A dozen Maryland firms with strong ties to the MACPA and the Business Learning Institute were named to the 2017 Best Firms to Work For list, published by Accounting Today.

The Best Firms to Work For list, determined annually by Accounting Today in partnership with Best Companies Group, uses a two-part survey process among firms that submit nominations to be considered.

The first part of the survey evaluates the nominee firm’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics, and amounts to 25 percent of the overall ranking.  

The second part of the survey, worth 75 percent of the ranking, consists of an employee survey. The combined scores determine the top 100 best places to work. Individual firm rankings will be announced by Accounting Today in November.

Maryland firms represented more than 10 percent of the list, with 11 firms based in Maryland and a 12th headquartered in southeastern Pennsylvania, but with two offices in Maryland.

Of note:

• Ten out of the 12 firms are 100 percent member firms with the MACPA (shown below with “100 percent”)
• Half the firms also have relationships with the MACPA’s national training affiliate, the Business Learning Institute (shown below with “BLI”)
• One firm is a sponsor of the MACPA’s Student Leadership Academy (shown below with “SLA”)

Maryland firms represented in the 2017 Best Firms to Work For list include:

1. Berlin, Ramos & Co. (North Bethesda)
2. Bormel, Grice & Huyett (Laurel), 100 percent
3. Clearview Group (Owings Mills), 100 percent
4. DeLeon & Stang, CPAs & Advisors (Gaithersburg), 100 percent, BLI
5. Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman (Bethesda), 100 percent, BLI
6. HeimLantz CPAs & Advisors (Annapolis), 100 percent, BLI
7. KatzAbosch (Timonium, Md.), 100 percent, BLI
8. Lanigan, Ryan, Malcolm & Doyle (Gaithersburg), 100 percent, supporter of SLA
9. Santos, Postal & Co. (Rockville), 100 percent, BLI
10. SC&H Group Inc. (Sparks Glencoe), 100 percent, BLI
11. WeberMessick (Baltimore)
12. RLH CPAs & Business Advisors (Hanover, Pa., with offices in Westminster and Frederick)

MACPA makes a difference
We asked a few of the top firm leaders to share their thoughts on what sets their firms apart, including the benefits of their participation with the MACPA and the BLI.  

DeLeon & Stang

“What sets us apart, in our opinion, is the total dedication to our culture as a firm,” said founding partner Rich Stang. “Jeanie Price, a partner and director of administration at the firm, leads the charge for us here and I think it is coming through with our selection this year.

“We work closely with the MACPA on many fronts, including using Tom (Hood) to facilitate our annual strategic planning (everyone in the firm attends),” Stang added. “Having such excellent resources clearly makes a big difference in our performance on many fronts, including recruiting and retention.

“BLI resources are also valuable,” he said. “We did a customized training program in April with Peter Margaritas. It was very well done and well received by all our staff.”

SC&H Group

“From the beginning,” said CEO and co-founder Ron Causey, “we believed investing in our people via the culture at SC&H was the key to creating a compelling work environment that would attract the best and brightest. We are focused on clients, colleagues, and community every day, and by making sure we emphasize the importance in all three, we believe we are creating a unique work environment focused on being substantive people in and out of the office. Taking this beyond lip service is where the truly unique and top firms are able to differentiate themselves.”

Reflecting on the value-add provided by the BLI, Causey said, “At the end of the day, our value as a firm rests in the service our people can provide. Thanks to training programs like BLI, we are continuing to invest in our people and ensuring they can provide thoughtful and relevant consultation that not only makes them better advisors to our clients, but continues to provide them with the challenges and ongoing education they desire to be compelling and valuable professionals.”

KatzAbosch

“Our culture sets KatzAbosch apart as one of the best places to work,” said CEO and President Mark Cissell. “We are committed to a culture which places people first. A critical factor of the firm’s vision is to develop and empower a creative, well-trained, passionate team. This, in turn, reinforces a dynamic environment where people at all levels embrace their work and take a proprietary interest in how they engage with clients and each other.

“Becoming an employer of choice isn’t easy,” he added. “It means taking an honest look at your current workforce and what you want the firm to be in the future. It means acknowledging some difficult truths and making internal changes. Over the years, Tom Hood and the MACPA team have done an excellent job of connecting our firm with a diverse set of resources to provide support around our recruiting and retention efforts to drive our firm culture and goals.”

Regarding the BLI, Cissell said, “The programs and training have been a refined, ancillary resource KatzAbosch utilized on various occasions to accelerate firm growth in identified areas through key facilitations and delivery of comprehensive curriculum that aligns our technical skill set with business performance objectives.”