NEW YORK — November 4, 2026 — Clusia has acquired Optim ACH Solutions, expanding its ACH audit practice and bringing its existing clients and auditors onto Clusia’s technology-supported assurance model. The acquisition, alongside the appointment of Brian Stearns as Managing Director of Assurance Operations, strengthens Clusia’s presence in financial technology assurance as the company expands its regulatory audit and independent testing services.
Key Announcement Details
| Attribute | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Announcement Type | Acquisition; Executive Appointment |
| Announcing Entity | Clusia |
| Announcement Date | November 4, 2026 |
| Dateline | New York, New York, US |
| Acquired Business | Optim ACH Solutions |
| Acquisition Founder | Debbie Arai |
| New Appointment | Brian Stearns, Managing Director of Assurance Operations |
| Business Focus | ACH audits; BSA/AML testing |
| Client Base | 60+ fintechs and ACH service providers |
| Operating Structure | Optim ACH, a Clusia company |
| Acquisition Terms | Not disclosed |
| Contact | team@clusia.com |
Clusia Acquires Optim ACH Solutions
The acquisition adds Optim ACH Solutions, an ACH audit practice founded by Debbie Arai, to Clusia’s assurance business. Optim will continue operating as Optim ACH, a Clusia company, and its existing clients will retain their relationship with the same team.
Following the acquisition, Clusia serves more than 60 fintechs, third-party senders and third-party service providers.
Clusia provides regulatory audits and independent testing for financial technology companies and banks, beginning with:
- ACH audits
- Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)/Anti-Money Laundering (AML) testing
Its operating model combines in-house auditors with proprietary software. The software gathers evidence from client-uploaded documents or connected systems, while auditors lead engagements, review results, investigate exceptions, exercise professional judgment, and sign the final reports.
The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Less Work for Clients, More Extensive Testing
Clusia’s assurance model is designed to reduce the administrative work involved in audit engagements while enabling more extensive testing.
Traditional audit preparation often requires clients to:
- Gather records from disconnected systems.
- Respond to lengthy questionnaires.
- Assemble supporting documentation for auditors.
Auditors then spend considerable time collecting, organizing, and reviewing that evidence, which can limit the volume of work an audit firm can undertake.
Clusia uses proprietary software and connected systems to reduce this burden. When clients connect supported systems, the platform can test larger transaction samples than traditional manual methods allow.
Nolan Hendrickson, co-founder and CTO of Clusia, explained how the company’s integrated technology and audit operations work together:
“Because the software and audit practice sit under one roof, Clusia’s engineers work side by side with the auditors accountable for the final report,”
He added:
“That lets us turn what auditors learn in the field into a better product. Every engagement makes the next one faster, more consistent and easier to deliver.”
Experienced Practitioners, Supported by Proprietary Technology
Clusia combines fintech operators and engineers specializing in cybersecurity and AI with experienced audit practitioners. The acquisition and appointments bring additional ACH expertise and operational leadership into this model.
Brian Stearns Joins as Managing Director of Assurance Operations
Brian Stearns joins Clusia from Wespay, where he spent more than a decade and most recently served as SVP, Supervisor of Risk Management Services.
In his new role, Stearns will lead:
- Improvements to audit delivery.
- Expansion into additional assurance services.
Debbie Arai Joins to Lead ACH Audits
Debbie Arai, founder of Optim ACH Solutions and an experienced professional in payments risk management and audit, joins Clusia as Managing Director, ACH Audits.
Arai described the opportunities created by combining Optim’s audit expertise with Clusia’s internally developed software:
“We’ve always been focused on delivering high-quality audit work for our clients,”
She continued:
“What’s exciting about Clusia is the ability to pair that expertise with software we build ourselves – making the experience easier for clients, improving how we work year over year, and giving us the ability to support them across more of their assurance needs. Importantly, Optim clients will continue working with the same team they know and trust.”
Clusia’s Plans for Broader and Continuous Assurance
Clusia plans to bring more of each client’s recurring assurance work into a single relationship, allowing relevant evidence to carry forward between engagements.
The company’s longer-term plans include:
- Consolidated assurance relationships: Bringing more recurring assurance requirements under one relationship.
- Evidence continuity: Carrying relevant evidence forward between engagements.
- Expanded services: Extending beyond the current audit and testing offerings.
- Continuous assurance: Progressively moving from periodic audits toward continuous independent assurance.
Clusia co-founder and CEO Reed Switzer said the acquisition supports the company’s plans to address growing demand for independent assurance.
“AI is going to increase both the volume and complexity of work that requires independent assurance, and the firms doing that work today can only sell the hours they have,”
Switzer added:
“We built Clusia for that demand. Bringing in Optim establishes our ACH practice and expands our client base. Our ambition is to become the assurance firm companies rely on across their most important regulatory and financial obligations.”
Contact Clusia About Audits and Demonstrations
Companies interested in an audit or a demonstration of Clusia’s assurance experience can contact the company directly.
Contact Clusia at team@clusia.com
About Clusia
Clusia provides regulatory audits and independent compliance testing for financial technology companies and banks. It combines proprietary software with in-house, accredited practitioners to deliver assurance services with less work for clients.
About Optim ACH Solutions
Optim ACH Solutions is an ACH audit and risk assessment practice founded by Debbie Arai, an Accredited ACH Professional since 2007. Its clients include fintechs, third-party senders, and third-party service providers that rely on the ACH network.
Source Attribution
Source: Company announcement
