Rose Partners adds QLD counterpart MSI Taylor in national expansion bid

Melbourne-based accounting and consulting firm Rose Partners has acquired Queensland counterpart MSI Taylor as part of a national expansion bid, growing its partnership count to eight.

A member of the MSI global alliance, MSI Taylor was established in 1990 and provides accounting, audit, tax, and advisory services to clients out of its two offices in Brisbane and Robina on the Gold Coast, with a particular focus on the pharmacy sector.

Backed by AZ NGA since 2023, the acquisition sees Rose Partners’ headcount climb to eight partners and altogether more than 80 professionals, and was described as the next step in its strategic ambition towards becoming a national mid-tier firm.

“Expanding along the east coast is a natural progression for our business,” said Rose Partners chief operating officer and partner Natasha Chambers. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for smaller firms to attract, develop and retain talent, and we want to partner with these firms to help them achieve their goals and position themselves for long-term success.”

Led by long-term managing partner Michael Sojka, Rose Partners has been operating out of its Melbourne base since 1976 and provides a range of services covering advisory, taxation, financial planning, business strategy, valuations and transaction support to clients across various sectors, including for healthcare businesses via its dedicated practice, Rose Health.

The 50 year-old firm however received a significant boost in 2023 via a capital injection from AZ NGA (which also has a stake in fellow Melbourne advisory Mclean Delmo Bentleys), with Chambers saying the added resources would fuel Rose Partners continued expansion in Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast and potentially Adelaide through both M&A and organic growth.

In line with Rose Partners’ own speciality in the healthcare segment, including pharmacies, dentists, specialist & general medical practitioners and even veterinary practices, MSI Taylor was seen as a natural and highly complementary first step in firm’s expansion up the east coast, with both firms already sharing a number of mutual corporate and pharmacy clients.

“MSI Taylor is an exceptional business with high calibre clients and a similar philosophy and culture to us, which makes them the ideal fit,” stated Rose Partners partner Ben Simon. “Together we can increase our capability and capacity, drive efficiencies, and capture growth opportunities.”

With a strong line in M&A, structuring, and financial management and planning already well established, MSI Taylor managing partner Matthew Harris said the merger with Rose Partners would further expand its services portfolio, while also bringing other benefits such as a dedicated management team and increased professional development opportunities for employees.

“This deal frees me up to focus on the areas I’m good at and where I can add the most value, which is working with clients,” Harris said. “Both businesses are aligned in terms of our values and there is an overlap of specialist skills, but Rose Partners is also very strong in some areas where we are lacking and vice versa, so there is a lot of opportunity here.”