Monday, August 12, 2019

Transcript for Episode 1 of Bell & Company's "Accounting for Life" Podcast


Accounting for Life: Episode One-Bell & Company and the Vision of Accounting for Life
Who is Bell & Company?  Bell & Company is a public accounting and business advisory firm established in 1982 by Richard Bell and his wife, Lee. Richard spent several years working for other accounting firms and serving as controller for a property management company and developed a passion for helping others achieve their financial goals. The firm has grown to include over 38 full time staff with offices in North Little Rock and Conway, AR and we continue to look for opportunities to expand our reach into new markets.
Bell & Company offers expertise in a variety of disciplines including tax and financial consulting; IRS audit representation and notice correspondence; and business services for companies of all sizes. The firm has extensive experience in the transportation industry serving as the public CPA for forty plus private carriers with numerous articles for transportation trade publications and continuing education seminars. Other trade specialties include farming and agriculture; construction, medical services; legal services, and charitable organizations.
There’s Success in Succession: As the firm approaches its’ 40-year anniversary, you might think there are thoughts of slowing down but we believe the best is yet to come. In 2010, Richard’s daughter, Jennifer, became a full-time member of the firm and is licensed to practice as a CPA and attorney, assuring the firm has the opportunity to continue in its’ mission to provide clients with expert accounting and financial advice for decades to come, helping clients of all sizes achieve long-term success. Our goal is to move forward and grow the firm as we provide other accounting professionals the opportunity to pursue their passion to assist others in achieving their financial and life goals.
The Purpose of Podcasting: With the expansion of the firm’s transportation practice, Bell & Company has a reach into many states and it is our goal to create informative content for existing clientele and those who may have need for our services. The search for impactful advisory services regarding your personal and business finances and tax planning can sometimes be a difficult task and we hope to provide content that helps you better understand and finalize an effective strategy to accomplish your goals.
Podcasting gives our accounting professionals the opportunity to provide foundational principles regarding accounting practices in a long-form content and catalogs this information so the listener can seek out answers as the need arises. Topics we’ll discuss include bookkeeping and accounting services, tax planning and preparation, estate planning, asset protection, audits and reviews, business valuations, and IRS representation. (Before taking an action based on information shared in our podcast, please consider contacting us regarding the specifics of your situation.)
The Vision of Accounting for Life? Although Bell & Company is a valuable resource for many individuals and the business community at large, our work is something we “do”. It is not who we are.
So, part of this podcast will also be devoted to sharing how the development and success of the firm has allowed us to encourage developing a lifestyle that is also full and complete, promoting a healthy work-life balance and giving into the community.
Bell & Company sponsors an Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series team and is recognized in the state for its volunteer work in bike trail maintenance and advocacy.
The firm has also been recognized nationally by the American Institute of CPAs as a Public Service Firm of the Year Award recipient, actively giving firm donations and staff time commitments including a fundraiser to buy and distribute over 400 containers of school supplies for children in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake and financially supporting a medical clinic through a work started by Richard’s son, Dr. Clayton Bell.
In Arkansas, the firm supports numerous efforts in our community including; serving on the board of the Central Arkansas Salvation Army, the Angel Tree Program, various local homeless shelters, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Race Space, and Hearts and Hooves, where the firm supports Ben, a therapeutic riding horse for those with disabilities.
Please join us in Accounting for Life: Now that we’ve taken a few minutes to introduce the firm and our vision for the future, let’s move into some podcast content. In the next few episodes, we’ll discuss career development and opportunities in accounting. We’ll cover what its’ like to learn the various disciplines and specialties of accounting, getting an education, internships, firm selection, and launching a career in accounting. And just like with many other professions, the advance of technology into the field of accounting has provided many young professionals the opportunity to train the most seasoned accounting professional. So I hope you’ll join us again and thank you for listening to Accounting for Life.