Rapidly growing Grand Rapids accounting firm marks success with nine new positions

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

In 2003, the Grand Rapids office of Andrews Hooper & Pavlik PLC (AHP) had just two employees. Last year the office brought the total number of employees to 20 with the addition of seven new positions, and will bring on two new full-time staff accountants next October.

One of the reasons for the growth is that AHP has found a niche. Due to changes in accounting rules over the past few years, many other accounting firms chose to focus on some of the larger companies. That left smaller private and public companies with a need for accounting, audit, tax and financial planning services.

“We’ve gotten involved with very small startups that want and need a lot of expertise, but we also work with community banks, nonprofits and a lot of colleges and universities around the state,” says Steve Miller, a partner in the business. “We look for companies that value the expertise that we can bring to the table. We often look for entrepreneurial minded people that are looking for growth and new ways to deal with what’s happening in the economy.”

The local office has not only added jobs every year since 2003, it’s logged 30 percent revenue growth each year.

“We really stress the team approach,” Miller says. “We make sure our clients have more than one touch point here so they have ready access if they call and need some advice.”

The Grand Rapids office just relocated to 5,500 square feet (50 percent larger than its previous location) in Northpointe Bank’s LEED-certified facilities at 3333 Deposit Drive. The firm has four other locations in Okemos, Auburn Hills, Saginaw and Bay City.

Source: Steve Miller, Kelley Monterusso, Andrews Hooper & Pavlik PLC

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].

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