Whitlock Co. opens office in Kansas City area

Springfield public accounting firm The Whitlock Co. last month opened its first office in the Kansas City market, the company announced yesterday.

The office joins Whitlock Co.’s other locations in Springfield and Joplin.

Spokeswoman Anne McCormick said the Overland Park, Kan., office, which opened Nov. 1., employs two, led by a 20-year consultant of Whitlock.

Chuck McCann joined the company as partner in charge of the Kansas City-area market. His daughter, Megan McCann, works as a staff accountant at the office space along Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park.

A founding member of Kansas City-based certified public accounting firm Mayer Hoffman McCann PC, Chuck McCann has a history of helping accounting firms launch in the Kansas City market. In 2012, for instance, he helped Kellogg & Andelson Accountancy Corp. acquire Mission, Kan.-based Herfordt Shelton Mertens & Couch PC, according to the Kansas City Business Journal.

McCormick said Whitlock Co. did not buy any of McCann’s previous books of business and no money changed hands with the office addition.

“We believe with our extensive experience providing accounting, auditing, taxation and consulting services to individuals, businesses and community banks, we have a lot to offer the Kansas City metro area market,” said Joe Page, Whitlock Co. manager partner of Whitlock, in a news release. “In addition, McCann brings a wealth of experience, additional industry expertise and business community connections to our firm and our new office.”

Founded in 1913, Whitlock Co. now has around 35 employees, including nine partners, McCormick said.