Best Places to Work 2007: Schmidt Associates PC

Scores by Category:

Incentives: 51

Family Friendly: 0

People Development: 31

Corporate Culture: 44*

*Top score among similar-size companies

Stan Schmidt wants the atmosphere in his office to be relaxed. “We work pretty hard to create an atmosphere where employees like to work,” said the owner of Carthage accounting and financial services firm Schmidt Associates PC.

Promoting a laid-back atmosphere, Schmidt said, makes it easier for employees to do their jobs, even when they work in close proximity to one another.

“Everyone has to get along. We strive to have people be comfortable with each other,” he said, noting that employees spend time with job applicants to see how they might fit in with the office culture.

Schmidt Associates opened in 1990 to serve small companies that don’t have chief financial officers on staff.

The firm offers a variety of financial services, including estate, retirement and business planning, as well as tax and accounting services.

Schmidt said he’s willing to go the extra mile for his employees – especially in areas of pay and benefits. The company reported annual salary increases between 4 percent and 6 percent for full-time employees.

Annual average bonuses of more than $1,000, available to all employees.

“It’s a big investment for the firm,” Schmidt said. “We’re willing to spend the money to keep them.”

While Schmidt offers a health plan and a 4 percent match on employee 401(k) plans, he said one of the biggest benefits to employees is in the firm’s flextime and paid days off.

According to the company, more than 20 percent of its employees use flextime opportunities. While the Best Places to Work application scores flextime in the corporate culture category, for Schmidt, it’s more of a family affair.

“I think the general feeling now is creating more of a work-life balance,” he said. “Getting that quality time at home with family is important. It’s a fact of life with employees today. You get a better quality of employee by providing flexibility.”

Connie Swearengen, an administrative assistant who has worked for Schmidt for 15 years, said she and other employees appreciate the company’s laid-back atmosphere and flextime.

“As long as they get in their time – it just makes (work) a little easier,” she said.

Transparency also is important to Schmidt and his company. Employees talk regularly about the company’s financial books, which are open to the staff.

Schmidt said that when such information isn’t disclosed, employees may make incorrect assumptions about the business.

“Everyone knows and understands what’s going on,” Schmidt said. “We don’t make a secret about it.”

In fact, employees are even made aware of each other’s salaries, a move that Schmidt said helps them distinguish each other’s roles.

“If anyone has a problem, they know I’m always open to discussing it,” Schmidt said.

He’s not open, however, to privy business details being discussed outside the office. A strict office ethics policy is enforced to make sure that what’s talked about at the firm stays there – and violation of that rule results in immediate dismissal.

“We are also very private – especially for our clients,” Schmidt said. “We take that very seriously.”

Schmidt Associates PC

Founded: 1990

Address: 2530 S. Grand, Carthage, MO 64836

Phone: (417) 358-6090

Employees: 15

Services: Tax and accounting work and estate, retirement and business planning