New Association Offering for Smaller CPA Firms

Firms now have a new resource to help them meet their needs 

 

Peoria, IL – July 15, 2007 – A new association for smaller CPA firms is now available to firms in the U.S. Firm Foundation is a new program developed by RSM McGladrey for progressive CPA firms with approximately 10 to 30 full time employees.

“We provide our members with the tools, resources and know-how to enable them to work on their practices while saving them time to continue to focus on serving their clients,” said Dean Sengstock, director of Firm Foundation.  “We have a dedicated team of professionals that understand the challenges facing accounting firms today and are excited about the opportunity to work with firms of this size to help them improve the overall quality of their practices.”  

 “The market research we performed indicated that there was a huge gap in the market as far as affiliations for smaller CPA firms were concerned,” continued Sengstock. “Firms of this size have an interest in being part of an affiliation that offers more than just networking and referral opportunities. They are also looking for an infrastructure of tools and assistance to address such critical items as succession planning, recruiting, people management, profitability, growth and marketing assistance.”

In response to the feedback gained through market research, Firm Foundation provides its members with a wide variety of tools and training to use those tools in order to help its members address their specific key issues in the areas of growth, human resources, practice management, and marketing. In addition, Firm Foundation provides its members with opportunities to network and share best practices with like-size CPA firms that may be dealing with the same issues.

Firm Foundation has a wealth of experience in the industry to draw upon. Firm Foundation is part of the accounting industry services group within RSM McGladrey that specifically serves the accounting industry.  This service group includes RSM McGladrey Network, a premier association of independently owned accounting firms, and AdvanceCPA, a leading provider of intelligent tools to the accounting industry.  

“The decision to launch this new association was made in order to meet the ever-expanding needs of the industry and help provide smaller accounting firms with additional resources to improve the quality of their practices and the industry as a whole,” said Deb Lockwood, executive director of RSM McGladrey Network.

Over the last several months, six charter members of Firm Foundation have been working closely with Firm Foundation staff to help formalize the program offerings in preparation for going to market. Charter members include Baratz & Associates, P.A. in Marlton, NJ; Bucheri McCarty & Metz LLP in Kokomo, IN; Fortin, Chunko & Brouse, PC in Lansing, MI; Hau & Associates, S.C. in Milwaukee, WI; RBSK Partners, P.C. in Greensburg, IN; and Silas Simmons, LLP in Natchez, MS. 

“Our firm joined Firm Foundation because of the resources available for helping us to better manage the firm and the professional development tools available to train, grow and develop our people,” said Daniel Brouse, partner with Fortin, Chunko & Brouse, PC. “A secondary benefit for joining is having access to the network of other Firm Foundation members to share ideas with and potentially use as resources to help with our client work. We also view it as a potential selling tool with clients and recruiting tool with employment candidates.”  

About Firm Foundation: Firm Foundation is an association of independent accounting firms with approximately 10 to 30 employees located in the United States. Firm Foundation provides its members with tax, human resources, practice management and marketing tools and services. Members also have optional access to audit and accounting tools and CPE. Firm Foundation is a division of RSM McGladrey.

About RSM McGladrey Network: RSM McGladrey Network is the premier affiliation of independent accounting firms in the nation, with 97 members in 42 states and Puerto Rico. RSM McGladrey Network’s mission is to help build and sustain high performing CPA firms as measured by financial performance, people development and service quality. RSM McGladrey Network member firms maintain their name, autonomy and independence, and are responsible for their own client fee arrangements, delivery of services and maintenance of client relationships. RSM McGladrey Network is a division of RSM McGladrey.

About AdvanceCPA:  AdvanceCPA is a leading provider of intelligent tools to the accounting industry.  AdvanceCPA provides clients with audit and accounting tools, tax resources, CPE programs and technology solutions.  AdvanceCPA is a division of RSM McGladrey

About RSM McGladrey: RSM McGladrey is a leading provider of financially focused business services. The RSM McGladrey group of companies offers accounting, tax services, business consulting, retirement resources, employer services, corporate finance, wealth management and financial process outsourcing. RSM McGladrey Inc. serves clients’ global business needs through its membership in RSM International (an affiliation of separate and independent legal entities). RSM McGladrey Business Services is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of H&R Block (NYSE: HRB).