In 2009, the well-respected Santa Rosa accounting firm of Andersen & Company, LLC, merged with Burr Pilger Mayer to form BPM Accountants & Consultants. Since that time, the company has expanded its business to include five Bay Area offices and one in Hong Kong, all while maintaining the high levels of service that have made it a reader favorite.
“We’re really thrilled to be chosen by NorthBay biz readers for a second year in a row as BPM, as Andersen & Company was in the past,” says Carol O’Hara, managing partner of the North Bay practice. “It’s a key indicator that we’re staying true to the firm’s culture and building on Andersen’s great reputation by continuing to grow and support our employees and staying focused on the success of our clients.”
BPM is a full-service accounting and consulting firm, with teams that work together to provide tax and business consulting, auditing, assurance and wealth management support to its clients. With 55 partners and more than 400 employees, BPM brings extensive experience in a wide variety of industries, such as food and wine, financial services, nonprofits, life sciences and manufacturing.
“Our fastest growing group, specializing in wineries and vineyards, has tripled in the last two years,” reports O’Hara. “I think companies are recognizing and responding to the unique features of BPM. They appreciate that we have the accessibility of a small, local firm but the expertise and resources of a larger firm.” This growth has meant that the company added not only clients, but 13 employees to its Santa Rosa office alone in the last three years.
“More North Bay companies are growing beyond the small business stage and need more sophisticated advisers,” says O’Hara. This is particularly true of companies moving into international markets, which have their own set of challenges. BPM’s international tax practice, with three partners including a former partner at Price Waterhouse Cooper, can help clients address the unique issues that arise from moving into the international marketplace.
O’Hara believes BPM’s success has come from staying true to its three guiding principles: provide full service, make a commitment to the community, and have fun. The entire office shuts down one day every year for BPM (Because People Matter) Day, a chance for employees to work together to improve the community they serve. Last year, BPM donated its time at the Redwood Empire Food Bank and a Catholic Charities homeless shelter for families. In addition, 10 BPM managers and partners are currently serving on North Bay nonprofit boards, such as the Hanna Boys Center, Schools Plus and the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County.
To further serve its clients, BPM offers free business owner education programs once a month at its Santa Rosa office, focusing on topics such as succession planning and corporate tax planning. “We always approach clients from a full-service, advisory standpoint, rather than just selling a product,” says O’Hara. “Even if clients don’t need it today, we want them to know they have access to a range of trusted advisers focused on their overall success.”
