Rea & Associates, Inc., a regional accounting and business consulting firm, moved up six spots on Accounting Today’s Top 100 CPA Firms list and is now considered the 80^th largest CPA firm in the nation. The annual ranking is performed by one of the industry’s most notable publications and is determined by revenue growth. The publication also named the 14-office firm the 13^th largest CPA firm in the Great Lakes region, which includes firms in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Headquartered in New Philadelphia, Ohio, Rea & Associates operates 14 office locations throughout the Buckeye State and employs more than 350 professionals. Over the last year, the Ohio CPA firm continued to focus on the unique challenges and opportunities found within various industries. According to Accounting Today’s findings, by demonstrating industry-specific expertise, CPA firms have been able to emphasize their roles as trusted advisors among their clients, which has been critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Doug Houser, principal and director of construction and real estate services attributes Rea & Associates’ growth throughout the construction industry, among others, to a service-based approach that zeroes in on three key areas: “resources, community, and industry.”
“Resources – Rea is a big believer in providing educational, thought-provoking information for our clients. … Community – the construction industry itself is very collegial as many companies work together on projects. I think folks love being a part of a community, so we try to make sure that our clients know they are part of our construction group. … Industry – we take a sincere interest in the construction industry itself. We do this through advocacy and promotion at the state and local level, whether it’s through our podcast, industry-related speaking engagements, and getting involved in construction industry organizations and their events,” said Houser. “We try to have fun and get involved.”
Merger & acquisition activity also helped fuel the firm’s ongoing growth over the course of 2020. In February 2020, Rea & Associates merged in the Columbus, Ohio-based firm, W.J. Ubbing and Associates. In June, Jones Battles Group, located in Concord, Ohio, joined the Rea Family. Late in the summer, the Gahanna, Ohio-based firm, Kennedy Cottrell Richards, merged into Rea, and, finally, in November, Dyer Roche & Company, headquartered in Wooster, Ohio, joined the firm.
Additionally, in 2020, Rea & Associates made a concentrated effort to grow several service lines, including cybersecurity and data protection services and client advisory services; while introducing others, such as HR consulting services and financial relief assistance resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
“The accounting profession is always changing, and firms must adapt and innovate to remain successful,” said Don McIntosh, Rea’s CEO. “Being recognized as one of the nation’s top firms is a testament to our firm’s innovative direction, accomplishments, employee development, and client service”
The professionals at Rea specialize in providing individuals, business owners, government entities, and not-for-profit organizations with solutions to their accounting, tax, and other business-related challenges. The firm provides expertise in accounting, audit, benefit plan design and administration, business valuation, client advisory, succession planning, litigation support, profit enhancement, fraud detection, and tax services.
Rea & Associates, Inc. is a regional CPA and consulting firm with more than 350 bright professionals in offices throughout Ohio. Since 1938, Rea has provided a wide range of accounting services to businesses, individuals with means, and those with dreams. Today, the firm is the go-to resource for thousands of businesses and individuals nationwide. Rea offers a brighter way to its clients in the construction, government, healthcare, manufacturing, oil & gas, and not-for-profit industries – as well as family businesses – through innovative accounting, audit, tax, and consulting services. For more information about Rea & Associates, please call 330.339.6651 or visit www.reacpa.com.