Member Spotlight: GBQ

Member Spotlight by Darci Congrove, Managing Director

Provide us with a brief summary of your business’ services.
At GBQ, our purpose is clear: we empower growth; growth of our people, our communities and our clients’ businesses. A top tax, accounting and consulting firm for more than 68 years, we’re pleased to serve clients operating in a complex, highly competitive and rapidly changing business environment. With offices located in Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and Indianapolis, we provide the following core services to clients throughout 50 states and 25 countries:

• Assurance
• Federal Tax
• Forensic and Dispute Advisory
• Information Technology
• International Tax
• Outsourced CFO
• Retirement & Employee Benefits
• Risk Advisory
• State and Local Tax
• Transaction Advisory
• Transfer Pricing
• Valuation and Financial Opinion
• Virtual Bookkeeping

It is because of our team’s dedication and commitment to client service that GBQ has earned the admiration of the communities served. We’re honored to be recognized for our strengths and considered the very best at what we do by being named a national INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) Best of the Best Firm and ranked among its Top 200 list. GBQ has also been recognized as Best Accounting Firm in the central Ohio market for 10 years and a 2020 Best in Ohio Business award recipient.

Tell us about your company’s mission and values.
At GBQ, we empower growth of our people, our communities and our clients’ businesses, and fulfill this purpose by creating, measuring and protecting value. We strive to be the best independent professional service firm, creating value-added long-term relationships with our clients and associates. To support this initiative, we hire and retain those who share our core values – highly motivated, personable, sociable, savvy, passionate, attentive and responsible – and provide everyone the opportunity for personalized professional growth.

We’ve changed the way people think about accounting… in more ways than one. Accounting is what we do, but our distinct personality is who we are and what makes us the place where people want to work and with whom clients want to do business. We’re driven by outcomes that we know can change the lives of those we work with and for. We’ve learned that this is what matters most to our stakeholders. It is this purpose that drives and inspires us every day. It’s why we exist.

What are the services you use the most (or are looking forward to using) from the Columbus Chamber?
GBQ engages with the Chamber to obtain benchmarking and demographic data that fuels our business development process. We refer our clients to the Chamber for assistance with workforce matters and industry-specific connections. We also enjoy the relationships that we have built with other Chamber member companies, which has expanded our network within the city.

How do you stay engaged with trends that you see in your industry?
GBQ participates in a number of accounting peer groups across the country, and we have a 25-year relationship within a formal professional alliance that provides connections around the globe for our firm. We actively engage in professional associations to stay on top of issues and trends in the profession.

Please describe your company culture.
While our firm has changed in size and scope over the years, what has not changed is our culture and the way we care for our team members. Simply put: We inspire a compassionate, supportive, engaged culture, because our associates deserve it. In fact, that’s why we work from the inside, out. We know that when our people flourish, our communities can thrive and business grows. The happiness and vitality of our associates is at the core of everything we do. From there, we work to share that energy, compassion and engagement with all of our clients. This formula has worked well for us, and so we stick with it. Here’s our story—and our philosophy—and every day, we stick to it: It’s our belief that business, by its very nature, is good. It creates jobs. It helps communities. It changes lives. And THAT inspires us. Every day, GBQ is focused on supporting work and business. And when that happens, there’s a byproduct that’s valuable and often overlooked. And that’s growth; the growth of our people, our communities and our clients’ businesses.

Inside GBQ, our team has developed a number of innovative programs to engage our associates, some of which have become part of our culture. We have a victory bell celebration to recognize associates who do remarkable work. GBQ’s “Committed to Community” initiative offers associates the time to volunteer at various charitable organizations. In 2018, Volunteer Time Off (VTO) hours were implemented and have continued to be awarded annually to all associates to further encourage and promote their philanthropic efforts. In addition to a flexible work environment and sound benefits package, GBQ offers summer hours permitting associates to leave at 2:00pm on Fridays, and provides tax season stress reducers, such as breakfast and dinner, happy hours and an annual “end of busy season” party. Together, our efforts contribute to the culture that sets GBQ apart. Ultimately, we aim to empower people to grow to their full potential, regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, disability or any other indication of diversity. A professional development and networking group, wGBQ, was formed to enhance the recruitment, retention and advancement of women within the firm. Additionally, through the creation of GBQ’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative, we remain committed to being an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and celebrated.

What defines a successful employee at your company?
GBQ’s founders built a firm where, to this day, associates are given ample room for personal career growth and remain supported by partners who truly care about every individual associate. We are pleased to provide individuals with an opportunity for personalized career development as part of a highly-motivated team inside of a growing and progressive organization. Through GBQ’s formal mentoring program, associates are provided with ongoing feedback, encouragement and personalized career development plans to provide ample room for personal growth.

The firm has changed over the years but our focus on individual associates has not. We put people first and strive to make GBQ a fun place to work, offering career advancement and lifelong learning opportunities.

What makes Columbus such a great place to do business?
Like many companies we serve, we’re proud of our central Ohio roots. The consistent creativity and pragmatism of our business community has helped us grow to become the area’s largest independent accounting and consulting firm. The city is growing and the business ecosystem is expanding along with it, seeing more start-ups, resources and capital.

The Columbus community at large has invested in the creation of innovation infrastructure in a systematic and strategic way. Our access to internationally acclaimed research institutions, spin out discoveries and provide access to risk capital for breakthrough intellectual property. Columbus continues to be one of the best cities in the U.S. for new college graduates, providing a source of talent for a growing city.

Lastly, Columbus is accessible. Unlike many cities, regardless of where anyone comes from, it’s easy to connect with the community and plug in to something to make a difference.

Social Media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GBQ_LLC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GBQLLC
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gbq-partners
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbq_llc/
Website: https://gbq.com/