Armanino expands private equity industry offerings, appoints practice leader

Armanino, a national accounting and consulting firm, announced plans to expand its private equity (PE) industry offerings and capabilities. The San Ramon, CA-based firm has appointed Bryan Graiff, former head of transaction advisory services, to lead the practice.

Graiff will now focus on serving a rapidly growing PE sector, leading a team supporting PE firms and their portfolio companies with strategic growth, operational efficiencies, and technology opportunities.

The mid-market accountancy supports more than 1,200 portfolio companies and sees an opportunity to provide further services across all phases of the investment cycle.

Demand for M&A advisory has retracted amid higher interest rates, fewer sources of capital, and a worsening economic climate. However, PE firms still require advice on improving the performance of their portfolio companies.

“After years of rapid M&A activity and growth, we are seeing many in the PE industry trying to catch their breath and focus on operations to increase valuations,” Graiff said. “Armanino’s deep experience in these areas can support any business or PE firm as they prepare for windows of opportunity to capitalize, whether that be through a sale or an IPO.”

Based in St. Louis, Graiff has more than 25 years of experience in management consulting, finance function leadership, and audit. He joined Armanino in 2013 and previously led the transaction advisory and forensic litigation practices.

Graiff was previously COO and CFO of retailer Life Uniform, CFO of Whelan Security, and corporate controller of ICL Performance Products and LMI Aerospace. He began his career at Arthur Andersen, where he was an audit manager.

Graiff has an MBA from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“There is no one better suited to lead our Private Equity industry practice forward than Bryan Graiff,” said Matt Armanino, CEO and managing partner of Armanino. “As a former controller and C-suite executive at multiple companies involved in private equity, IPOs and acquisitions, Bryan understands the distinct needs of our clients on both the buying and selling sides, which gives him a great advantage in setting the strategic direction of our practice as we work to develop the best solutions possible to meet our clients’ evolving needs today and tomorrow.”

Armanino is the 21st largest accountancy in the US, according to Inside Public Accounting, with more than 2,500 employees and annual revenue of $444.1 million.

“Armanino is one of the only firms that has the scale and knowledge to provide outsourcing support for any stage of a company in the private equity lifecycle,” Graiff added. “Additionally, we understand the industry-specific challenges of technology, manufacturing, real estate, and healthcare portfolio companies and can add value for portfolio companies as well as PE sponsor firms in these sectors.”

Armanino last month acquired Nashville-based music business management firm Blue Sky Group and music rights and royalty auditing firm Royalty Compliance Organization.