How It Started
Our firm was founded by Bruce McClintock, who had spent time at one of the country’s leading accounting firms before serving as a controller at a Pittsburgh-area postsecondary institution. That firsthand experience inside a school changed everything. When he left to start his own practice, higher education institutions discovered him, became clients, and the firm found its footing.
In the early years, McClintock & Associates operated as two distinct practices under one roof: one focused on postsecondary institutions, one serving medical and general business clients. Higher education was always part of the picture, but it wasn’t yet everything.
The Turning Point
In the mid-1990s, the federal government changed audit requirements for postsecondary institutions from biennial to annual. Overnight, demand for higher education audit services doubled. The firm was ready, and that shift accelerated a commitment to the space that’s never wavered since.
The Decision to Focus
We could have expanded into other industries, but we always said no. Because we could see how much was still left to be done in higher education, how few firms were truly committed to it, and what it meant to the institutions we served to work with someone who was already up to speed in the sector.
In 2009, we began formalizing this commitment through strategic planning. An exclusive focus on postsecondary education became an intentional decision, and it remains one of the most important qualities of our firm.
Where We Are Today
Today, McClintock & Associates is a 30-person firm serving postsecondary institutions across the country. Our team includes FAAC-credentialed financial aid administrators who have worked inside institutions themselves, which is something you’ll find at almost no other firm in this space. We’ve been the primary due diligence partner on some of the largest higher education transactions in the country, and we’re still the firm that attorneys call first when a deal involves a postsecondary institution.
Dave McClintock joined the firm in 2003, continuing a family legacy in higher education that runs deep. Education has been woven into the fabric of this family for generations, including teachers, professors, and administrators, and that connection shapes how we show up for the schools we serve.
Let’s Talk About Your Compliance Needs
Connect with our team to discuss how we can support your institution’s compliance and financial health.
