Davis, Monk & Company Keeps an Eye to the Future
PROACTIVE. VERSATILE. FORWARD-THINKING. CARING.
Those words are not usually associated with a large accounting firm, but for Davis, Monk & Company, they are woven into the fiber of the business. Having just completed an extensive renovation of its headquarters in Gainesville, Davis, Monk & Company is committed to improved quality of service for its clients and improved quality of life for its employees.
“Clearly, we’re growing with nearly 60 employees, and we wanted to address that growth with better facilities for our clients and our people,” said Jody Davis, founding partner of the firm.
The expanded building has a new lobby, renovated offices and conference rooms and a state-of-the-art training center for employees and community members.
“It’s all part of who we are as professionals,” Davis said. “We care about our clients and our employees, and we want to provide the best environment we can.”
That’s a sentiment shared by Harold Monk, who joined Davis in 1977. Nationally renowned for his expertise as an auditor and accountant, Monk serves as chair of the American Institute of CPA’s Auditing Standards Board. The board sets the professional standards that all independent auditors must follow. Monk strongly believes that a learning culture is absolutely mandatory.
“We must be on the leading edge of all the changes in the industry; it’s the only way we can properly serve our clients,” he said. “That’s why the new training center is so important; it will enable the firm to offer extensive internal and external programs, plus webinars and webcasts.”
Client satisfaction is the key goal of all these efforts and the result. Davis, Monk & Company’s clients reference its attitude of genuine caring and personal attention, coupled with high integrity.
“We’ve worked with Davis-Monk for a long time. They are very straightforward, responsive and competent,” said Dr. Robert Throp. “We had very bad experiences with other firms in the past. On a scale of zero to 100 … Davis- Monk is 100. … The whole firm feels like part of our family. … We are very satisfied customers.”
FOLLOWING THEIR PASSION
“Passionate” is another word not normally associated with accounting firms, and yet that is exactly what has led to firm expansion. The nine partners all have specific areas of expertise and are encouraged to follow their passion. Passion is what inspired Davis, CPA/PFS, to create Davis-Monk Financial Group (DMFG) in 1997. A certified financial planner and certified senior advisor, Davis created DMFG to provide financial planning and investment strategies for clients. A younger partner with a background in securities and investments, Greg Grooms joined the financial group a few years later, and in 2006, David Nye, an investment and risk-management expert, came on board.
Louise Anderson, CPA, leads the newest office in St. Augustine. She created the firm’s “CFO While you Grow” program. Ideal for businesses that can’t afford a full-time chief financial officer, the program provides the acumen and financial perspective of a CFO.
“Louise came on site and did a phenomenal job improving our systems and business finances,” said Dr. Richard Goldman, DVM, of Millhopper Veterinary Hospital. “What impresses me about the firm is that all my needs can be handled in one place. … I appreciate the quality of service, the timely response, the attention to detail and thoroughness of the work.”
Passion for community and professional service is another firm theme. Every partner has been active in various service organizations. Davis is a former president of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, founding member of the Gainesville Area Innovation Network (GAIN) and the Santa Fe Community College Endowment Board. His commitment to peaceful conflict resolution also led him to become an arbitrator with AAA and a certified family mediator. John Rowe, chair of the executive committee and head of the Palatka office, has been very active in Kiwanis, the Palatka Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement. Alan Nast, who leads the audit department, is one of three experts used by the State Board of Accountancy to review government audit reports and serves on the Board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Frank Walters, who leads the tax department, has taught accounting at SFCC and is a former president of the Gainesville Jaycees. Martha Garcia-Baker served on the executive committee of the AICPA’s Governmental Audit Quality Center. Tina Robinson is on the resource council of the FICPA State and Local Government Section and president-elect of the Palatka Sunrise Rotary. Howard Patrick is treasurer of GAIN and the Gainesville Community Foundation “
We encourage our staff to be active in the community and try new things,” Rowe said. “We offer national expertise and competencies with personal attention and one-on-one caring. That’s rare in today’s business world.”
Couple that with a commitment to improving the quality of life for the employees, and you have a great place to work.
“At Davis, Monk & Company, we are given time to grow and develop as well as have a life outside of the office,” staff member Jarod Blanton said. “Here you can have it all: incredible expertise from partners unmatched in Florida, challenging and interesting work that does not have to consume you and a level of respect for my professionalism that is uncommon in the workplace. All the extra perks help me feel valued as a person.”
THE NEXT 10 YEARS
After 30 years in the community, what are Davis, Monk & Company’s plans for the future? The newly renovated office, multiple locations around the state, technological improvements like the paperless office — all of these are already in the works. Davis, Monk & Company wants to attract and retain the best and brightest in order to be the service financial solution to all of its clients. Significant growth in the firm is expected during the next five years, both in revenues and client volume. Working with clients of 1,000 or fewer employees, large governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations, Davis, Monk & Company’s ideal clients appreciate their expertise and want to establish a long-term relationship. The firm enjoys partnering with companies that want to grow and providing resources to help them achieve their goals. Most of all, the focus at Davis, Monk & Company is on improving the quality of life for others.
As Rowe said, “We don’t want to just do your taxes. We want to know your vision of the future and help you get there.” G
Davis, Monk & Company’s headquarters are located at 4010 N.W. 25th Place in Gainesville. For more information, call 353-372-6300. Securities offered through 1st Global Capital Corp. Member NASD, SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Davis-Monk Financial Group, Inc. Davis-Monk Financial Group & 1st Global Capital Corp. are unaffiliated entities.