CLA Earns Elite Microsoft Partner Status: A New Era for AI-Driven Accounting and Consulting

In a major milestone for the professional services sector, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) officially announced on January 21, 2026, that it has earned two prestigious Microsoft Solutions Partner designations: Data & AI (Azure) and Digital & App Innovation (Azure).

This double-designation marks CLA's transition from a traditional accounting and wealth management firm to a high-tech "digital-first" powerhouse. By securing these credentials, CLA joins an elite tier of Microsoft partners verified to build, run, and manage complex AI and cloud-native applications for mid-market and enterprise clients.

1. Breaking Down the Designations
To earn these titles, CLA had to exceed rigorous benchmarks in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, which evaluates firms across three critical pillars: Performance, Skilling, and Customer Success.

Data & AI (Azure): This designation validates CLA’s ability to help clients manage data across multiple systems, build sophisticated analytics platforms, and deploy enterprise-grade AI solutions. It confirms their expertise in using Azure OpenAI and Microsoft Fabric to turn raw data into actionable business intelligence.

Digital & App Innovation (Azure): This focuses on "cloud-native" development. It proves CLA can modernize legacy software, build new digital tools, and transform how organizations code and collaborate using the Azure ecosystem.

2. The Strategic "Go Digital" Framework
Central to CLA's achievement is its proprietary "Go Digital" framework. This methodology is designed to move clients away from "data silos" and toward a unified, AI-ready architecture.

Microsoft Fabric Integration: CLA is leveraging Microsoft Fabric as its primary engine for unified analytics. This allows their clients—ranging from healthcare providers to manufacturing firms—to integrate disparate data sources into a single "truth" for AI-driven decision-making.

Legacy Reimagination: A primary focus for CLA is "Legacy Modernization." Instead of just moving old software to the cloud, CLA uses these Microsoft tools to completely rebuild workflows, making them faster, cheaper, and more resilient.

3. Leadership Perspective: From Complexity to Clarity
Michael Pelletier, Principal at CLA, emphasized that these designations are not just "badges" but tools for solving real-world business hurdles.

“Securing these Microsoft designations reflects our vision of empowering organizations to thrive in a digital-first world,” Pelletier stated. “By reimagining legacy systems and unlocking the potential of AI-driven insights, we’re helping clients transform complexity into clarity.”

Pelletier’s comments highlight a shift in the consulting industry: clients are no longer just looking for tax and audit advice; they are looking for partners who can architect their AI roadmap.

4. Impact on the Professional Services Market
CLA’s move is part of a broader "Arms Race" in the professional services industry. With over 9,000 professionals and 130 U.S. locations, CLA is positioning itself as a more agile alternative to the "Big Four" accounting firms for mid-sized businesses.

Sovereign Data Control: By specializing in Azure, CLA offers clients a "sovereign" cloud environment, ensuring that a company’s private data is used to train its own AI models without leaking into public datasets.

Rapid Deployment: The "Digital & App Innovation" designation specifically highlights CLA's ability to ship software faster, using GitHub Copilot and automated DevOps pipelines to reduce development cycles by an estimated 30% to 40%.

5. Looking Ahead: AI as the "Digital Colleague"
As we move further into 2026, CLA plans to use these designations to launch a new suite of "Agentic AI" services. These will be autonomous digital assistants capable of handling complex financial reconciliation, tax research, and supply chain forecasting, allowing human employees to focus on high-level strategy.