You design what gets built. We help you build the business behind it.
Boulay works with nearly 50 architecture, engineering, and design firms across 16 states — from single-office studios to 1000-plus-person, multi-state, employee-owned firms. We understand project-based revenue, work-in-process (WIP), percentage-of-completion accounting, multi-state tax exposure, and ownership transition, because they are the daily reality of our A&E clients — not an edge case.
A CPA firm architects & engineering firms rely on
50+
Architecture and engineering firms served
16+
States in which Boulay provides accounting, tax and advisory for architecture and engineering firms
1934
Became independently run and owner-led, with no proprietary product pressure
340+
Total team members at Boulay, including 100+ CPAs with expertise across assurance, tax, advisory, and wealth.
IPA Top 100 Firm
Minnesota’s 6th largest firm, with the partner-level attention clients expect from a smaller team
PrimeGlobal Member
Global reach and resources to support multi-state and international needs
ACEC-Minnesota
Actively engaged with Minnesota’s engineering industry through ACEC-Minnesota
What does Boulay do for architecture and engineering firms?
Assurance, tax, and advisory services built for design firms — including audits and reviews, 401(k) plan audits, federal and multi-state tax compliance, R&D tax credits, cost segregation, valuation, employee retirement plans, and ownership-transition and ESOP planning.
Why do A&E firms need an industry-specialized CPA?
Design firms run on project-based revenue, long-cycle contracts, and multi-state work — complexity a generalist can’t shortcut. An A&E-focused team already speaks your business, so you spend less time explaining and more time acting.
Where is Boulay located and who does it serve?
Boulay is an independent, Minnesota-based CPA and advisory firm (offices in Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, and Mankato) serving A&E firms locally and nationally. Boulay has been trusted since 1934 and is an IPA Top 100 firm and PrimeGlobal member.
Built for the Way A&E Firms Operate
Fluent in your model
Percentage-of-completion, WIP, change orders, and long-cycle revenue — no need to educate us.
Built for multi-state
SALT nexus studies, apportionment, and returns filed in all states as your footprint grows.
Margin-protecting tax
R&D credits, cost segregation, and fixed-asset planning coordinated with your full position.
Ownership Transition & ESOP
Ownership Transition & ESOP Feasibility studies, repurchase-obligation studies, and succession for employee-owned firms.
Peer benchmarking
Your metrics in context against a deep bench of A&E firms — compliance becomes intelligence.
Accounting & Consulting Services for Architect & Engineering Firms
Assurance
- Financial statement audits, reviews & compilations
- Employee benefit plan / 401(k) audits
- Agreed-upon procedures
- Overhead-rate audit & overhead consulting
- Risk advisory, internal controls & SOC services
- Assurance readiness & GAPP conversion
Tax
- Federal & multi-state (SALT) compliance
- Nexus studies & apportionment planning
- R&D tax credit
- Cost segregation studies
- International / foreign subsidiary tax
- Section 179D Studies
- Owner & individual tax planning
- Individual estate & trust tax planning
Advisory
- Outsourced Accounting
- Business Valuations
- Transaction Advisory
- Post Acquisition Accounting
- Business transformation Consulting
- ESOP Advisory & Administration
- Owner Transition /Business Succession
- Employer Retirement plan design & administration
Wealth
- Estate & trust legal planning
- Personal financial planning
- Wealth Management
- Family Office
Boulay's A&E Advisors
Working with Boulay: A&E FAQs
Either. Our Outsourced Accounting Services team can act as your full outsourced accounting function or plug in around an existing bookkeeper or controller — from fractional controller support to month-end close — scaled to what your firm needs.
We work with nearly 50 architecture and engineering firms, so you skip the ramp-up. Our teams already understand WIP, utilization, project accounting, and the tax positions specific to design firms — and we bring assurance, tax, advisory, and wealth under one roof.
We coordinate the transition with your prior accountant, review recent filings and workpapers, and map your books and open items so nothing falls through the cracks between firms — whether you move at year-end or mid-cycle.
Yes. We work within your current systems rather than forcing a switch, and can recommend improvements only where they’ll clearly save time or strengthen reporting.
Engagements are scoped to your firm’s size and complexity and agreed up front, so there are no surprises. Reach out for a conversation and a tailored proposal.
From single-office studios to multi-office, multi-state firms of 1,000-plus people, with service teams scaled to each firm’s complexity.
Let's talk about your firm's numbers — and your next phase of growth.
Whether you’re tightening project profitability, expanding into new states, or planning an ownership transition, Boulay’s architecture & engineering team is ready to help.