ATLANTA – Feb. 12, 2026 – Aprio, the 24th largest business advisory and accounting firm in the U.S., is expanding its advisory and audit capabilities with the addition of three partners: Max Heller, Alec Sowards, and Katie Deutschler. The new partners strengthen Aprio’s talent across transaction advisory, financial services, and manufacturing & distribution, enhancing the firm’s ability to serve clients in markets nationwide.
Max Heller | Philadelphia Market Growth Leader | Northeast Transaction Advisory Services Leader | Partner, Transaction Advisory Services
Max Heller, based in Philadelphia, joins Aprio as the Philadelphia Market Growth Leader, Northeast Transaction Advisory Services Leader, and Partner, strengthening the firm’s ability to serve clients in the Philadelphia market and across the broader Northeast corridor while accelerating the growth of its transaction advisory and M&A practice throughout the region. With more than 20 years of experience in M&A advisory, buy- and sell-side due diligence, and corporate development, Max advises middle-market companies, private equity sponsors, business owners, and venture-backed startups on growth strategy, acquisitions, exits, and value creation. Prior to joining Aprio, Max founded and scaled a national M&A advisory practice and has held leadership roles at top five accounting firms.
Max earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Susquehanna University and is actively involved with the Exit Planning Institute (Philadelphia Chapter) and the Association for Corporate Growth.
Alec Sowards, CPA | Financial Services Audit Partner
Alec Sowards, based in Dallas, joins Aprio as a Partner in Audit to expand the Financial Services practice in the Southwest. With over 15 years of experience leading complex assurance and advisory engagements at a Big Four firm, Alec specializes in financial services, including banking, capital markets, captive finance, asset management, venture capital, insurance, and broader consumer lending. He brings extensive experience in SOX controls assessments, ERP and financial reporting system implementations, and advisory support for public and private clients.
Alec earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance and a Master’s in Accountancy from Abilene Christian University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Texas, serves as Treasurer at Shared Housing Center, a Dallas-based not-for-profit, and is a member of the Texas AICPA.
Katie Deutschler, CPA | Manufacturing & Distribution Audit Partner
Katie Deutschler, based in Atlanta, joins Aprio as a Partner in Audit, leading client engagements primarily focused on financial statement audits for the Manufacturing & Distribution industry. Katie brings deep technical experience advising public and private companies through operational complexity, evolving reporting requirements, and strategic transactions. Katie partners closely with CFOs, controllers, and finance leaders to deliver practical insights, strengthen financial processes and internal controls, and enhance audit readiness as organizations scale. Her experience managing financial reporting and consolidation at a multinational beverage manufacturer gives her a distinct client-side perspective and practical understanding of the challenges her clients face.
She is an alumna of the Georgia Institute of Technology Scheller College of Business and actively volunteers, serving as Treasurer on the board of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia. She recently joined the board of The Breman, a museum in Atlanta.
Visit aprio.com to learn more.
About Aprio
Aprio is redefining what it means to be a global advisory and accounting firm. We help businesses and individuals Account for Anything™ — delivering clarity and confidence in a world full of unknowns. Aprio is the brand name under which Aprio, LLP, and Aprio Advisory Group, LLC deliver professional services to clients worldwide. Aprio Advisory Group, LLC provides advisory, tax, legal, wealth, and talent solutions to help build value, drive growth, manage risk, and protect wealth, while Aprio, LLP delivers audit and attest services with uncompromising quality and integrity. With more than 2,800 team members serving clients in 50+ countries and $5.5B in assets under management, Aprio is consistently recognized as a Top Workplace, celebrated for transformative growth on the Inc. 5000 and Inc. Power Partners lists, and led by Richard Kopelman, named to Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting. Learn more at Aprio.com.
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