Merger of two Grand Rapids accounting firms spurs eight new jobs

Two West Michigan accounting firms have merged to form a company with $11.3 million in annual net revenue and a need to hire new employees. The two partners and five staff at Deem, Huizing & Associates will join Beene Garter LLP in their offices at 50 Monroe, Grand Rapids, bringing Beene Garter to 14 partners and 63 staff.

Five new hires join the company in early January. Three additional staff join the company in fall 2008.

“We hire young professionals, usually college seniors, for internships during tax season and then make commitments to them for the following fall, after they’ve graduated,” Rosenbach says. “We work mainly with Calvin, Aquinas, GVSU, Davenport, and Hope. The students have a strong work ethic and we find very good people.”

The new positions will range in pay from $45,000 to $80,000 a year, depending on the type of job and the new hires’ experience level.

Rosenbach is enthused about the merger and about bringing Deem Huizing’s people from the suburbs to jobs in heart of the city.

“We remain excited about West Michigan,” Rosenbach says. “We look at the larger companies like Amway and Steelcase that have chosen to stay here, and as a smaller company we use them as an example. The larger companies continue to grow in West Michigan, so we know we can grow here, too.”

Source: Tom Rosenbach, Beene Garter, LLP; Craig Clark, Clark Communications

Deborah Johnson Wood is the development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.