Carr, Riggs & Ingram Acquired Morrison & Smith

The accounting firm has purchased the Tuscaloosa-based business to grow its presence in western Alabama.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Professional Services

A modern professional services building with a red brick and glass facade sits in soft daylight in Tuscaloosa. — Accounting firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram has acquired Tuscaloosa-based public accounting practice Morrison & Smith, marking a formal expansion into western Alabama. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Accounting and advisory practice Carr, Riggs & Ingram has finalized the acquisition of Morrison & Smith, a public accounting firm established in 1951. Following the transition, the acquired office will operate under the CRI brand.

Why it matters

The deal allows Carr, Riggs & Ingram to establish a formal footprint in Tuscaloosa while expanding its professional service reach throughout western Alabama. By absorbing the long-standing local firm, the buyer gains immediate regional expertise.

Carr, Riggs & Ingram has now completed more than 100 mergers and acquisitions throughout its history. The acquired entity, Morrison & Smith, brings a client service legacy dating back to its founding in 1951.

The players

Carr, Riggs & Ingram

This is a US-based accounting and advisory practice that has pursued an aggressive expansion strategy via mergers.

Morrison & Smith

Operating in Tuscaloosa since 1951, this firm provides public accounting services to the local community.

Koltin Consulting Group

This firm specializes in providing advisory and consulting services for accounting firm mergers and acquisitions.

The details

Morrison & Smith staff will remain at their existing Tuscaloosa premises to ensure continuity for their clients. Koltin Consulting Group served as the adviser for both firms throughout the transaction process.

Morrison & Smith was established in 1951.
CRI began receiving funding from investment partners in late 2024.
The acquisition was officially announced on October 5, 2026.

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Market Landscape

This move reflects the ongoing consolidation trend in the public accounting industry as national firms rapidly scale their regional footprints. By acquiring established local practices, larger firms are effectively bypassing the time required to build organic market share in new territories.

Existing clients of Morrison & Smith will continue to work with their current staff at the same physical office location. While the brand name is changing to CRI, the day-to-day services and office access for local businesses remain unaffected.

The takeaway

The transition demonstrates how professional service firms prioritize long-standing local reputations when entering new markets. Clients should monitor future service announcements to see if the firm introduces new advisory capabilities to the area.