For second straight year, Forbes names Bauknight Pietras & Stormer among America’s Top Accounting Firms
January 26, 2021
For the second straight year, certified public accounting firm Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A., (BPS) has been recognized by global media company Forbes as being among the top recommended tax and accounting firms in America. A total of 278 firms were named to the Forbes list with 172 selected for both tax and accounting services.
BPS was one of only two firms in South Carolina recognized by Forbes in both categories. The honor comes on the heels of being named among the 50 “Best of the Best” Public Accounting Firms in 2020 by INSIDE Public Accounting and the top tax advisory firm to the U.S. captive insurance industry by Captive Review.
For the second year, Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to create the top firms list in the country based on a survey of 1,800 tax and accounting professionals who were asked to nominate deserving peer firms. Peer nominations as well as the final selection of firms were carefully reviewed. Statista carried out additional checks to confirm the integrity of all of the firms. Past recognition did not ensure firms returned to the 2021 list. Twenty firms lost this elite standing.
The Forbes honor caps off a challenging year for BPS, thanks to the global pandemic and an influx of new regulations and federal and state initiatives like the Paycheck Protection Program. BPS implemented a rapid response designed to keep its nearly 90-plus team of CPAs and business professionals safe while ensuring access to consulting, tax and assurance services to its individual and corporate clients. As a critical business, BPS was allowed to let staff work in the office but chose to allow people to work at home to minimize risk of illness. Client services continued, uninterrupted, aided largely by video conferencing; secure, online document sharing; the use of electronic signatures; and other personalized services.
The pandemic did not hinder BPS’ growth. The firm now has a team of 86 professionals, including nearly 50 CPAs.
Managing Shareholder Russell Bauknight, CPA, credits the firm’s overall success as well as successful navigation of 2020’s disruptions to its culture. “Our priority through our 30 years in business is our people come first. The threats posed to our team and clients by the pandemic required the firm to be both nimble and flexible. We were very proactive in our efforts to protect our team and business, something that required a lot of communication and trust. I am very proud of how our leadership adapted and then directed and supported our team and clients, and proud of the team’s response as well.”
Bauknight added, “With new leadership in Washington, D.C., and additional stimulus payments and programs in the works, 2021 is going to be another test for our team. We are confident we have the right people and processes in place. And, thankfully, COVID-19 vaccines should be widely available this year!”
About Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A.
Established in 1991, Bauknight, Pietras & Stormer, P.A. (BPS) is among the Southeast’s premier accounting and consulting firms and one of the largest locally owned public accounting firms in South Carolina. BPS serves as a strategic partner to our clients, providing tax, accounting and assurance, and consulting services as well as trust and estate planning. BPS serves a diverse client base in the insurance, construction and real estate, employee benefits, hospitality, manufacturing and distribution, professional services, telecommunications, and technology industries. BPS is a member of Prime Global, an association of private accounting firms. Learn more at www.bpscpas.com.
