Transforming Business Through Strategic HR Consulting
Last year, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong (Anglin), headquartered in Huntsville, Ala., announced that they joined forces with a local human resources (HR) consulting firm, launching their own HR consulting service line. Bringing in Alissa Phelps, SHRM-CP, the founder of the consulting firm, as their new full-time director of HR consulting services.
April 2025 IN THIS ISSUE:
► Transforming Business Through Strategic HR Consulting
► Preferred Provider Spotlight - Finagraph StrongBox
► Regional Meetings
► Member News
► CPAmerica Insights –Art Winstead, CPA
As their client needs continued to grow, they were increasingly getting requests for support in the payroll and compliance areas. Expanding their service lines to include HR positioned their firm as a one-stop shop and differentiated them from others in the area.
Through this new service line, Anglin is helping clients by being their strategic business partner, including providing strategic human resources consulting and management of employment policies and procedures, the HR and benefits side of payroll, and oversight on state and federal employment law compliance.
“HR and accounting actually go hand-inhand really well because they both touch employees,” said Phelps. “Accounting touches employees through payroll, ensuring the company’s financially set to hire more people and do everything they need to do to run their business.”
Anglin’s HR Consulting Service offers HR audits, employee procedures and handbook development, strategic HR consulting, employment law and benefits rollout, and more. They even offer customized HR packages to work with clients on an asneeded or ongoing basis.
“Generally, when a company is set up,
they have some HR documents created, their employees fill out their forms, and they may even have a human resources information system (HRIS) in place,” said Phelps. “However, they’ve probably also been crossing their fingers and hoping that it’s all right because they had someone who wasn’t an HR professional write the policies more than 10 years ago. We’re going to make any documents they have much better.”
Through services like the HR audit, Phelps will review all policies and documents created by the company with a fine-tooth comb, looking for non-compliance, suggesting changes, and removing any inaccuracies and contradictions.
Phelps’ more than 15 years of experience in HR and business management and comprehensive background were the perfect combination for the leader of this new department and service line. Supporting clients and staff alike, the benefits of working with an experienced HR professional are immense and can be as simple as Phelps being available for a quick question from a colleague while working with a client, allowing clients to get answers to important questions in real-time.
“I think there’s a gap in the HR industry skillset, and a specialized HR professional can be a really great strategic business partner,” said Phelps. “If a client is talking about a merger, we can help look out for the employees. What will this look like for the employees after the merger? Are they being paid enough? What are their benefits going to look like? What about if an employee’s wife is pregnant during this time? These are the questions an experienced HR professional will ask and be able to offer guidance on.”
“I always tell clients that you don’t know what you don’t know,” continued Phelps. “A lot of people think HR is just a necessary evil, and I completely disagree with that. The
reason why I believe an experienced person is needed in this area is that it’s not just about being able to search for answers on the Internet, it’s about knowing how to apply those answers and then decipher what a company needs.”
“And oftentimes, even if the company hires a recent college graduate to run their internal HR, that person would likely still need a mentor or consultant to help get them set up,” shared Phelps.
Although Phelps works closely with Anglin’s Client Accounting and Advisory Solutions (CAAS) Department, it was important for them to distinguish the HR consulting service as its own department. Through this distinction, Phelps supports clients in multiple capacities. Helping with personnel, leadership, and compliance, Phelps can play a role in strategic business decisions being made.
After getting up and running in July 2024, Phelps reached a point where she was able to bring on her first employee at the beginning of this year. That new HR consultant brings 10 years of experience to the team. As the department continues to grow in the future, Phelps is hoping to bring on more team members, with the goal of growing leaders.
If you have questions about Anglin Reichmann Armstrong’s HR consulting service line, please contact Alissa Phelps at aphelps@anglincpa.com.
Hear more from Phelps during our new HR Roundtable meeting, later this month in Atlanta, Ga. She will be teaming up with Shawn Minard (Frazier & Deeter) to present their leadership development programs.
Alissa Phelps
Interview with Alissa Phelps, Anglin Reichmann Armstrong
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pivotal leadership role in fostering a culture that prioritizes both client and employee success. As leading partner, Haefele will focus on strengthening relationships, expanding services and advancing the firm’s longterm vision. Jim Rogers, who has served as managing partner for 11 years, expressed his confidence. “Jim Haefele embodies the values and forward-thinking approach that define Haefele Flanagan,” said Rogers. “His dedication to our clients, our team, and our mission makes him the ideal choice to lead us. I’m excited to see how his guidance shapes our firm’s success.” Rogers will continue to support Haefele until his retirement on December 31, 2025.
Widmer Roel announces Randy Heller as managing partner
welcomes new tax principal
is pleased to announce , has joined the firm as a tax principal, bringing nearly two decades of experience in tax advisory and family wealth planning. Thomas specializes in individual income tax, fiduciary income
within the healthcare industry. Kassouf’s promoted principals are Stewart Garner, MSHA, CMPE, and Dawn Jones, CPA
families in preserving wealth and managing generational transitions effectively. Before joining Thompson Greenspon, Thomas spent over 18 years working with both local and national CPA firms in the Metro D.C. area, gaining extensive experience in tax planning and compliance for high-net-worth individuals and their families. Carolyn Quill, managing principal, said, “We are thrilled to welcome William Thomas to our leadership team as a tax principal. His extensive expertise in tax strategy and family wealth planning will be invaluable to our clients and our firm. We look forward to his contributions as we navigate the evolving tax landscape and continue to provide the highest level of service.”
Kassouf promotes eight, hires new shareholder, manager
Kassouf’s recently hired employees include Dwayne Newsome, CPA, as shareholder and Eugenia Thompson, CPA, as manager. Newsome joined the firm as a shareholder in the Assurance Services Group. Other team member promotions include Margaret Novak, CPA, to manager, Carrie McElroy, CPA, to senior, Charles Hyde to senior, and Chris Gunner to associate. “We are incredibly proud of these team members and look forward to supporting them in their new roles,” said Kassouf managing director, Jonathan Kassouf.
Anglin Reichmann Armstrong welcomes new audit partner
Widmer roel PC, headquartered in Fargo, N.D., is pleased to welcome Randy A. Heller, CPA, to the role of managing partner. With over 25 years of public accounting experience, his promotion from partner to managing partner reflects his dedication, expertise, and leadership within the firm. Heller has been a valued member of the Widmer Roel team since 2004. Heller specializes in income tax preparation and planning for both individuals and businesses. Additionally, he collaborates with other trusted advisors to assist clients with estate and long-term tax planning. Heller is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in North Dakota, as well as a Chartered Global Management Accountant. His professional affiliations include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the North Dakota Society of Certified Public Accountants, where he currently serves as president. As managing partner, Heller will continue to lead with the same commitment and expertise, ensuring that our clients receive the highest level of service and support.
Kassouf has promoted eight team members and added two new shareholders. Kassouf’s promoted shareholders are Anita Atkinson, CPA, and James Dicks, CPA. Atkinson joined Kassouf in 2020 as chief operations officer, leading the firm’s daily operations, streamlining internal processes, overseeing firm administration, and serving on many internal teams, from the Kassouf Women’s Initiative to the Team Development Vision Team. Dicks joined the firm 15 years ago and works in Kassouf’s Healthcare Tax and Advisory Group. He provides accounting, tax compliance, practice valuation, advisory, practice start up, practice management services, and compensation model design, working across a variety of sub-specialties
anglin reiCHmann armsTrong (anglin) is pleased to announce that Steve Sledge, CPA, has joined the firm as an audit partner in the Huntsville, Alabama, office, bringing over 31 years of experience in audit, financial reporting, and technical accounting. His extensive leadership background and dedication to quality client service make him a valuable addition to the firm’s growing audit and assurance practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Steve to our team,” said Brandon Smith, managing partner at Anglin. “His depth of experience and leadership in audit and advisory services will further enhance our ability to serve clients with technical excellence and strategic insight.”
Kentner Sellers announces new partner promotion
KenTner sellers llP, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is excited to announce that Ryan Christmann, CPA, has been promoted to partner at the firm. Christmann joined the firm in 2014 after graduating from Walsh University with accounting and finance degrees. With more than 10 years’ experience in accounting and tax, he is an integral part of the firm’s Construction, Manufacturing and Employee Benefit Plan Audit teams.
Randy Heller
Anita Atkinson Ryan Christmann
James Dicks
William Thomas
Steve Sledge
Dwayne Newsome
behalf of their clients.
Art Winstead, CPA Director of A&A
Without any question, I run hot and cold regarding regulators. I have been one as a CPA in a legal regulatory environment and for those who consider the AICPA Peer Review program in a regulatory context, I have been one of those too. With all the chatter today about waste, abuse, and fraud, why not talk about these regulators and our role, including relationships with them.
Without hesitation, I believe anyone reading this article understands the role of regulators and the role of respondents. I do believe respondents have become somewhat of a catchall for the maintenance of expected and accepted financial behavior. Regarding client relationships within the compliance realm, some feel that too much of a safety net has been created. That’s ok, and runs parallel to the belief that we would rather over audit, over account, or simply overdo it, than take the risk of underperforming under the requirements.
As a starting point, the AICPA Code of Conduct requires members to “act with integrity, objectivity, due care, and competence; fully disclose any conflicts of interest (and obtain client consent if a conflict exists); maintain client confidentiality; disclose to the client any commission or referral fees; and serve the public interest when providing financial services.” Serve the public interest is intentionally emphasized.
To connect the dots with the intersection of CPAs, including all respondents and regulators, regulators have the responsibility to provide oversight for compliance with the laws and regulations, protect the public, and maintain stability. What do regulators do to protect the public?
Regulators establish and provide enforcement of standards for allowed use of public funds, more often than not, public
specific limits.
• Objectivity: Regulators are charged with the responsibility that regulatory decisions are made objectively, impartially, and consistently.
• Conflict of interest: Regulators are charged with the responsibility that regulatory decisions are made without conflict of interest or improper influence.
We understand the intent is to reduce costs, achieve fairness and, perhaps most importantly, monitor results. Monitoring results can certainly be a part of reducing costs. We also have an excellent understanding of the respondent’s role as adherence to the established requirements. Respondents also have responsibilities.
• Respondents need to understand the criteria, needs and goals of the regulators and the related requirements that we and our clients are dealing with.
• Respondents need to understand the priorities, concerns, and expectations of regulators.
• Respondents need to understand the expectations, outcomes and impacts of regulators.
• Respondents must understand the cost/ benefit of the goods, services provided or consumed to stakeholders, such as program users, citizens, and possibly the environment.
While doing this, the respondent should listen and ask questions. CPAs as respondents participate in communicating both the client’s and CPA’s points of view, while also listening to the regulator. The regulator’s perspective is valued, and the respondent can build open communication and trust. That continued communication will hopefully add improvement to the client’s position.
The use of stories and examples can be helpful with communicating the client’s position. Stories and examples allow the respondent to illustrate and explain their side and may provide a chance to stumble onto the emotions and values of the regulators.
Communication does not have to stop after the presentation and discussion of the respondent’s position. Follow up and communication can continue. There is value to regulators with continued communication.
Regulation will continue. The requirements and the extent of those requirements may rise and fall. There will always be a role for regulators. Additionally, there will always be a role for those of us here to serve as CPA advisors, providing assistance to clients and their relationship with regulators.
From time-to-time respondents have disagreements with regulators. By either knowing in advance or by performing research, respondents should anticipate and address objections, as they should understand regulators will likely have some objections, questions or concerns about the use of funds or assets provided. Respondents should be prepared to address them confidently and respectfully. When responding to disagreement or objections, respondents should acknowledge and certainly consider the regulator’s point of view and consider the potential benefit. Contact
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