Accounting networks have become a cornerstone of the modern professional services landscape, offering firms the ability to deliver global expertise while maintaining local autonomy. Baker Tilly SM Group in the UAE exemplifies this model. The newly licensed, independent entities have no legal or financial ties to previous Baker Tilly International members in the UAE – or indeed, elsewhere in the world. The Group embodies the network's values of transparency and integrity and sets the stage for a fresh approach to client relationships and business practices.
The Network Model: Unified Brand, Independent Entities
At the heart of accounting networks is a collaborative yet decentralized structure. Member firms join under a unified global brand, gaining access to shared resources, central quality monitoring, technical expertise, common brand and best practices. This arrangement empowers each entity to maintain autonomy in management and operations, allowing them to tailor services to local market needs while meeting international standards. The model supports cross-border projects and knowledge sharing, enabling firms to serve multinational clients efficiently and consistently.
Membership Management: Entry, Exit, and Transitions
Entry into an accounting network is typically governed by criteria, including professional qualifications, ethical standards, service quality, IT systems, firm culture and service capabilities. Prospective members undergo a due diligence process to ensure alignment with the network’s values, quality standards and strategic goals. Once admitted, firms benefit from increased credibility and access to a broader market, but they remain responsible for their own client base and operations.
Exit from the network can occur for various reasons, such as strategic realignment, non-compliance with network standards or voluntary withdrawal. When a member leaves, the network’s structure allows for a comprehensive transition: the departing firm relinquishes the global brand affiliation but retains its people and clients, while new members like Baker Tilly SM Group in the UAE can be licensed to join. A newly admitted firm will operate independently as a network member with its own team and clients. Any liabilities, including the regulatory sanctions of the respective entities, remain with the legal entity that has provided the services and do not transfer between the entities.
Importantly, there is no automatic link or obligation between current and previous members, ensuring that each entity starts afresh and upholds the network’s reputation for integrity and transparency.
Link Between Current and Previous Members
With the Baker Tilly SM Group in the UAE, the absence of ties to former members underscores the network’s commitment to independent operations. New members do not inherit client relationships, liabilities, regulatory sanctions or operational histories from their predecessors. This approach fosters trust and clarity for clients, as each member’s credentials and practices are evaluated on their own merits.
In summary, accounting networks like Baker Tilly International manage membership through a robust, transparent model that balances global cooperation with local independence. Entry and exit are carefully controlled, and transitions between members are designed to protect the integrity of the network and the interests of its people and clients.