NEWS - Economic Development

By Lou Phelps, SBJ Staff Report

Dec. 12, 2011 - A Savannah business instituion, Hancock, Askew & Co., LLP (HAC), one of the region’s leading certified public account firms for many years, announced last week that it has merged with the Norcross, GA firm of Jackson, Reece & Scott (JRS). The merger is aimed at broadening Hancock, Askew's tax presence in the Atlanta market, according to the partners.

The combined firm will operate as Hancock Askew & Co., LLP. It's Atlanta offices have relocated to 275 Scientific Drive, Suite 2500, in Norcross, GA 30092.

HAC has 3 partners and approximately 20 professionals serving the Atlanta area with 10 partners and 60 professionals firm-wide. “This combination results in a stronger firm with expanded resources in Atlanta to continue providing financial statement audit services to both private and public companies, internal audit including Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 services, along with tax, estate planning and business advisory services for executives, retirees, business owners, and small to medium sized businesses in a variety of industries,” according to the company.

Jackson, Reece & Scott has been a leading firm in the Atlanta area for 20 years, working with growth-oriented, private businesses; entrepreneurs; and high-net-worth individuals, and “has earned an excellent reputation for technical quality and client service,” according to Russell Reece, a founding partner of JRS who will head up the Atlanta HAC office business services group.

Reece specializes in providing accounting and tax advice to closely held business clients and the individuals who own them.

Partners also include Eddie Scott and Chad Miller.  Scott joined JRS in 1993 as a tax partner, who will lead the Atlanta HAC tax service offering for high net worth and high income individuals. He specializes in providing proactive tax planning and compliance services for a wide range of clients including high net worth individuals, retirees, trusts, estates, and charitable entities.

Miller, an audit/advisory service partner with Hancock Askew who ran the firm's Atlanta audit practice prior to the merger, will continue to serve as a partner in the Atlanta audit and assurance group providing financial statement audit services to public and private companies along with continuing to build the firm's internal audit practice.

According to Michael McCarthy, managing partner of Hancock Askew, "Expanding our service offerings in Atlanta is a key strategic initiative for our firm. We are excited to have JRS become part of the Hancock Askew organization. They are a highly respected firm that focuses on providing exceptional client service and they are culturally aligned with HAC. Jackson Reece and Scott's long standing reputation in the Atlanta area made them an ideal partner in achieving our growth vision. The talent and expertise within JRS will allow us to enhance our expertise and market share in Atlanta as well as the state of Georgia."  McCarthy took over the leadership of Hancock Askew this year from Harry Haslon.

"This combination will allow us to serve the accounting, tax and consulting needs of our growing Atlanta client base. We are excited to join a firm that has the same values as our professionals and view this combination as a great cultural fit for our firm and will provide additional growth opportunities for our people and our clients,” added Reece.