CPAs take leadership role in providing consulting services

Consulting is a growing industry, particularly in the areas of business planning, financial planning and technology.

Certified public accountants, best known for tax and accounting services, continue to play a significant and growing role in business consulting.

Rick Jackson, CPA, has been in business since 1974. He is the co-owner of Jackson & Jackson CPAs and owner of Business Achievement Group Inc., both at 3249 E. Ridgeview.

His consulting services, beyond accounting concerns, include strategic planning, marketing and business plan writing, as well as consulting on the legal entity and structure of companies.

"Strategic planning is the big umbrella," he said. "People want help with cash-flow planning, profitability planning or product expansion. But you have to lay down some basic steps before you can do these other things."

Jackson said Springfield residents have been slower than those in larger cities to recognize what a business consultant can do for them. "But people are coming around and being more forward-thinking. They're looking down the road and looking to the future more now than ever," he said.

He attributes the change to people's realizing that technology is here to stay and the influx of new residents to Springfield.

Dee Robinson, part owner of Elliott Robinson & Company, a CPA firm located at 1736 E. Sunshine, has been in consulting since 1973. His business consulting clients include the owners of small to medium size companies in industries ranging from wholesale to retail to service.

"While there's some competition with other consultants who offer services like ours, it's not cutthroat," he said. "That's because there are enough customers to go around."

In addition to such traditional accounting tasks as audit services, preparing financial statements, and preparing corporation and partnership income tax returns, Robinson's firm also provides nontraditional services such as financial management and business valuation.

"Not everyone needs the specialized consulting," Robinson said. "But this type of consulting can help the business owner reach his goals and help them make more money by showing them how their productivity can increase."