Accounting

"We began our relationship with Brown Edwards in January 2017 and it has proven to be an extremely beneficial partnership.  Our Brown Edwards team, Billy Robinson and David Sheaffer, has been responsive and prompt.  They have provided expert advice and insights on maneuvering through construction accounting complexities, acquisition scenarios, as well as guidance on a host of other difficult issues.  Brown Edwards has truly helped our organization grow and I consider Billy and David not just our CPAs and advisors, but great friends."

Mike Closter - Chief Financial Officer, Capital Interior Contractors, Inc.

"Brown Edwards has proven to be responsive to our needs and have worked hard to learn our business. Not only have they submitted tax returns for federal and several states on time, they helped us become current on existing and new GAAP standards. If they make a mistake, they own it and make it right. We consider Brown Edwards to be a trusted advisor who helps Shickel Corporation meet our vision to be the most trusted name in the design, fabrication, and installation of custom metal products."

Mark A. Shickel - President, Shickel Corporation

"Brown Edwards’ sound knowledge of how a business functions as well as construction expertise has provided a service well above that of any other accounting firm. The value added, we have seen as a client, goes beyond just the numbers and promotes our long-term strategic success."

Arlene Lee - CEO/Principal, R.E. Lee Companies

"Brown Edwards goes beyond an auditing firm that I trust to provide our Supervisory Committee with reliable financial reports and an accurate audit opinion. They provide professional and courteous advice when seeking an expert opinion relating to internal controls and GAAP. I know Brown Edwards shares our board’s goal of protecting the long term viability of the credit union, and the efforts they undertake for their clients is an exemplar of that shared passion.."

Andrew Reynolds - Controller, Baylands Federal Credit Union, West Point, VA

"Brown Edwards won us over with their original proposal 5 years ago and our expectations have been met ever since.  It continued to be a clear choice to retain Brown Edwards over other firms in the recent bid process.  They work well together and with our team and always know what’s needed.  It is important for us to work with a firm that we have confidence in and who understands our situation and issues on a consistent basis.  I am pleased Brown Edwards retained the Colonial Heights contract and look forward to working with them in the future"

William E. Johnson - Director of Finance, The City of Colonial Heights, Virginia

"It is a pleasure working with Brown Edwards & Company. The dedication to their clients and work is paramount and is demonstrated through each stage of the audit process. I especially value their excellent planning and communication relating to our audits. Brown Edwards also distributes clear, concise and informative communications on matters impacting our sector."

Patricia K. Conner, CPA - Assistant Finance Director, City of Danville, Virginia

"Brown Edwards has held the City’s audit contract for almost ten years.  With our extended relationship with Brown Edwards, they rotate their lead staff and review staff to ensure fresh eyes on our account. They are very responsive to questions during the audit and throughout the year as well. I value our relationship and believe we work well as a team striving towards the same goal."

Donna Witt - Director of Financial Services, City of Lynchburg, Virginia

"Our time with Brown Edwards has been very positive.  From a higher education perspective their conference in June is high on our list to attend.  The ability to network with other schools and learn from them as well as the speakers that are brought in is fantastic.  The audit is very well prepared and the communication between us and them is great.  Besides the normal financial statements and notes that go to the board they provide other information such as ratios from Moody’s, CFI score and articles on the industry that our board has found quite useful.  We feel our time with Brown Edwards has been time well spent and has helped us do our jobs better."

Doug Frood - Associate Vice President, Southern Adventist University

"Trinity Washington University has been a client of Brown Edwards for almost eight years. During that time, we have established an excellent relationship with not only the audit teams that come to campus but the team that supports them in Roanoke. Trinity used larger audit firms in the past and we have found no comparison to the accessibility, helpfulness, responsiveness and reasonableness of the Brown Edwards team. Their Higher Education Team are the consummate professionals. Trinity has been and continues to be a very satisfied client."

Barbara Lettiere - CEO Trinity Washington University

"It is my privilege to make special note of the accomplishments of Mr. Harold Holstein, a Director at Brown, Edwards & Company, L.L.P. Harold has been a tremendous asset to our organization for over a decade providing accounting services for over a dozen in‐house companies. He is a highly reliable professional with an exemplary work ethic and has always been committed to delivering excellent work to us. Harold is a well‐known CPA among Oil & Gas clients as he is setting himself apart as being an expert in this industry."

J. Scott Freshwater - Vice‐President Reserve Oil and Gas, Inc.

"The Rescue Mission has high standards for professionalism and transparency.  If we do something, we want to do it well. As a large, local non-profit, our most important asset is our reputation so we are glad that our relationship with Brown Edwards mirrors that same mindset. I suspect what a company does not know is the most dangerous thing they can encounter when it comes to today’s ever changing regulatory environment. Brown Edwards has been there to help guide us through the maze of charitable gift-giving, making sure we understand not only the new requirement, but the rationale behind the requirement which makes the adherence to new requirement a smooth one."

Joy Sylvester-Johnson - Executive Director, The Rescue Mission of Roanoke, Inc.

"I would like to thank you and your team at Brown Edwards and Company for providing exceptional service to Jamison Electric since 1984. Your personal commitment to our trade continuously exceeds our expectations. You have become a trusted resource for our company. Thank you for the extraordinary service that you provided this year when our company was audited for the first time in forty years of business. Upon learning that we were a client of Brown Edwards, the auditor congratulated us in choosing such an upstanding accounting firm and recognized Brown Edwards as a firm that “always provided accurate information."

Marshall Jamison - Owner/Vice President, Jamison Electric Company, Inc.

"The last couple of years at Blue Ridge School have been exciting ones.  We’ve raised new dollars, begun construction of new facilities, and crafted a fresh Long Range Plan – all the while growing smarter about how to best create, manage and evaluate our day-to-day operations.Brown Edwards has been an important partner in this process. They understand our growth plans and how we are achieving them. They have contributed to our increased awareness of best practice and changing legislation. And, they appreciate the human side of our work – that our students, families and mission come first. While non-profits are different than for-profits, the best non-profits use for-profit planning and wisdom to their advantage. Brown Edwards brings valuable perspective to our School, and are very much a part of the success we are enjoying at Blue Ridge today.."

D. Franklin Daniels, Jr. - Associate Headmaster for Advancement and Admissions, Blue Ridge School

"Working with a firm that knows and is experienced dealing with the regulatory issues that we face on a daily basis is important to me.  Brown Edwards has proven their expertise and delivered significant value to my organization.  I find their folks to be highly professional, friendly and, most importantly, accessible when I need them.  Choosing Brown Edwards has been a great decision for Four County EMC."

Gary Chitwood - VP of Finance and Accounting, Four County Electric Membership Corporation

" Trinity Washington University has been a client of Brown Edwards for many years, not only for our financial audits but for the annual DC Retirement Plan (403b) Audit.  Brown Edwards manages the audit in ways that are instructional and helpful, as we prepare the reports and information needed to complete the audit work for our plan. They are organized, efficient and the preparation process is clear and easy to understand. I have worked with many auditing firms in my career and the Brown Edwards Team is one of the very best. I would recommend this firm, without reservation to any of my colleagues in higher education. "

Carole King - Vice President for Human Resources Trinity Washington University

"It is of great comfort to me how well versed Brown Edwards is in our industry. I rely on their expertise not only for the specific services in which we contract, but for their input into our future plans from a financial and risk management standpoint. They are timely and thorough, yet I do not feel overwhelmed with their processes. Their people are not only competent, but enjoyable to work with. No more dreading the extra work at audit or tax time!"

Tina McPhail - Finance Director, Pray Construction Company

"Brown Edwards has been Mountain Empire Older Citizens’ independent auditor for the last four years. I have always had the feeling that we were all working together to achieve the goal of providing our Board of Directors with an audit document that was both accurate and understandable. In that regard, when the Brown Edwards staff presented the first year’s audit to our Board, the Board Chairman commented that as a result of their presentation, he felt like he truly understood the audit document for the first time. As we grew it became imperative that we have the services of a thoroughly professional auditing firm that could provide us with the tools to see clearly how we had performed in the most recent fiscal year and also to look forward to see how we could better track and plan for the future. Brown Edwards has been instrumental in our ability to do both."

R. Raymond Moore - CFO Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc.

"For the past four years, I have served in the capacity of CFO with a substantial provider of services to foster care children and developmentally disabled individuals. Brown Edwards is our current accounting and auditing firm here as well. I have worked with all levels of staff within their firm. I find they recruit bright and qualified individuals to work there. I have always found them to be professional in their work and reasonable when it comes to items requiring discussion. I am especially pleased with the lack of staff turnover I have encountered within their senior personnel, not only at my current position, but over the many years I have worked with them as well."

Trigg Copenhaver - CFO DePaul Family Services

"My words will not capture how much I think of the Brown Edwards staff, your commitment to the community, your willingness to nurture and grow clients, your service on boards and nonprofit organizations, I could go on and on … "

Marjette G. Upshur - Director, City of Lynchburg, VA Office of Economic Development

"Entrust Financial Credit Union has worked with Brown, Edwards for over 6 years, during which time they have completed thorough audits of the credit union and have been a great resource for accounting expertise. Our Board of Directors, Supervisory Committee, and Examiners have been pleased with the audit reports presented by Brown, Edwards. Their staff has always been courtesy and professional and easy to work with. We highly recommend Brown, Edwards for auditing, tax form preparation, and accounting expertise needs."

Lisa Lambrecht - CEO Entrust Financial Credit Union Richmond, VA

"Accountants have a reputation for being rather mundane. However, Brown Edwards’ professionals have set themselves apart from the stereotype. Their business acumen and sincere desire for their clients to succeed have given us much to be excited about over the past twelve years."

Rick Pevarsk - President and CEO Virginia Utility Protection Services, Inc.

"As always it was our pleasure to work with you and Brown and Edwards again this year. We appreciate all of your help, friendly reminders, and keeping us on task. Your knowledge, expertise, and ability to discuss the issues in a professional and understanding manner is much appreciated and highly regarded, not only by staff but by our Audit Committee as well. Thank you."

Kim Hynes - Executive Director Central Virginia Waste Management Authority

"The staff at Brown Edwards has served as much more than auditors.  They have become a partner with the City of Winchester.  They continually give us the guidance and expertise we need to navigate through new mandates and they offer solutions that fit our needs as a small government.  The audits are consistently thorough and their focus is on customer services; their staff is always available to us throughout the year if we need assistance."

Mary Blowe - Finance Director City of Winchester VA

"In a constantly changing governmental environment full of industry standard updates and changes, Brown, Edwards is always there to help guide the implementation to make the transition smooth. They are a top notch quality firm that gets the job done right."

Matthew R. Hornby, CPA - Assistant Director of Finance Town of Blacksburg, Virginia

"When we partnered with Brown, Edwards & Company, LLP in 2011, it quickly became evident that it was one of the best decisions we made as a family-owned business. They provide high quality work and answer questions or concerns in a clear, precise and timely manner. Brown Edwards provides support and advice with tax planning strategies that offer the potential for continued growth and profitability in our industry. It was with their expert guidance that we were able to make a business acquisition in 2013. They exemplify what an outstanding accounting firm can do.

We look forward to continuing our relationship as they are, without question, one of our best assets. We highly recommend Brown, Edwards as an accounting firm to be trusted to deliver above and beyond expectation."

Debbie S. VanDyke - President, Lakeside Ready Mix, Inc.

"Even though G&G Builders was not a client of Brown Edwards, their Charleston office construction and tax experts anticipated that our company could benefit from unclaimed 179D deductions. And they were so right. Brown Edwards got the ball rolling and helped us receive substantial refunds. We are grateful that they reached out to us. Matt Burchett and Ruth Still provided top-notch service and expertise! If you are approached by Brown Edwards about tax savings opportunities – or anything else – we advise you to listen to them.”"

Gary Young, President and Amber Stevens, Controller - G&G Builders, Inc.

"When the construction niche CPAs at Brown Edwards’ Charleston office suggested our company could benefit from amending prior returns for previously unclaimed Research & Development credits, we were skeptical. As it turned out, however, Brown Edwards was on target with the suggestion. They introduced us to the Alliantgroup people and helped facilitate the entire process, which resulted in major tax refunds we had not expected. As a significant aside, Brown Edwards prepared and filed all the required tax paperwork at no charge."

Nate Orders - President, Orders Construction Company, Inc.

"Brown Edwards has been assisting ZMM Architects and Engineers with sound business advice and tax leadership for many, many years. We are always impressed with the prompt, knowledgeable and personal attention we receive every time we reach out to them. Brown Edwards has provided ZMM with many valued services (annual reviewed financial statements, FAR audits, corporate and personal tax returns/advice, 179D deductions, and business advice) through the years and we have been very happy with their abilities and guidance. We value our relationship with Brown Edwards."

Elizabeth Billups - Controller, ZMM Architects and Engineers

"Since we switched our tax work to the folks at Brown Edwards in 2017, they have saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars by amending prior returns to take full advantage of deductions and credits our prior tax accountant overlooked. Brown Edwards is the #1 CPA firm for contractors as far as I’m concerned. On a personal note, to be successful as a controller, it’s critical to have a strong, independent CPA and to maintain a good relationship with that CPA. Matt Burchett and Ruth Still aren’t just the best at what they do, they are also good people..and fun to work with! The professional support of Brown Edwards allows me to operate and execute my job fearlessly! Brown Edwards’ folks are masters of their craft and our relationship with the firm is invaluable."

- Controller, Thermal Solutions, Inc.

"Brown Edwards has added value at the two colleges I have served as chief financial officer. Higher education has a complicated business model in which many things have to go well in order for an institution to be successful. Brown Edwards understands the complexities of higher education and that each institution has its own individual strengths and weaknesses. Needs are different. As independent auditors, they adjust to the needs of the client. Brown Edwards provides services that strengthen the institutions they serve. I recommend that you consider Brown Edwards & Company to serve as your institution’s independent auditor."

Stephen E. Bright - Vice President for Business and Finance Lynchburg College

"For over twenty years, I have trusted the CPA advice and service of the accountants at Brown Edwards. During the decade that I was the CEO of my companies, and grew from 60 employees to close to 300 employees, the challenge of doing business and filing state tax returns in over twenty states was simplified and streamlined by Brown Edwards. Matt Burchett has handled the preparation of our audited financial statements during this entire period, and has kept the senior managers of my companies up to speed on the latest rule changes that affect our business. I consider Matt and the CPAs at Brown Edwards to not only be essential advisors to my group of companies, but also to be faithful friends."

Fred D. Clark - Corporate Secretary and General Counsel, IVS Group, Inc.

"We’ve trusted the people at Brown Edwards for many years to help us through some tough times and business decisions. They’re always ready and able to help, and make us feel that no one else is more important than we are. And just recently, in a matter of hours, they helped us identify an error made by the Division of Highways that would have cost us several million dollars in prequalification capacity."

Kelley Thaxton - Vice President and Treasurer, Thaxton Construction Co., Inc.

"My bond with Brown Edwards personnel goes back to 1987 when I started my company. I always feel free to call the partners and ask for help when business problems come up. I know they’ll take my call immediately and help me figure out the right course of action, taking my best interest to heart. They’re the first people I turn to for help. It’s that kind of a relationship."

Sumith Hapuarachy - President, SMH Construction Company, Inc.

"We’ve built our business and gone through a successful ownership transition with critical help from Brown Edwards people; our relationship goes back 30 years. I know that my partner contacts at Brown Edwards will jump when we call and get things done for us. And they’re fun to talk to."

Ted Brady - President, Progressive Electric, Inc.

"The folks at Brown Edwards have been with us through thick and thin and back. They’ve been solid advisors since we started up in 1997; always approachable and responsive. We consider them to be trusted business colleagues and good friends."

Thomas H. Reece - President, RC General Contractors, Inc.

" I have had the pleasure of working with Brown Edwards for several years on annual compliance testing and ERISA audits.  The staff is professional, responsive, and friendly.  I would recommend them without hesitation to anyone who has need of their services. "

Robin Meade - Human Resources Division Manager, Virginia Tech Services, Inc.

" Randolph College engaged Brown Edwards to conduct the College’s 403(b) retirement audit in the spring of 2010, after putting out an RFP.  Brown Edwards was selected because of their experience.  We are very pleased with the overall scope of the work and their response to the College’s needs.  We also appreciate their pre-visit work and planning.."

Sharon M. Saunders - Director of Human Resources Randolph College

" Jessica White is an exemplary auditor for Brown Edwards. Jessica manages the audit in ways that are instructional and helpful, as we prepare the reports and information needed to complete the audit work for our plan. Jessica is organized, efficient and her preparation process is clear and easy to understand. She is thorough and is always willing to answer  questions or explain any part of the audit or clarify requirements. Jessica is a competent professional and a pleasure to work with and is always ready to assist us and facilitate an understanding of different aspects of the audit. This in turn helps us be more efficient in the work we do in preparation for the plan audit. I have worked with many auditing firms in my career and the Brown Edwards Team is one of the very best.  I would recommend this firm, without reservation to any of my colleagues in higher education. "

Carole King - Vice President for Human Resources Trinity Washington University

"In a tough and demanding industry Brown Edwards has proven to be excellent advisors.  They have the specific experience we need and the technical expertise necessary to navigate the challenges of an ever changing coal industry.  Our relationship with them has been very beneficial and we look forward to continuing our long-term relationship well into the future."

Dick Johnson - Chief Financial Officer, Classic Coal Sales, Inc

"My association with Brown Edwards expands over 20 years.  They have been engaged as auditors, tax preparers, and special situation engagements with the various companies I have been associated with since 1986. Steve Dalton, in particular, has a unique perspective and understanding in regards to the coal industry that is very difficult to find in a CPA. I would, without hesitation, recommend Brown Edwards for any engagement."

Joseph Funk - CEO/President, Rhino Energy LLC

"One of the best decisions I ever made was when I hired Brown Edwards."

Ken Hudson - Controller, Natural Resource Partners, LP