Grant Thornton Advisors has taken a major step to modernize and scale its advisory services by joining forces with Auxis, a pioneering technology-enabled outsourcing firm. The acquisition brings in significant nearshore talent and deep digital-transformation capability, aligning with Grant Thornton’s ambition to build a global, cutting-edge advisory platform powered by automation and AI.
Deal Summary
- Acquirer: Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, the advisory and tax business unit under the Grant Thornton brand.
- Target: Auxis, a consulting firm specialized in shared services, outsourcing, automation, and digital transformation.
- Geography & Team: Auxis employs more than 1,400 professionals across Costa Rica, Colombia, and the U.S., including delivery centers in Latin America.
- Service Scope: Auxis specializes in tech-enabled shared services covering finance, IT, HR, customer experience, and industry-specific digital solutions. It also delivers advanced automation and AI capabilities.
- Strategic Rationale: The deal supports Grant Thornton Advisors’ ambition to differentiate its advisory offering by embedding automation, nearshore delivery scale, and cross-border operational capacity.
- Platform Build-Out: The acquisition helps fortify the multinational advisory platform that Grant Thornton Advisors launched in January 2025.
- PE Backing: Grant Thornton Advisors’ platform has been built with investment from New Mountain Capital, enabling it to execute transformational M&A.
Industry Context
The professional services and consulting sector is undergoing a wave of consolidation, with advisory firms increasingly acquiring capabilities in automation, outsourcing, and technology-led services. As clients demand more than traditional consulting - seeking scalable, tech-driven execution - firms like Grant Thornton are integrating high-capability nearshore partners to remain competitive.
Nearshoring has become especially attractive: Latin American talent offers cultural alignment, cost efficiency, and high technical aptitude. By pairing this capacity with an advisory business, platforms can deliver both strategy and execution - a powerful value proposition for enterprise clients navigating digital transformation.
Lower-Middle-Market Roll-Up Perspective
From a roll-up strategy standpoint, the Grant Thornton-Auxis deal exemplifies thoughtful platform building:
- Capability-Led Acquisition: Rather than buying more traditional advisory services, Grant Thornton is acquiring deep tech-enabled execution capacity.
- Scalable Delivery Model: Auxis’ shared services footprint gives Grant Thornton access to scalable operations across finance, IT, and HR.
- Talent & Innovation Preservation: Auxis’ leadership and delivery teams remain in place, allowing Grant Thornton to maintain continuity while scaling.
- Global Platform Ambition: This deal is part of a broader build-out across geographies and service lines, including recent deals with Stax (transaction advisory) and expansion into European and LatAm markets.
- Tech-First Vision: Backed by significant PE capital, Grant Thornton is investing heavily in AI and automation - signaling long-term commitment to digital advisory.
Why This Sector Is Attractive for Roll-Ups
- Fragmented Tech & Advisory Landscape: Many advisory firms lack in-house automation and nearshore capacity; this creates a clear M&A opportunity.
- Recurring Outsourcing Demand: Clients increasingly want ongoing, tech-enabled operations support - not just traditional consulting.
- Global Scale Potential: Nearshore firms like Auxis offer a path to scale delivery globally at lower cost.
- Digital Transformation Tailwinds: Automation and AI are no longer optional - they're central to modern advisory business models.
- PE-Fueled Innovation: Private equity investors are backing platforms that combine consulting, shared services, and digital execution.
Conclusion
Grant Thornton Advisors’ acquisition of Auxis is a forward-looking move that accelerates its transformation into an advisory firm capable of delivering both high-level strategy and tech-powered execution. By marrying Auxis’ nearshore delivery and automation expertise with its advisory footprint, Grant Thornton is positioning itself as a modern professional services platform for a digitally driven world.
For investors and operators, this deal underscores the value of platform M&A that captures both talent and technology. For clients, it means broader access to end-to-end, scalable advisory and operations support. And for legacy consulting firms, it highlights a growing pathway: align with scale-ambitious platforms that value innovation, nearshore capacity, and cross-border delivery.