Tuesday August 4, 2015
A Visit with ATKG CPAs
I jumped at the chance to visit with ATKG LLP. Brandon Howard, son of Bruce Howard, a long-time friend of this campus, extended the invitation. The firm is located in the Comerica Bank Building at 13750 San Pedro, in front of the Home Depot at Bitters and San Pedro. There are about 30 team members.
ATKG maintains a different business model from the traditional tax or audit firm. They specialize in tax and consulting with high net worth families and closely held businesses. While the firm prepares tax returns, involvement in day to day consulting and decision making is the centerpiece of the relationship. Annette Goodson, Manager, mentioned that the partner group works very hard to manage the client base to align it with the firm’s values.
And unlike the traditional firm the long term relationship and the consulting environment brings a much more friendly work life balance for the employees. Most work a regular 40 hour week with some extra times at actual filing deadlines.
I was encouraged by the business casual attire (If you know me you are aware all my neckties are in permanent storage….) and friendly nature of everyone I met. Indeed the Chief Operating Officer is not a CPA at all but an English major. Strategic planning is Debbie Roos’s specialty.
We plan to have representatives of ATKG on our campus this fall to help with recruiting for SA CPA Society. I understand they have a fine presentation on career options in the field of accounting called an Accounting Careers Forum.
A few years back the Texas Society of CPAs had as its motto:
Accounting Offers 360 degrees of possibilities!
ATKG is certainly proof of that in its non-traditional approach to its business model!
Thanks to Annette Goodson, Debbie Roos, and Brandon Howard for their hospitality!
Professor Elam 
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