Tax firm builds relationships

“We let the client focus on what they’re good at and we help them by focusing on what we're good at,” says Scott France, one of the certified public accountants at McChesney, Martin and Sagehorn.

McChesney, Martin and Sagehorn is one of the newest businesses to open in downtown Lexington in 2008. The firm has offices North Platte, Ogallala, Imperial and Cozad.  The size of the firm gives their clients access to a base of expertise and experience that can handle any situation that may come up.  CPAs Scott France and Robert Speer would like to invite you to their new office located at 500 North Washington. 

With the ever-changing tax rules and regulations, most business owners and operators don’t have the time or extensive knowledge required to keep current with the IRS. “They trust us to do the research and keep up on the requirements they’re too busy to do,” explained France, saying that MMS leaves the day-to-day operation of the business to the owner, while the CPAs look to maximize the financial benefits available to the business.

The firm offers a wide range of services from general accounting, payroll and bookkeeping all the way to retirement and succession planning.

Speer is from Lexington, graduating from Lexington High School. After graduation, he attended college at University of Nebraska-Kearney, graduating with a degree in business administration with an emphasis on accounting and a minor in computer information systems.

Speer also recently earned his master’s in business administration, with a concentration in accounting.

Like Speer, France also grew up in the area, graduating from Gothenburg High School and attending University of Nebraska-Kearney, also graduating with a degree in business administration.

Although their primary focus this time of year is tax returns and tax planning, the two men work to complement the existing skills of the business owner.

“We work with the client to build an accounting system on which they can rely. If it's a system to provide information for an annual tax return or help you manage your farm or business on a day-to-day basis we want to help." said France, “We want to provide any and all service to help you.”

"The job description is a lot broader than it was ten years ago,” said France. Retirement planning, college savings, depreciation issues and capital gains treatment are issues the taxpayer need to deal with through their tax return.  Some business owners and taxpayers are very knowledgeable regarding these matters but if they don’t have the time or inclination, France and Speer can step in. The two are also skilled at preparing financial statements at the compilation, review and audit level.

Another aspect in which the job is changing is the accountant working in conjunction with attorneys and banks to help things run smoothly for the client.

The part that remains the same seems to be the endless stream of paperwork required by the IRS for more complicated business operation. “A lot more paperwork,” Speer interjected. “There are more stringent penalties than ever before.”

McChesney, Martin and Sagehorn will review software for a business owner and advise on its potential effectiveness. As France puts it, "we want to put good information into the hands of our clients, information that will help them be better managers."

“We provide services that are reputable, reliable and reasonable,” France said. “We treat everybody like we want their business for 20 years. We’re here to build relationships.”

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by appointment.  Visit McChesney, Martin and Sagehorn on the web at www.cpas-mms.com and at their office located at 500 N. Washington. Or call 324-9009.

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