About SMS CPAs
The original firm was founded in 1975. In October 1986, following several mergers, the firm became Larry C. Stemen, CPA and Associates. In 2006, we were pleased to announce the retirement of Mr. Stemen and the organization of a new partnership name, Stemen, Mertens, Stickler, CPAs & Associates.
In recent years, we have continued to maintain and grow our client base. We credit this growth to our ability to communicate clearly with clients, attention to detail, professional work produced in a timely manner, and significant investment in the best accounting technology available. We have earned the respect of our clients and that of various financial reporting and tax agencies.
Our Team
We promote a very open, casual atmosphere here at SMS, while also providing tremendous work-life flexibility to each member of our team. We know that a great work environment results in a well-trained, motivated, and experienced staff. Each member of our professional staff is an accountant with a four-year degree from an accredited college or university. Each must complete a minimum of 120 hours of continuing professional education over a three-year period, as well as meet the continuing professional education requirements set forth in the Governmental Accountability Office’s “Yellow Book.” All staff members are trained with the most up-to-date accounting software and tax packages available.
Any Questions?
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a professionally trained and licensed accountant. CPAs have a strong educational background in accounting and have passed all 4 parts of the CPA exam. This knowledge and expertise allows them to represent clients in financial matters including tax preparation, personal financial planning, business financial planning, auditing, reporting and more.
CPAs have a broad knowledge of many business and financial matters, which allows them to provide valuable insight and expertise when it comes to areas such as financial reporting, taxes, and business planning. Our number one goal here at SMS CPAs is to help your business succeed!
As a general rule, we recommend keeping tax and financial records for at least seven years. The IRS has three years from your filing date to audit your return if it suspects good-faith errors. If for some reason, your gross income was underreported by 25% or more, they can go back as far as 6 years.
We provide a wide variety of assurance and advisory services, tax services, and financial planning. See our services page for a complete listing.
Any CPA you choose should have the technical knowledge and experience to help you with your specific situation. We also feel that it is just as important that you also feel valued and respected. How quickly does your CPA respond to your calls and emails? Does your CPA make you feel important? Do you feel comfortable asking questions to your CPA?
A CPA has demonstrated professional competence by passing one of the hardest professional exams that is offered by any profession. In addition, they must undergo periodic peer reviews by an independent accounting firm and adhere to strict continuing education requirements.