RSM has merged its Croatian member firm with UHY Croatia, creating a combined practice of 57 professionals across three offices in Zagreb, Split and Koprivnica.

The unified business will operate under joint leadership. Ivan Marković, from the existing RSM member firm in Croatia, and Krešimir Budiša, formerly of UHY Croatia, will both serve as managing partners.

The merged firm will serve domestic Croatian companies as well as inbound international investors. Advisers from the two legacy firms have together supported organisations in securing approximately €300m ($334m) in project funding, according to a statement announcing the deal.

What does the merger combine?

Marković said the merger unites two firms with complementary strengths rather than overlapping ones.

He said: “This merger is particularly impactful given it unites two firms with complementary expertise. RSM's firm in Croatia brings a long-standing and respected audit practice with offices in Zagreb and Koprivnica.”

He added: “Meanwhile, the UHY team brings extensive tax, consulting, accounting and European Union funds expertise and a strong position in the Adriatic region.”

The combined operation therefore spans audit, tax, consulting, accounting and EU funds advisory — a full-service model (a firm offering the complete range of professional services rather than a single discipline). Marković framed the deal as a question of scale and reach.

He said: “Working together we now have the scale, geographic coverage and full service offering to build RSM into a leading provider of professional services in Croatia and support the network across the wider region.”

Why is RSM consolidating now?

The Croatian agreement sits inside a broader growth pattern for RSM across Central Europe. The network reported a 20% year-on-year revenue rise in the region, a cumulative increase of 41% since it launched its 2030 global strategy in 2022.

The merger also follows network expansion in the Baltics this year, with AS RSM Latvia and RSM Lithuania both joining RSM International.

RSM International CEO E.J. Nedder endorsed the Croatian transaction in direct terms.

He said: “We are delighted to welcome this merger, and look forward to the firm's development under the expert stewardship of Krešimir and Ivan.”

What does the deal mean for clients?

Nedder positioned the merger as a deliberate strategic step rather than an opportunistic combination. He said the deal “marks an important and intentional step in strengthening RSM's presence in Croatia and across our wider European region.”

He added: “By bringing together two established firms, we are expanding our scale and ability to better serve our clients locally, nationally and globally.”

The combined footprint gives the firm coverage in three Croatian cities: the capital Zagreb, the coastal hub of Split and the northern town of Koprivnica. The legacy RSM firm held offices in Zagreb and Koprivnica, while the UHY team contributed the Adriatic regional position and the Split presence.

For inbound investors, the merger concentrates EU funds expertise — advisory work on securing European Union financing programmes — alongside audit and tax capabilities within a single provider. The €300m in project funding already obtained by advisers from the two firms signals the combined practice's track record in that segment.

The transaction consolidates Croatia's professional services market further under a global network banner, and it aligns with RSM's stated trajectory: 41% regional revenue growth over three years, Baltic entries in 2025, and now a scaled Croatian platform intended to anchor the network's wider European expansion.