Construction Expertise, Competitive Fees, and Superior Service Prompts Contractor to Switch to Barnes Dennig & Company
Company’s business was no longer big enough for Big Four Accounting firm.
For five years, Danis Building Construction Company, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, worked with a large, international accounting firm for accounting, audit and tax preparation consulting. But in 2002, that Big Four firm revised its fee structure and subsequently informed Jim Fuller, CFO of Danis, that his company’s fees would be significantly raised.
“Basically our account wasn’t big enough for them,” recalls Fuller, whose company generated $180 million in revenue in 2003. “It became obvious to me that we were going to have to pay a premium to have one of the big firms sign our statements. I didn’t personally think it was worth it.”
So Fuller spoke with executives at both his company’s bank and bonding company, and each suggested he consider a regional accounting firm instead. After interviewing six different companies in the Southern Ohio region, Fuller and his team decided to switch to Barnes Dennig & Company.
Fuller was impressed with Barnes Dennig’s presentation and their construction expertise, as well as with their competitive fee proposal. Although he offered Danis’ former accounting company an opportunity to bid on the business, they priced themselves far above the regional firms.
“I don’t believe Barnes Dennig was the lowest fee necessarily, but they were competitive,” Fuller says. “Of course, fee is always part of the decision, but we wouldn’t go with an accounting firm that we were uncomfortable with because they had a lower fee.”
In addition to paying less for the same accounting, audit, and tax preparation services, Fuller feels he gets far superior service from Barnes Dennig than what he experienced from the Big Four firm he worked with previously.
“When we worked with the large, international firm, it seemed like they would send out different people every year. They were frequently very young and fresh out of school, so they weren’t familiar with our company, nor were they as experienced with audit work in general,” Fuller notes. “We were always having to train their people, basically.”
In direct contrast, Barnes Dennig’s construction-focused niche team is highly-competent and well-seasoned in both accounting and construction expertise—much more so than the firm he worked with in the past, Fuller says.
“Many companies have the perception that a large firm will give them the best service,” observes Jay Rammes, a Barnes Dennig director who works closely with Danis. “But as Danis Building found out when they went to us—a smaller firm, much smaller than the mega-firms—they in fact receive superior service.”
Gone are the repeated questions about Danis and its business that Fuller found himself answering not just every year, but often several times in the same year. Instead, the CFO and his team feel they receive a superior level of personal service from Barnes Dennig. Not only do audits run much more smoothly, they also take considerably less time than in the past.
“Clearly, our previous accounting firm didn’t understand our business, even when we explained it to them,” Fuller notes. “With Barnes Dennig that hasn’t been an issue at all—and it saves us a lot of time.”
About Barnes Dennig & Company
Barnes, Dennig & Company is the area’s second largest locally based CPA firm and a leader in providing business counsel to tax, accounting and consulting clients throughout the region. The firm offers a complete array of professional services that includes financial reporting, financial analysis, tax service, and business advisory services.
The firm’s consulting expertise includes estate planning, retirement and financial planning, business valuation, costing and pricing consulting, and profit improvement. Strategic planning, succession planning, performance-based compensation, and organizational development consulting are available through the firm’s alliance with Partners In Change LLC. Technology and accounting system consulting is available through the firm’s IT consulting subsidiary, Vero Software.
For more information, please visit www.barnesdennig.com, or call 513-241-8313.
About Danis Building Construction Company
Founded in 1916 by B.G. Danis, the Danis Building Construction Company (Danis) is a third-generation, privately owned corporation based in Dayton, Ohio. Danis serves Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Florida, specializing in public and private building and industrial projects. With more than 88 years of experience, Danis offers expertise in general construction, design/build, construction management, and build-to-suit lease back, as well as experience in the corporate, health/elderly care, education, retail, hospitality/entertainment and industrial markets.
Incorporated as an independent entity from The Danis Companies in 1997, Danis Building Construction Company operates four offices located in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Jacksonville. In 2003, the company achieved a sales volume total of nearly $180 million and employed 350 people. For more information, please visit www.danisbuilding.com, or call (937) 228-1225.