Two long-established accounting firms merge creating one of Bay area's largest

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 4, 2016) -- Two of Tampa Bay’s most accomplished and rooted accounting agencies have merged to create one of the largest full-service accounting companies around Tampa Bay (nearly 50 team members).

Spoor Bunch Franz (SBF) was officially founded January 1, 2016, with the merger of Clearwater’s Spence Marston Bunch & Morris and St. Petersburg’s Spoor & Associates. The former was founded in 1971, the latter in 1974. Both firms hold notable histories – partners have backgrounds with some of the top firms in the country (such PwC and Deloitte), they’ve authored books and technical articles, chaired industry task forces, served on legislative panels, provided expert testimony, led professional education courses, and helped author and revise Florida tax law.

All four of the former partners remain active as principals, and the three named partners share primary management: W.G. Spoor, Steve Bunch, and Rich Franz. Long-time friends and associates, all three serve as leaders in their community as well as in their business. “We continue to lead from the long-established practices and values of the original founders – always thinking about people first, and consistently furthering opportunities to stand out in what many fairly think of as a typically staid industry,” said Bunch.

“The merger creates expanded opportunities for employees, as well as a strengthened overall foundation for clients,” said Spoor. SBF works with a variety of large national clients to mid-size local businesses, around Tampa Bay and across the country.

“With our technology and capabilities, we’re a great solution for our clients in New York and other big markets,” said Franz. “They’re getting top-tier financial expertise at Tampa Bay rates.”

Among other key differentiators: SBF performs audit-related services, they offer an innovative outsourced-CFO model, retention is well above industry average, technology is leading edge, and SBF practices approaches of the emerging “Next Generation Accounting Firm” movement.

A family-oriented business with solid long-term relationships, SBF encourages healthy work-life balance. Team members are deeply involved with many community and industry endeavors, not limited to: Pinellas County Humane Society, Leadership Pinellas, Leadership St. Pete, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Police Athletic League, Synovus Bank Advisory Board, American Stage Theater, National Down Syndrome Society, John Gorrie Foundation, First United Methodist Church, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA).

More information at: https://www.sbfcpa.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/SpoorBunchFranz.

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