NW Arkansas Recruiting Has Been Easier for MSF

Greg Barnes, a former Arthur Andersen partner who joined Staffmark Inc. in 2000, recently became an audit partner at Moore Stephens Frost.r

Managing Partner Greg Flesher described Barnes as a “star talent” who had been on MSF’s wish list for five years. The new recruit will now join the other 12 MSF partners in the never-ending quest to recruit more accounting talent to the firm.r

At a recent conference, affiliates of Moore Stephens North America were told that the job of recruiting new staff talent was as important for partners as attracting new clients.r

MSF currently has 37 CPAs, including the 13 partners, and 45 other professionals, in offices in Little Rock and Rogers. The firm has several vacancies, particularly in the tax division.r

“That’s a tough job to fill,” Barnes said. “I don’t know that I’d characterize the situation as any different than most public accounting firms have trying to find qualified people to fill the various levels.”r

Recruiting has been easier for MSF in Northwest Arkansas since that office opened a year ago on Sept. 1, Flesher said.r

“The people that have come and knocked on the door to apply for jobs there has just been very encouraging. The number has been overwhelming to us and has certainly allowed us to identify what we think are the best and brightest,” he said.r

Among them was Keith Ekenseair, a former MSF employee who had gone to work for a client, Pace Industries. Ekenseair was brought back in as the partner in charge of the new office.r

The Northwest Arkansas office hasn’t been open long enough to be infected by an ailment common to the Little Rock office: travel burnout. MSF’s specialty in animal agriculture operations requires extensive travel.r

“It’s easy to recruit on campus when they hear that they are going to travel; that has an allure to the campus recruit. Over time, when they want to start a family, is when it becomes an issue,” Flesher said.r

After a few years on the road, MSF accountants are often easy pickings for competitors with mostly local clients.r

“We think there’s one accounting firm in town that doesn’t recruit on campus,” Flesher said, implying that it only recruits from MSF, “which would be a very good business plan on their part.”r

While staff accountants come and go, Flesher said the list of partners is stable.r

“Everyone from my perspective is fully committed to growing the firm. Every indication is they are fully committed to staying at this firm,” he said.r

He also pointed out that four of the 13 partners are female. “That’s indicative,” he said, “that there is a lot of opportunity here for both genders.”