As published in Crain's Chicago Business
It all starts with employees at M&S
While many companies have a customer-first approach, the public accounting firm of Mowery & Schoenfeld (M&S) has turned that idea around to put employees ahead of everything else.
"We know that our most important asset is our people," says Jeffery Mowery, managing partner at M&S, which has offices in Lincolnshire. "If we have a great team in place, our clients will be taken care of."
The employee-centric approach is one reason why M&S has been named one of Chicago's Best Places to Work for 2018.
M&S provides a variety of accounting, auditing, and tax services, as well as general business consulting. For the team of 70 individuals at M&S, the firm's goal is to promote personal growth and professional development in a comfortable environment.
Mowery takes pride in the fact that, of the firm's eleven partners, five started their accounting careers at M&S. "They have all come up through the ranks," he says.
The firm has an open-door policy. "Employees are welcome to come right into my office," Mowery says. This helps foster a collaborative environment, which sets the right tone for the team-oriented culture.
Newcomers are encouraged to ask questions. Employees who help others to understand new concepts and programs receive recognition. "It's an important part of their evaluation," Mowery says.
M&S offers generous benefits, along with regular training, educational opportunities, and leadership development. For example, M&S will cover the tuition for employees to attend the Master of Science in Taxation program at Northern Illinois University.
"We are not afraid to invest in people," says Mowery. "We look for opportunities to make people better."
