SKOKIE, Ill., Jan. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- SS&G is pleased to announce its merger with Silver, Lerner, Schwartz & Fertel (SLSF), a professional accounting and business planning firm serving the Chicago metropolitan area.

The merger adds 45 professionals, doubling its number in the Chicagoland market. 

SS&G's roster now surpasses 500 professionals for the first time in its history. The addition marks the third merger in the Chicagoland marketplace. The first occurred in 2010 with the addition of the Des Plaines office, followed by SS&G's downtown Chicago office in 2011. Michael L. Perlman, SLSF's managing partner, will serve as managing director of SS&G's newest office in Skokie, Ill., and will lead its Chicagoland operations.

"SLSF is a great firm with terrific clients, and we're excited to begin a new year with such a stellar group," said Gary Shamis, managing director of SS&G. "When we entered the market in October 2010, we naturally planned for growth. But the rate at which we've experienced it has surpassed all expectations."

The merger will considerably enhance SS&G's restaurant, health care, real estate, and nonprofit practices and provide SLSF clients additional value.

"SS&G and SLSF have similar service-oriented, client-focused, employee-centric cultures," Perlman said. "Those factors - combined with the fact we're both entrepreneurial, independent firms - make it a natural fit."

ABOUT SS&G
SS&G is a full-service certified public accounting, business advisory, and management consulting firm encompassing assurance, tax, employee benefits, and restaurant accounting services. SS&G also provides a broad scope of services through its health care, wealth management, business consulting, and payroll affiliates. With offices in Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio, and more than 500 employees, SS&G is one of the nation's largest independent accounting and business consulting firms. SS&G is a founding member of LEA Global, an international professional association of independently owned accounting and consulting firms.

SOURCE SS&G