3 min read March 2024 — In an interview with Focus:, Kim Hartsock, Atlanta office managing member at Warren Averett, discussed the firm’s notable achievements, including being recognized as a best firm to work for and one of the most recommended accounting firms, highlighting the firm’s commitment to culture and client service excellence.
What have been some notable achievements and milestones for Warren Averett in the Atlanta area over the past year?
I’m especially proud of two significant recognitions our organization has received. Last year, Accounting Today honored us as a best firm to work for in their large category, a recognition that truly means a lot to us. More recently, USA Today named us as one of the most recommended accounting firms in 2024. These accolades highlight our commitment to our culture, team members and client service excellence. While I could mention our growth, these two awards are what we are particularly proud of.
How do the firm’s comprehensive services enhance your clients’ operations and governance?
We’ve designed our firm around the concept of Warren Averett’s 360 Wheel—with the client at its center—offering a holistic range of services. Initially focusing on traditional accounting services like tax and audit, our growth and the evolving needs of our clients led us to expand our offerings. For example, our consulting group, particularly Transaction Advisory Services, has grown remarkably. This growth is driven by the need to support small and mid-sized business owners—many of whom are baby boomers looking to exit their businesses—through the acquisition process. This service is crucial for ensuring these owners receive fair value for their businesses and their employees are treated well post-transition.
Additionally, our Risk Advisory & Assurance Group addresses the growing concern of data and cybersecurity issues. With small and mid-sized businesses increasingly becoming targets, we’ve developed a team trained to both prevent and, if necessary, respond to security breaches, acting like a SWAT team to support our clients in crises. These examples illustrate how we’ve adapted our services to meet the comprehensive needs of our clients, reinforcing our role as their trusted advisor.
What are some of the key concerns that clients have in today’s economic landscape?
The labor market poses a significant concern for many companies, including ours, regarding whether they can hire enough skilled individuals to meet their customer or client needs. Our Staffing and Recruiting Division focuses on finding top talent—especially in finance and technology—to assist our clients in these areas. Additionally, the high cost of capital is a challenge; we explore creative financing solutions and tax planning strategies to help clients manage these costs effectively and take advantage of tax rules to reduce potential expenses.
What are some of the strategies that you have in place to create an award-winning culture and to recruit and retain talent in a competitive market?
Creating a strong culture starts with attracting top clients, as high-performing team members want to work with high-performing clients. This strategy helps us build a base of A+ clients, ensuring our team works with growing clients who can benefit from our strategies. We also offer top-tier benefits, including paternity leave and a unique sabbatical program. After 10 years with the firm, any team member can take a four-week sabbatical, allowing them to unplug entirely, which is invaluable for preventing burnout. Additionally, we adhere to the Warren Averett Way, which consists of 30 fundamental beliefs that guide our interactions and expectations within the firm, ensuring we work cohesively towards our common goals. These strategies help us create a culture where team members feel valued and supported, aiding our recruitment and retention efforts in a competitive market.
What are some of the fundamentals that make Atlanta a great place for a firm like Warren Averett?
The primary benefit of being in Atlanta is the access to talent. Georgia’s consistent ranking as the number one state for business attracts companies and skilled professionals to the area, giving us a significant advantage. The region’s growth fosters a vibrant economy and makes it a desirable place to live and work. Leadership in the city, including visionary figures like the mayor, contributes to this positive environment by supporting significant events like the World Cup, which inject excitement and investment into the local economy. Additionally, Atlanta’s location offers an excellent quality of life, with proximity to beaches and mountains and generally good weather. These factors collectively make Atlanta a strong and appealing base for our operations.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the accounting and consulting industry, and how is your firm positioned to address them?
The primary challenge and opportunity in our industry is labor. With more baby boomers retiring than new graduates entering the workforce, there’s a talent shortage. Additionally, accounting hasn’t been a growing college major in recent years despite significant industry growth due to changes in tax laws and the impact of COVID-related legislation. Our approach to addressing this includes leveraging technology and AI, which, contrary to fears of replacing jobs, we see as a way to enhance efficiency and fill gaps caused by labor shortages.
We’ve even appointed a Director of Innovation to spearhead our efforts in integrating advanced technologies. Furthermore, we’re actively involved with universities to attract more students to accounting, offering advisory support, intern opportunities and training to showcase the profession’s opportunities. Labor and technology represent both our biggest challenges and our greatest opportunities for growth and innovation.
Looking ahead, what are the top priorities for your firm over the next two to three years?
Our top priority is continued growth. We’ve experienced unprecedented growth recently, which has opened many opportunities for our team. Growth is critical to retaining talent, offering them chances for advancement and gaining more experience. We’re always looking for exceptional talent to join our team, and we explore new services that meet our clients’ evolving needs. We focus on responding effectively to what our clients tell us they need, developing solutions to their challenges, and growing in the right areas. Investing in technology is also crucial, allowing us to grow efficiently and provide innovative solutions to our clients.
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