SYRACUSE — It’s no longer only multimillion-dollar conglomerates that have operations spanning the globe, Dannible & McKee Managing Partner Anthony Dannible says. “You’re dealing with a much more international flavor for almost every client because every client has expanded beyond the U.S. border,” he says. And that doesn’t mean just a lonely sales office in […]
SYRACUSE — It’s no longer only multimillion-dollar conglomerates that have operations spanning the globe, Dannible & McKee Managing Partner Anthony Dannible says.
“You’re dealing with a much more international flavor for almost every client because every client has expanded beyond the U.S. border,” he says.
And that doesn’t mean just a lonely sales office in Toronto either. Dannible says his accounting firm’s clients have operations in Mexico, South America, and Europe. Many Central New York manufacturers maintain joint ventures with firms in China.
Businesses like Dannible & McKee have to add international capabilities as well as a result. The firm announced in March it joined the Geneva Group International (GGI), a worldwide organization of law, accounting, and consulting firms based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Now, Dannible says, if a client of his firm with a site in Germany needs some audit work done overseas, Dannible & McKee can refer the local company to a GGI member. And can do so with confidence, Dannible notes.
The group’s members are vetted before they join the organization so the firms know all of the companies involved have met the same standards.
GGI members have 592 offices in 100 countries. Members range in size from 500 employees to 50. Syracuse–based Dannible & McKee employs 85 people.
It would be difficult, Dannible says, and maybe impossible for Dannible & McKee to form partnerships with firms around the world on its own. And there’s no way the firm could vet other businesses as carefully as GGI does, he adds.
“You have confidence that member that you’re working with has achieved certain professional standards,” he says.
Clients have been clamoring for more international services for at least five years, Dannible adds. One firm Dannible & McKee works with regularly has an operation in Brazil and another maintains operations in Puerto Rico.
The firm has also been working with an Italian company with operations in the Central New York area.
The membership in GGI could lead to new business opportunities for the firm. Other group members have already contacted Dannible & McKee about doing some local work for clients, Dannible says.
The group also offers a number of education opportunities for members, he adds. GGI maintains practice groups around topics like estate planning, international tax law, mergers and acquisitions, and more.
The group hosts conferences around the world so members can keep up on the latest news and trends in their businesses, Dannible says.
“You’re kept on the cutting edge of new developments,” he says. “That was important to us.”
Contact Tampone at ktampone@cnybj.com
