PIA strengthens its position with audit services and international network
HLB Belgium: no. 10 in Belgium
With the addition of HLB Belgium, PIA Group welcomes one of Belgium’s leading accountancy, audit and advisory firms. HLB Belgium ranks among the top 10 multidisciplinary business service providers in the country. The firm operates five offices - Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Kortrijk and Liège - and employs more than 90 professionals. HLB Belgium’s roots date back to 1923, with the founding of Sefico and Antwerp-based Fiducia, which later merged to form the current organisation. Since 2009, HLB Belgium has been a member of HLB International, the world’s 8th largest network of independent accountancy and advisory firms. Although HLB Belgium is part of this international network, it retains full autonomy over its strategy, operations and client approach, underpinning the firm’s independence and strong local foundations.
Respect for the DNA
Within PIA Group, HLB Belgium retains its distinct identity, just like the other PIA offices. Active in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, the international accountancy, audit and advisory group acquires firms with respect for their DNA, internal operations and the entrepreneurship of their partners. This clearly sets PIA Group apart from other players in the market, who fully integrate acquired firms. Instead, PIA Group adheres to the principle of ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’, enhancing the entrepreneurship of partner firms with various support services such as IT and HR. This support was one of the key motivators for HLB Belgium to join PIA Group. “HLB International is primarily a business and knowledge network,” says Patrick Van Impe, Managing Partner at HLB Belgium. “But as accountants and auditors in our industry, we are confronted with numerous other challenges: rapid digitalisation, ever-tightening regulations, the rise of AI, etc. PIA Group provides the right services and framework to support us in these areas. Conversely, HLB Belgium offers numerous synergies that can help accelerate PIA Group’s growth and that’s where we found common ground.”
Reputable provider of audit and assurance services
One of these synergies involves audit and assurance services, which account for 30% of HLB Belgium’s activities. The firm is a well-established player in this market. Until recently, Patrick Van Impe served as Chairman of the Institute of Registered Auditors (IBR). Last month, his associate Guy Cox was appointed to the board of IBR. Steven Brouckaert: “With HLB Belgium joining PIA Group, we can now offer audit and assurance services in both Belgium and the Netherlands, marking a milestone for our organisation and our clients. Many businesses require integrated services that include both statutory and voluntary audits. Offering audit and assurance in-house not only bolsters our expertise but also provides our clients with the confidence of an independent opinion, embedded within a broader, multidisciplinary approach.” Guy Cox adds: “Steven has clearly expressed his ambition to further expand audit and assurance within PIA Group. We look forward to realising that ambition together.”
Continued growth in French-speaking Belgium
With the addition of HLB Belgium, PIA Group continues to strengthen its presence in Wallonia. The firm has offices in Liège and Charleroi, and French-speaking clients are also welcome at our Brussels location. “The arrival of HLB Belgium marks yet another step towards our goal of establishing a balanced presence on both sides of the language border,” says Nathalie Calle, CEO of PIA Group Belgium. “Such a well-balanced distribution naturally includes equivalent support and service for our clients. HLB Belgium brings a wealth of expertise, particularly in the areas of Tax, VAT, Corporate Finance and M&A. Together, they bring significant added value to PIA Advisory, including in the southern part of the country.”
Access to an international network
The third synergy is HLB Belgium’s international affiliation. HLB International’s network gives PIA Group’s partner firms access to a global network of 1,139 affiliated offices across 155 countries, totalling more than 51,000 professionals. As a result, PIA Group’s internationally oriented clients have access to support in audit, accountancy, tax advisory and business consultancy throughout Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. This cross-border service offering aligns seamlessly with PIA Group’s own international ambitions. “Since last month, we are active in three countries,” says Steven Brouckaert. “We also have concrete plans to take our ‘Don’t fix what isn’t broken’ proposition to additional markets.”
International expansion
For Baltisse, the family office of entrepreneur Filip Balcaen, which supports PIA Group in both its national and international expansion, the growth of PIA Group has now clearly entered a new phase. “HLB Belgium is a strong national player that combines local expertise with cross-border collaboration,” says Benjamin Biesmans, Senior Investment Manager at Baltisse. “These are precisely the two pillars on which PIA Group’s continued growth is built. Together with Steven, we are focusing on bringing new firms and service providers on board in Belgium. At the same time, our international team is actively working to roll out PIA Group’s model in other markets. Our broad experience, technological capabilities and the scale advantages we offer are greeted with enthusiasm in those foreign markets. PIA Group still has plenty of growth potential.”
About PIA Group
In a market based on economies of scale, PIA Group aims to be a leading provider of accountancy, audit and advisory services whilst retaining a personal connection between its staff and clients. We therefore drive our growth forward with a continuously expanding group of enterprising partners. The mutual interaction between those partners and our expert teams enables each PIA office to offer entrepreneurs up-to-date services and expertise that really contribute to their professional success and personal happiness. PIA Group was founded in Belgium in 1999 by Steven Brouckaert. The group operates in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, with a total of more than 100 branches and 2,400 staff across these three countries. In 2024 PIA Group realised a turnover in excess of €250 million in Belgium and the Netherlands. The ambition is to reach the €400 million landmark in the Benelux by late 2025.
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