Alexander Thompson Arnold

Accounting and advisory across fifteen southeastern offices

ATA, short for Alexander Thompson Arnold, is a group of certified public accountants and business advisers spread over 15 offices in the southeastern United States. It serves everyone from small family-owned firms to publicly traded and international companies, and the firm says its spread of offices lets it bring the talent of a large organization to a local business. It has also been named a national Top 150 accounting firm by an industry publication every year since 2015.

Accounting, auditing and tax

The core of the work is accounting, auditing and tax planning and compliance, for private and public companies alike. The firm presents itself as a team that goes beyond routine accounting, arguing that businesses which have tried everything to restart their growth can add its experience to their own staff, with a wide network of specialists a phone call away.

Valuation in the middle of a deal

One example the firm gives involves a client in the process of buying another company. The financials of the target held many unknowns, and the data made it hard to settle on a comfortable purchase price. The firm's business valuation team set out a clearer picture of the target's past performance, and after consulting with its advisory team the client settled on a reasonable price and completed the acquisition. The firm adds that the combined business grew by double digits in its first year under new leadership.

Retirement plan administration

ATA also works with employers that sponsor retirement plans. Its team gives step-by-step instructions whenever a plan needs updating for employees, sends participant statements on time and helps with withdrawals and 401(k) loans when employees ask. The firm describes the aim as better retirement readiness for participants.

A family of firms

The firm now has a Family of Firms, a set of related companies that cover services such as digital marketing and data security. The idea is that a client can take care of more of its needs with a partner it already uses, instead of finding separate suppliers. Its consulting arm advises businesses on growth and goal setting.