Texas business advisory firm opens Bentonville office

Dallas-based business advisory firm Embark has opened an office at Ledger in downtown Bentonville amid rapid growth. The 500-square-foot office is the firm’s 18th office nationwide and the first in Arkansas.

David Bushby, managing director and Arkansas market president for Embark, said the firm has offices in 12 states and Washington, D.C. The Bentonville office is at 240 S. Main St., Suite 342.

Over the past year, the firm has opened offices in Miami and Tampa, Fla., New York City, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. Some of the firm’s clients include Neiman Marcus, GameStop and HelloFresh.

Practice areas include financial accounting advisory, business transformation, capital markets and transaction advisory work. Business transformation involves helping clients implement new systems. Capital markets services include helping companies consider an initial public offering. Embark’s transaction work helps clients determine the business value of acquisitions. Recently, popular practice areas have included environmental, social, governance, and sustainability.

“Long story short, we do what these big accounting firms do, less the audit and tax side of things,” Bushby said.

Asked why Embark opened a Bentonville office, Bushby, who moved to the area from Toronto in 2016, cited a Wayne Gretzky quote about going to where the puck will be, not where it’s been. He added that the firm’s leaders, founder Paul Allen and CEO Clancy Fossum, are visionary and see the area’s potential.

“It speaks for itself,” Bushby said. I think we have everyone from Fortune 1 companies to startups who have different needs, but Embark kind of covers the gauntlet of services.”

Embark also looks to tap into the area’s talent pool. The Bentonville office has two staff members, but the number is expected to rise in the coming months. Bushby said the company has nearly 650 employees and recently established a board.