2008 Choice Employers, 25-100 Employees, No. 4: Kirkpatrick, Phillips & Miller CPAs PC

For employees who work really long hours three and a half months out of the year, treats such as warm chocolate chip cookies and milk in the afternoons can help reduce tension.

Tax season is typically a high-stress time of year for all accounting firms, and it's no different for KPM, a full-service CPA and advisory firm that focuses on business-to-business relationships.

The firm serves businesses of all sizes and is led by President and Managing Shareholder Michael Redmon.

During tax season - Jan. 1-April 15 - KPM associates work six days a week, to the tune of 55 to 60 hours.

Perks such as a surprise catered breakfast or lunch, ice cream snacks and especially a day off on April 16 make the season more bearable for employees.

"We work hard, but we play hard. We have a lot of fun together," says KPM Marketing Manager Vickie Hicks.

Other benefits offered that continue throughout the year at KPM include half of employees' health insurance premiums paid by the company and no waiting period for 401(k) participation. After 30 days, employees are fully vested in the plan, for which KPM matches up to 15 percent of employees' contributions, up to $1,200 annually.

Another benefit is eight days of holiday pay in addition to three weeks of paid time off for employees who have been with KPM for up to four years.

Paid time off includes vacation, sick leave and personal days, but employees can earn more time, which is accrued monthly and can be used outside the busy season.

Associates also have annual salary increases from 7 percent to 9 percent and tuition reimbursement for work-related continuing education.

For CPAs, this is a real bonus, as they're required to have 40 hours of continuing professional education per year.

The company also covers annual dues to the American Institute of CPAs and the Missouri Society of CPAs; these costs can range from $300 to $500.

Under the company's business development plan, employees are motivated to bring in new clients. Associates who do so earn a bonus of 10 percent of the new clients' first-year fees.

Julie Miller, a KPM employee for 22 years and office manager for the past 18 years, says her co-workers are one of the best perks of her job. "We've got a really good group of people," says Miller.

Lisa Dugan was hired as a staff accountant at KPM in September after completing her Master of Business Administration from Drury University.

She chose KPM instead of a larger Springfield firm because of several factors,

including flexible work hours, friendliness and positive work environment, community involvement and especially,

knowing that she will gain knowledge and experience in all different areas of

accounting.

"I felt at home here whenever I went through the interview and really felt

like this is the place for me to work," Dugan says.