Bauknight, Ward tapped to lead Bauknight Pietras & Stormer’s tax and audit/assurance departments
January 6, 2021
Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A. (BPS), announced that the firm has appointed Beth Bauknight, CPA, to lead the its tax department and David Ward, CPA, to lead its audit/assurance department. BPS is among the largest privately held accounting firms in the Southeast with more than 80 accounting professionals, primarily certified public accountants, between the two departments. In all, BPS employs more than 85 team members.
Commenting on the appointments, managing shareholder Russell Bauknight says both Bauknight and Ward were chosen based on their leadership skills and commitment to implementing programs designed to optimize both client and team member experience and satisfaction with BPS. “2020 was the most challenging year of the firm’s 29-year history due to the global pandemic and the impact on companies and individuals. As an essential business, the BPS team truly came together to assist clients who desperately needed our counsel, but equally important, came together to manage the stress of rapidly changing tax and accounting directives.”
Beth Bauknight, CPA and David Ward, CPA
He added, “As difficult as 2020 was, BPS persevered, even winning two national accounting awards for excellence. Thus, heading into our 30th year, we are looking to leaders like Beth and David to continue the momentum. The firm has complete confidence that they will meet the challenge.”
Beth Bauknight, a BPS shareholder, has been with the firm for 26 years. As tax director, she will be responsible for implementing the firm’s strategy; overseeing operations, client relations and quality assurance; and directing team members. BPS has a thriving tax practice, working with corporate and individual clients on a local, regional, national basis, along with international companies operating in the United States. Bauknight focuses her practice on proactive tax, estate, and succession planning for individuals and businesses. She works closely with both beneficiaries and fiduciaries of trusts and estates as well as high net worth clients.
Ward, a partner, has been with the firm for 15 years and previously served as the assistant director of the audit department. He will also share the same duties as Bauknight for the audit and assurance department. Ward’s practice is focused primarily on property and casualty insurance, including regional and national commercial carriers, mutual insurers, captive insurance, reciprocals, and risk retention groups domiciled throughout the United States. He consults on a national basis with clients considering establishing captive insurance companies on the issues of feasibility, formation, operations, and governance.
BPS continues to add to its Columbia, S.C.-based team. Both tax and audit accounting professionals are encouraged to connect with the firm here.
About Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A. (BPS)
Established in 1991, BPS is among the Southeast’s premier accounting and consulting firms and among the largest locally owned public accounting firms in South Carolina with 31 Certified Public Accountants and 54 professional staff. BPS is a strategic partner to clients 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, and was recognized as one of America’s 50 Best of the Best Firms in 2020 by INSIDE Public Accounting, the top tax advisory firm in the U.S. by Captive Review, and in 2019 was recognized by Forbes as among the top recommended tax and accounting firms in America. Learn more at www.bpscpas.com.
