Pros
Cleveland’s serial‑acquirer strategy ultimately proved unsuccessful. The model relied on constant deal‑making to drive growth, but it failed to create sustainable value or integrate acquisitions in a way that strengthened the overall organization.
Cons
Cbiz may have acquired Marcum, but the dynamic feels reversed—Marcum leadership has taken full control, and the environment is extremely rigid. There is virtually no work–life balance. The Marcum leadership team is consistently bullying, condescending, and threatening, with little to no appreciation for staff. Micromanagement is constant. They routinely set employees up for failure by imposing unrealistic expectations and impossible deadlines. There are no meaningful perks—aside from the occasional bagels. No summer Fridays, no early holiday closures, working through lunch is the norm, and PTO approvals are unnecessarily difficult. Many of their practices feel questionable at best. The toxic culture reaches every level of the organization. Every few months there are mass firings, or employees are pushed to the point where they feel forced to resign.