Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Make the verb agree with its subject, not with a word that comes between
Make subjects and verbs agree
Grammar

Word groups often come between the subject and the verb. Such word groups, usually modifying the subject, may contain a noun that appears to be the subject. By mentally stripping away such modifiers, you can isolate the noun that is in fact the subject.

NOTE: Phrases beginning with the prepositions as well as, in addition to, accompanied by, and along with do not make a singular subject plural.