Whittaker & Company PLLC, is a full-service MBE/DBE certified public accounting and consulting firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Gary, Indiana. Our highly professional staff is licensed to practice in both states. Although a small firm in number of employees, we have a large reach through strategic alliances that we have developed through the years. Thus, we are easily able to expand our scope from the neighborliness of local clients to the all-encompassing hurly-burly of much larger clients. That is because the foundation of our practice, regardless of client size, emphasizes integrity, transparency, quality and service.
As a full-service DBE/MBE firm, Whittaker & Company is positioned to undertake specialized assignments in the private and public sectors. But we aren't limited by the designation. That is why we are able to do so much more for you. We take pride in maintaining a diverse, thoroughly professional staff with various backgrounds, suitable to analyzing, understanding, tackling and solving any need presented by clients. While the founder has an extensive background in the private sector, including stints and BP and Arthur Andersen, we are also knowledgeable in all manner or public sector, local government finances and tax issues.
We perform financial and compliance audits, OMB A-133 Circular single audits and reviews. We also conduct business advisory services, tax and management consulting, and accounting services for clients listed within the proposal. We are thoroughly familiar with accounting methods (GAAP, cash, tax, etc.) and business conditions in a wide range of specialized industries, governments, educational institutions and not-for-profits. Flexibility is important to us, which is why our services are available to individuals and businesses and, if necessary, we will work in conjunction with a client's staff or as advisors.
For example, our audit team has various, substantive levels of experience. Such unique qualifications, along with stringent internal policies and procedures for ethical performance provide assurance of the highest quality work. We ensure your satisfaction by adhering to the professional standards and ethics of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts, plus going the extra mile in creativity and productivity.
We are acutely aware our clients have many options from which to choose in selecting a firm with which to do business. That is why we do not work from a template. There is no generalizing with us. We see each client, large or small, as unique and requiring individualized service. That is why we emphasize personal service as a hallmark of our relationship with our clients.
Our firm gives all clients the VIP treatment. You are not only Very Important People to us; you also get the benefit of our Vision, the Insight of our experience and the dedication of our Professional staff.
ACCOUNTING SERVICES
In order to have accurate and timely financial information, it is necessary that a consistent and reliable accounting function be in place. WHITTAKER & COMPANY provides a consistent and reliable accounting function for a variety of not-for-profit organizations, local governments and small, closely-held businesses. WHITTAKER & COMPANY provides various accounting services ranging from basic bookkeeping services to ‘shadow controllership’ services. With the assistance of WHITTAKER & COMPANY businesses are able to maintain accurate and reliable financial information from which business owners are able to make business decisions.
Our accounting services include:
- Accounting assistance: We can assist with your month-end, quarter-end, or year-end close or with special projects or analysis, as needed.
- Other financial advising: We provide resources and consultation to aid in the preparation of budgets, forecasts, and projections.
- Agreed-upon procedures: We perform procedures to test a variety of attributes agreed upon by users of the report, including billing and revenue accuracy, cost allocations, effectiveness of controls, and compliance with the terms of agreements.
- Write-ups
- Budgeting
- Financial statement preparation
- Payroll services
- Selecting and implementing integrated accounting software
- Implementing accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory, fixed assets and payroll functions within an integrated accounting software
- Accounting software training
- Receipt and deposit of monies in client banking accounts;
- Reconciliation of monthly bank statements;
- Payment of expenses, both personal and corporate;
- Preparation of payroll, sales, and business tax returns; and
- Assistance with asset purchases, leasing, and loan acquisitions.
TAX SERVICES
In today’s economy, tax planning is a year-round process. WHITTAKER & COMPANY meets regularly with clients throughout the year to anticipate and identify significant tax-saving throughout the year to anticipate and identify significant tax-saving opportunities and to develop appropriate strategies for each client. Additionally, WHITTAKER & COMPANY distributes current industry changes affecting our clients that inform them of new tax laws and other applicable changes in tax law interpretation for the purpose of proactive tax planning.
Our tax services include:
- Income tax return preparation for individuals, corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and not-for-profit entities
- Tax planning – overall and for specific business transactions
- Corporate structure planning to minimize tax liability and optimize organizational operations
- Sales and use tax return preparation
- Obtaining and disseminating information on advance rulings from the IRS
- Client representation before taxing authorities
- Preparation of subchapter S-corporation applications
BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES
WHITTAKER & COMPANY provides knowledgeable professionals to assist clients in meeting their strategic and operational goals. Our business advisory services are designed to meet the needs of business owners for timely advice and information. These services are focused on assisting business owners with establishing infrastructures that will serve as the foundations of their businesses upon which their businesses will grow. WHITTAKER & COMPANY professionals are able to provide a wealth of ‘real-world’ business, industry and professional experience to business owners while providing the following services:
- Sub-recipient monitoring. We can help you verify compliance with established policies and procedures for sub-recipient monitoring. We work with organizations to identify and mitigate new risks as they arise, by reviewing policies, monitoring checklists, conducting site visits, and reviewing processes and data.
- Grant accountability office. We can help your organization streamline its existing operations or implement a new system and process. We manage the full range of grant administration tasks, including all of the grant accounting, compliance, reporting, and monitoring functions necessary to achieve program goals.
- Outsourced grant reporting. Our team of grant specialists can handle the time-consuming aspects of reporting and monitoring, allowing organizations and program managers to focus on program objectives and outcomes that federal grant assistance makes possible.
- Financial advisory. We use our financial and accounting knowledge to help you ensure ongoing compliance for tax-exempt financing, avoid financing delays, pursue funding alternatives, and maximize limited resources. Services include debt issuance and management, financial management, revenue and fee analysis, budgeting and forecasting, arbitrage rebates, and verification.
- Shared services. By examining a government’s organizational structure and operations, we can develop recommendations to create shared services for functional areas like finance, accounting, and procurement, resulting in substantial cost saving and improved efficiency. Our depth of public sector experience gives us a comprehensive understanding of the issues facing governments as well as the best solutions to help you achieve your strategic goals.
- Business process mapping, review and reengineering
- Business and accounting policy development
- Operational diagnosis and restructuring
- Business Valuations
- Mergers/Acquisitions
- Financing Strategies
- Software Selection
- Profitability Analysis
- Business loan packaging
- Business and not-for-profit incorporation filings
- Not-for-profit tax exemption application filings
ASSURANCE SERVICES
We provide compilation, review and audit services. We offer these services on both an ongoing and a special needs basis. Please call us for details on how we can fulfill your accounting needs.