Accounting giant makes a small push

Accounting giant Arthur Andersen LLP has swept up its second local accounting firm in six months as part of its strategy to serve the small business market.

Kopperman & Wolf Co., a 41-year-old Cleveland-based accounting firm, will be unit of Arthur Andersen May 1 but will continue to serve its current clients with its existing staff, said Keith Libman, managing partner of Kopperman & Wolf.

Neither Mr. Libman nor Dett Hunter, managing partner for Chicago-based Arthur Andersen's four offices in Ohio, would comment on the financial terms of the transaction.

Jim Wolf, one of the Kopperman founders, said he is excited about the transaction because it will enlarge Kopperman's scope.

"It made perfect sense to align ourselves with Arthur...