Islands).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Audit Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 750 private investment companies and offshore funds
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Association of Practicing Accountants (IAPA)coreOthersGlobal association of independent accountancy firms providing professional services through a network of more than 275 offices in approximately 45 countries. Berkower's membership enables access to correspondent firms in major US cities and international locations.
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)coreOthersMembership in PCPS (Private Companies Practice Section) and CPCAF (Center for Public Company Audit Firms). Firm policies and practices subjected to periodic peer review.
• Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)coreOthersRegistered with and subject to regular inspection by the PCAOB, enabling the firm to serve public company audit clients.
• New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA)coreOthersCommittee membership including Investment Companies, Investment Management, Private Equity, and Stock Brokerage Committees. Provides networking and professional development opportunities within the New York financial services community.
• Rankin Berkower (Cayman) LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded offshore entity in Cayman Islands. Maurice Berkower serves as Co-Founder and Director. Enables the firm to serve offshore fund clients and provides international alternative investments practice group leadership across US and offshore jurisdictions.
• Florida Alternative Investment AssociationminorOthersMaurice Berkower serves as Board Member and Treasurer. Provides networking and industry advocacy within the Florida alternative investment community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Grant Thornton: Large mid-tier accounting firm with a significant Financial Services practice serving investment funds and broker-dealers. Comparable service portfolio but at materially greater scale and breadth than Berkower.
• BDO USA: Large global accounting network with a dedicated Financial Services and alternative investment fund practice. Competes with Berkower for fund audit engagements but operates as a broad incumbent across industries.

Direct peers

• EisnerAmper: Mid-sized CPA and advisory firm with a deep alternative investment fund practice serving hedge funds, private equity funds, and offshore vehicles. Highly comparable to Berkower in service mix and target market, materially larger in scale.
• Citrin Cooperman: Mid-sized CPA and advisory firm serving investment funds, broker-dealers, and other financial services clients. Comparable in mid-tier position, fund-industry specialization, and multi-office US footprint.
• Cohen & Company: CPA and advisory firm specializing in investment funds, broker-dealers, and alternative investment entities. Comparable in niche focus, complex fund structures, and broker-dealer audit work, with a similar multi-jurisdictional footprint.
• Anchin, Block & Anchin: NYC-based CPA firm with a dedicated Investment Management practice serving private investment funds, broker-dealers, and family offices. Comparable in service mix and concentration on alternative investment clients.
• Marks Paneth: NYC-based CPA and advisory firm with a strong investment management practice serving hedge funds, private equity, and other alternative investment vehicles. Closely comparable to Berkower's fund-audit and tax specialization.
• Withum: Mid-tier CPA firm with a dedicated Financial Services practice serving hedge funds, private equity funds, and fund-of-funds. Directly comparable to Berkower in service offering and fund-industry specialization.
• CohnReznick: Top-25 US accounting firm with a strong Financial Services practice serving investment funds, broker-dealers, and real estate entities. Comparable in fund-audit and tax specialization, materially larger than Berkower.

Regional players

• Kaufman Rossin: Florida-based CPA and advisory firm with a recognized alternative investment fund practice serving hedge funds and private equity vehicles. Comparable in fund-audit focus, primarily competing in the southeastern US with overlapping geographic territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/berkowerllc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berkower

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Berkower