Sikich recently welcomed back principal Antony Nettleton, who will help oversee the company’s continued growth initiatives. We sat down to catch up with him to get a better understanding of the current industry landscape and why Sikich is uniquely positioned to help its clients succeed.
What are the largest growth challenges facing businesses today and how do they get ahead of uncertainty?
AN: Businesses today are fully capable of growth in “challenging times” despite various headwinds we keep a pulse on. Economic volatility driven by inflation, tariffs, global conflict and relatively high interest rates are making long-term business planning and forecasting more difficult. There’s a wave of technological disruption coupled with the fear of missing out on advancements like AI and new systems. It’s driving companies to move quicker than ever before, navigating how to balance risk with innovation. But, to round out what today’s leaders face, this pace of business sometimes will pit doing the “right thing” hard against short-term profitability, bringing the balance of being a responsible leader to the forefront of decision-making.
Despite all this, getting ahead of uncertainty is feasible with the right strategy. Build an agile business plan with different scenarios with shorter term measurement periods and have responses to events planned. Invest in robust data to make decisions that don’t solely rely on instinct or experience; keep that data clean, sorted and updated. Work to build and foster a continuous innovation culture; if you can’t afford to be at the bleeding edge, figure out how to be a fast follower.
The most important element of riding the waves of uncertainty are your people: your customers, vendors and team. People are the nucleus of innovation and success, and companies need to go above and beyond to nurture them. At Sikich, our teams have a bias for action and share a unity of purpose for this, and I’m proud of the work our people do face uncertainty with courage.
Where do you see the middle market headed and why is Sikich uniquely positioned to better serve its clients?
AN: The middle market is entering a period of meaningful transition. As interest rates begin to ease, we expect a renewed wave of private equity activity after several years of relative restraint. At the same time, many family-owned businesses are reaching natural inflection points. Owners are considering retirement, succession plans aren’t always clear and the next chapter of ownership is coming into focus. Together, these dynamics point to increased transaction activity and a growing need for thoughtful guidance as companies navigate complex, high-stakes decisions.
Sikich is uniquely positioned to support businesses through this moment. We work alongside both family-owned and private equity–backed organizations to help them thoughtfully evaluate what’s next. Whether that’s preparing for a sale, pursuing growth through acquisition or modernizing operations to remain competitive. Our investment banking and transaction advisory teams help owners maximize value and bring clarity to the process, while also helping buyers truly understand what they’re acquiring so there are no surprises down the road.
Equally important, we help companies build the foundation they need for the future. Our technology professionals partner with growing businesses as they transition from basic bookkeeping to robust ERP systems, improve how they manage and extract value from data and thoughtfully explore how AI can support smarter decision-making. Our compliance professionals are exclusively dedicated to servicing the middle market. Because we don’t carry the overhead associated with serving public companies, we’re also able to deliver high-quality audit and tax services at a more accessible price point, an important advantage at a time when organizations are under increasing pressure to manage SG&A costs.
What excites you the most returning to Sikich during this phase of growth?
AN: Sikich has a suite of services broader than our competition, and we proudly deliver these services in a focused, tailored and cost-effective manner. The balance between home grown talent and those who have joined us from larger companies provides a diverse environment where new ideas are plentiful. Because we bring end-to-end expertise under one roof – from transaction advisory and compliance to technology and data – we help clients move seamlessly from strategy to execution. That integrated model reduces friction, shortens decision cycles, and gives leaders confidence that plans won’t stall at implementation.
This combination of breadth, pragmatism and hands-on execution allows us to meet clients where they are and help them move forward with confidence. As more organizations experience that difference firsthand, I’m confident Sikich’s reputation and momentum will continue to grow.
About Sikich
Sikich offers the public and private sectors a diverse platform of professional services across consulting, technology and compliance. Highly specialized and hands-on teams deliver integrated solutions rooted in deep industry experience. Our approach is strategically and thoughtfully designed to help our clients, teams and communities accelerate success.
Sikich has approximately 2,500 team members and operates across North America, EMEA and APAC.
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