This is a big year for RBG, as 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of our business. In a time when small businesses do not always thrive, we've been able to grow because we've invested our time and energy into our most important resource – our people.
Our firm has, on average, a 95 percent annual retention rate among associates. In a day where workers regularly hop from company to company, people stay at RBG. We asked our employees what they enjoy about working for RBG. The answers were consistent – the firm’s overall culture, flexibility, professional training – but the big reason echoed by employees: RBG treats everyone the same, whether you are a partner, a manager, or a staff member.
“One of the things that is unique, especially in this industry, is that employees here have a say,” said Senior Audit Manager Nathan Stevens, an employee since 2007. “We have access and communication with the partners and can facilitate change and ideas. Public accounting is an old industry and a lot of firms still have a rigid structure with most things driven from the top; but RBG is open to hearing what their employees have to say and even works to encourage feedback.”
Rebecca Jacobs, a current tax senior and employee since 2009, appreciates that partners want to hear from the firm’s young professionals, as evidenced through the establishment of the firm's Young Professionals Group. “It is very unusual to have 50-60 year old partners listening to 25 and 30 year old associates and making them part of the decision making process.”
“Our commitment to both clients and employees is based upon our guiding principles and core values. This is the same foundation which has guided us as a top Memphis accounting firm for the past century,” said John Griesbeck, Managing Partner. “We have an unparalleled team in place, and we give them every opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills to continue to reach new levels of expertise.”
Our associates receive more than 50 hours of professional development training each year to improve tactical and leadership skills, as well as continuous internal coaching and mentoring.
We have also made it a point to give employees the flexibility they need to have a
successful career and personal life, even in the 1980s and 1990s, when it was not something on most company’s radars.
For instance, when Tax Manager David Love, who has been with the firm since 1970, had a stroke 20 years ago, we made sure he was taken care of and not rushed back to the office. We let him work part-time, gave him flexibility and treated him like family. Or, when Client Accounting Senior Kim Crawford, with the firm since 1992, started working here, her kids were young and she needed to have a schedule that allowed her time to take care of them. Crawford said RBG was more than willing to create the most comfortable working situation for her.
What’s most obvious after 100 years is that this employee focus doesn't just benefit our employees, it also benefits our clients. We've consistently maintained a high client retention rate, and we feel that we owe our success to our talented employees.
