Exceptional Expertise and Service

"There are many large accounting firms that offer a wide range of specialized tax and accounting services to businesses, organizations and individuals," observes Paul Brown. "What's rare is to find a small firm offering such capabilities along with what our clients tell us is an exceptional level of personal service." Over nearly three and a half decades, the Paul Brown organization has built a solid reputation for tax and accounting expertise that has spread well beyond the borders of Evanston. With the help of partner Scott Kaplan and a dedicated, hard-working staff of skilled accountants and support personnel, this six-person firm handles a variety of challenging assignments for both local and national clients that encompass far more than basic accounting and tax preparation, including a large number of complex audits, unusual for a firm of its size. "Accounting may be a numbers business," Brown says, "but our approach has always been to go beyond numbers; to get involved with helping our clients achieve the best possible outcomes, whether it's personal financial planning, valuing a closely-held business, helping a client obtain financing, devising an estate and succession plan, or simply seeing the tax implications and consequences of the various business and personal decisions our clients make.

Both Brown and Kaplan foresee a growing need for such integrated services as more and more individuals start small. "Changes in the way that American business does business are altering the way individuals plan their careers and live their lives," Brown states. "Downsizing combined with an explosion in affordable personal communications and business software have created both pressures and opportunities for people to make it on their own.

"In doing so, they find they need a lot more than just tax help at tax time. They need sophisticated accounting and planning expertise from a firm motivated to provide such services in a highly personal yet professional manner. That's what Brown, Kaplan & Liss LLP is all about." The firm serves a diverse clientele including individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations such as the Evanston United Way, McGaw YMCA and numerous associations. Businesses represented range from one-person companies to corporations with $75 million or more in annual sales, hundreds of employees and offices throughout the United States. "We represent businesses and business people in many fields," Brown says. "Architecture, engineering, construction, legal services, manufacturing, oil and gas, publishing, printing, advertising, graphic design, broadcasting, restaurants, wholesalers, retailers, real estate, and more. Many of these businesses and individuals require specialized services, and in helping them, we've acquired much valuable expertise." To meet the needs of its client base and offer services at reasonable, competitive rates, the firm continues to invest in timesaving software programs and information systems. "Keeping pace with technology is as vital for us as it is for many of our clients," Brown states. In a business that values personal relationships and attention, much of Brown, Kaplan & Liss LLP's success belongs to its longtime staff of accounting professionals and support people sharing almost seven decades of continuous service between them.

Over the years Brown, Kaplan & Liss LLP people have demonstrated their dedication to service through their involvement with various boards ranging from the Evanston Library, Evanston Historical Society, Evanston Mental Health Association, Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club, Piven Theater Workshop, and more.

You'll have nothing to worry about come April 15th if BK&L are in charge.