New York firm buys Huckstep & Associates

Specializing in accounting software consultation and support, Huckstep & Associates founder Jeannie Huckstep has amassed more than 350 clients in the nonprofit and public sectors across 35 states. Its roughly seven employeeshave experience in payroll, human resources, audits and grant reporting, with an emphasis on supporting Sage software.

In the deal, the release said Huckstep clients would have access to Net@Work’s business technology solutions and IT consulting services, including document and enterprise content management, custom Web development, e-commerce and marketing automation.

“Just about every nonprofit is trying to do more with less in managing fund accounting, time keeping, customer management and maintaining smooth day-to-day operations,” Jeannie Huckstep said in the release. “Joining Net@Work enables us to expand support for Sage Nonprofit, and provide our customers with a single source for all their business and IT needs. As fellow Sage business partners, we've known Net@Work for some time now, and have always been impressed with their high level competency and our shared focus on customer support.”

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Huckstep is taking on the role of Net@Work’s nonprofit practice director. She and her team will keep its headquarters in Springfield, the release said, and another office will operate in Okemos, Mich.

“For years, we’ve worked with a number of prominent nonprofits and have been waiting for the right opportunity – which is to say, the right partner – to establish a dedicated nonprofit practice,” said Net@Work co-President Alex Solomon, in the release. “Jeannie Huckstep and her team bring unmatched expertise in fund accounting, HR, payroll and software implementation, with a deep understanding of the inner workings and needs of nonprofits and government agencies.”

Messages today on Huckstep.com and NetAtWork.com inform clients of the acquisition.

Founded in the early 1990s, Huckstep & Associates has grown its business through acquisitions. In December 2008,Huckstep acquired the Sage MIP Fund Accounting practice of the Clifton Gunderson LLP Peoria, Ill., office, which covers Chicago, downstate Illinois and Indiana. In May 2009, the company acquired Dallas-based Tut Services.