[2][3] RSM's member firms are independent accounting and advisory businesses, each of which practices in its own right and is unified as part of the network.

The network is not a separate legal entity of any description in any jurisdiction and does not provide services.

RSM International was founded in 1964 as a small network called DRM (Dunwoody, Robson Rhodes, and McGladrey & Pullen).

Historically, RSM was derived from the initials of three of the original founding member firms of the organization: Founding member Robson Rhodes was acquired by Grant Thornton and absorbed within its network, while Salustro Reydel merged with KPMG.

[6] In January 2006, Jean Stephens became the first female chief executive officer of an international accounting network in the Top 10.