"Being awarded Best Accounting Firm directly reflects the work we do for our clients and thier confidence in how we serve them." —Kathie Gugielmetti
Moss Adams LLP once again emerges as the Best Accounting Firm, bringing the total to 14 over the past 15 years. When asked what he believes is the driving force behind this dominant performance, North Bay partner in charge Chris Paris says, “One of the main differentiating factors is our ability to serve our clients well beyond their accounting needs. We’re trusted advisors, invested in our clients’ success, with the ability to help them through the start-up, growth and transition phases of their businesses and personal financial endeavors.
“There’s a very strong West Coast culture with robust personal relationships among our clients and employees. It’s very important to us that we take care of our clients and employees through professionalism, integrity and trust.”
Add Kathe Guglielmetti, sales and marketing manager, “Being awarded Best Accounting Firm is a source of great pride to us, as it directly reflects the work we do for our clients and their confidence in how we serve them.”
Moss Adams LLP is the largest accounting/professional services firm based in the Western United States, with offices in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas and Texas. Headquartered in Seattle, Wash., it’s been in business for 103 years and the total employee count is more than 2,200. It’s been in the North Bay for 35 years, with 95 employees located in Santa Rosa and Napa.
As a professional services firm, Moss Adams serves its clients with exceptional tax and assurance services as well as advisory/consulting services. From a line of business (LOB) perspective, the firm is highly diversified with offerings in several industries, including construction, food and beverage, financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, real estate, wineries and vineyards. It also offers private client services and wealth management as Moss Adams Wealth Advisors, LLC.
Moss Adams is organized as a limited liability partnership with more than 260 active partners. Firm business is conducted under the leadership of our chairman, our president and an elected executive committee; regional and office managing partners, plus many industry chairpersons are also involved in firm leadership. Our national office in Seattle provides certain centralized support services for the firm. Otherwise, the practice offices operate in an independent, decentralized fashion to best optimize opportunities in their local business environment.
This structure has let Moss Adams grow at an annual rate of about 10 percent. The current focus in the North Bay is to boost revenues and headcount (meaning both more clients and more employees). There’s a strong focus on automation and technology to improve efficiencies. The firm uses a mix of packaged “off-the shelf” (with customization) products and proprietary solutions from the in-house development and support group.
Looking forward, Paris says, “We’re focusing strongly on industry groups to leverage existing expertise and competencies within the firm. Hence, the emphasis isn’t so much on geographic presence but rather across industries such as food and wine, real estate and construction, technology, and manufacturing and distribution. Common across all the LOBs is a huge emphasis on technology, automation, and in-house expertise to further the competitive advantage. We also have big plans for Moss Adams Capital [investment bank], international tax and presence in the auto dealer market.”
