The History of Sikich

Sikich can trace its roots back to 1928, with the formation of a small CPA firm in Champaign, Illinois. Steady growth of this practice brought about the addition of two branch offices, one in Springfield and one in Aurora. In 1982, when the Champaign office merged with a national CPA firm, the remaining two offices adopted Sikich Gardner & Co as their corporate name. Over the next decade, Sikich Gardner experienced substantial growth, and became a leading provider of accounting services.

Throughout most of the firm’s history Sikich appeared much like other traditional public accounting firms, providing accounting, tax and general consulting services. By the mid 1990’s, the Firm reached a juncture where it could either continue to operate along the conventional lines of a CPA practice or begin to create a dynamic professional services firm that would encompass a broader array of skill sets and open market potential.

In 1996, Sikich partners launched the Firm in a new direction, one that would have far-reaching consequences for business, employees, and clients. By expanding into nontraditional service areas—Sikich became a true multi-discipline, professional services practice.

Over the ensuing decade, Sikich experienced exponential growth and became one of the country’s 50 largest CPA firms. Today only about 50% of the Firm’s service offerings would be considered customary for a public accounting firm. Like most successful enterprises, Sikich continues to evolve and expand its capabilities—adding new services, enhancing technical proficiencies, and extending geographic reach.