We help businesses get to the next level. Our clients have a diverse set of opportunities and challenges. Some seek to capitalize on market opportunities, buy or sell a business, increase market share, or expand operations. Others depend on us to meet compliance deadlines, and manage the tax and audit process. We help clients plan for succession, create exit strategies, and increase profitability. Tools such as forecasts, budgets, and other measurement systems help achieve these goals.

The list below is by no means all-inclusive. If we can not directly address your needs, we will refer to a qualified professional. If there is a service you require, but it is not listed here please contact us at 414.271.7800 and we will connect you with the proper RPB resource.

Corporate Planning & Preparation
Our tax department communicates frequently with clients. To leverage tax regulations and minimize liability, RPB meets on a regular basis to monitor your needs. We prefer to meet quarterly, even if this is only a phone call review of financial statements. With changing tax laws, we encourage clients to take time to conduct tax planning to ensure they are not working so hard that the incremental gains are consumed by excess tax. Effective planning can make your life easier and more profitable.

Individual Tax Needs
Individual tax preparation and planning for business clients and high net worth individuals with complex needs.

Non Profit Organizations
We service over 400 non-profit organizations and are prepared to handle all matters for non profit organizations. Please refer to our non-profit client section for details.

Estate Planning
Even in today's increased limit estate tax regulations, business owners need to evaluate, and prepare estate plans. Assets, cash, insurance proceeds, the sale of a business, inheritances and other equities often amount to more than initially thought. Since current tax laws are enacted with a potential reversal in regulations to a lower exemption value, the professionals at RPB work with you to determine if you, and your family members, need to plan to retain the financial value you have worked hard to build.

Retirement Planning
Assistance designing and maintaining 401(k) plans, IRA's, SEP's and other unique benefit vehicles to aid you, and employees. Since RPB is not a securities dealer or broker, we maintain the independence needed to assure the plan you selected is the best fit from a financial and tax perspective.

Acquisitions, Mergers and Dispositions
Complicated tax situations can develop during the sale, succession or purchase of a business or key asset in a business. Finding the right buyer, or business to acquire, can be complex enough. Navigating through the maze of tax issues to create the most profitable after-tax impact possible is critical. The taxable impact of a transaction can be a factor that makes or breaks a deal. For most business owners, the sale of a business is a once in a lifetime event. The after-tax profits secure retirement proceeds. If you are dealing with a business succession to a family member, or key employees, you want to ensure the tax impact of the transition does not create a non-manageable debt problem for the new owners.

Financial Statements

Audit.
This level of testing validates the source financial information used in the financial statements is accurate and the details of the financial records have been thoroughly tested. Actions to increase market share, reduce costs, or seek additional funding are dependent on the quality of the financial condition of the entity. An audit can be the tool used to expand or contract based on market conditions. RPB's audit team helps management validate and evaluate the true financial position.

Review.
A compilation of information to create financial statements which includes an attestation the financial records being used are accurate. Some testing of details occurs. A review provides a lesser degree of assurance than an audit, but tells investors and management the reported financial information has been tested to a limited degree.

Compilation.
A consolidation of information to create financial statements that includes a minimal level of assurance the records being used are accurate. The only assurance provided is the financial statements created are accurate based on the information provided to the CPA firm.

School Choice Audits
RPB has extensive experience in school choice audits. We are always open to discussion on how we can serve your school.

Employee Benefit Plan Audits
One of our specialties is providing audit services to pension and employee benefit plans. RPB has larger multi-employer and collectively bargained plans, significant Taft-Hartley experience, and audits small plans offering every type of benefit, under every type of plan structure. Our firm is skilled in dealing with ERISA requirements and the increasing requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. We offer our expertise at competitive rates to help clients fulfill compliance requirements at the lowest possible cost. Full audits and ERISA approved alternative methods of audit compliance are available. We pride ourselves on low staff turnover, which eliminates retraining auditors each year.

Sarbanes Oxley Act
This Act has changed the face of auditing, tax and advisory services for publicly traded businesses. In summary, any publicly traded company needs to adhere to a greater degree of independence for their financial reporting requirements. An audit board must review the process of hiring an auditor, a tax advisor, and all consultants. In the past, the same CPA firm could provide all of those services. Today, one CPA firm may be granted the audit, another firm may provide the tax service responsibilities, and yet another may be asked to provide consulting services. RPB can help you address independence, internal audit, and advisory needs.

Internal Audits
Independence issues have caused many groups to take a second look at internal controls. By using another firm for internal controls, it enables management to express a completely objective opinion. RPB can provide the internal audit function for your organization; assist in preparing for the external audit by working with your in-house financial team, or provide resources to conduct special projects.

404 & Internal Controls
RPB has solutions to help public or private companies document and test internal controls. Public entities will be required to comply with mandatory compliance deadlines based on their market value. The current financial statement auditor has limitations on how much they can assist with Section 404 requirements. Please call Steve Volz , for additional details.

Fraud Prevention
These audits do not validate the accuracy of financial records. A fraud audit is a special purpose audit used to investigate if fraud is occurring, or to measure the impact of an identified fraudulent action. A forensic audit is used to measure the amount of identified theft or losses due to other issues. These audits help with insurance claims or to adjust financial records based on recognized losses.

Whistleblower
The Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX) and SAS 99 audit standards, call for varying degrees of a whistleblower program. SOX requires a documented whistleblower program be implemented. SAS 99 calls for an interview process as part of any organization, public or private, to provide employees the opportunity to reveal suspected theft or fraud that is occurring. RPB can help your organization implement a fraud prevention program.

Audit Committee
With new regulations in effect, and the need to increase investors and management confidence in the financial records, RPB has created the position of Special Audit Officer. We will provide your organization an experienced audit partner to sit on your board, or audit committee to advise these management groups. We help evaluate the responsibilities of the external audit firm, tax advisors and consultants.

Monthly & Quarterly Services
We provide bookkeeping services, and work with your in-house accountant to prepare monthly or quarterly adjusting entries. Our professionals monitor progress, review financial records, address the accounting issues and tax forms, while you stay focused on doing what you do best.

Computerized Accounting Systems
RPB can evaluate, select, install, train personnel, and maintain computerized accounting systems.

Outsourced CFO
Are you growing to a stage where you need a CFO, but do not need a full-time resource? RPB can become the part-time CFO your company needs. We help you set policies, manage vendors, negotiate financing, maintain relationships with banks, manage daily transactions, work with employees, process monthly accounting and manage all tax related issues. As your outsourced CFO, we add the "hands on" management to assist in growth or restructuring, while managing compliance needs.

Exit Strategy
A successful strategy shapes the value of the business and develops a succession plan. Whether you are planning to retire in two or twenty years, a written strategy will identify improvements, and strengthen elements of the business. The plan will prepare you to sell at a realistic price, and have a business that will command a higher price in the marketplace.

Business Valuation
A valuation is used to determine a fair, objective price for a business or asset, based on the current condition of the item. Value can be influenced by conditions not under control of the buyer or seller such as the economy. Most clients use a valuation to determine the potential sale price of a company, set insurance levels, update or fund a buy/sell agreement, settle divorce or estate proceedings, for litigation purposes, or to buy out a partnership. RPB has a Partner who is both a CPA and a Certified Business Valuation Analyst. Contact Dave Grotkin ABV, for assistance in this area.

Buy/Sell Agreements
Buy/Sell agreements protect the partners or owner of a corporation, and their dependents. A buy/sell agreement is vital to the long-term health of a business by establishing a set of rules to follow in the event of owners disputes, illness, or death. The remaining parties need to have financial and legal protection identified so a spouse or other dependent may be bought out while ensuring the business survives. A buy/sell protects legal and financial rights, regardless of the reason for termination. RPB is experienced in developing these agreements and explaining the impact of each element. In business, disputes need to be settled. Often, the dispute involves a financial element that can be supported, or refuted, using a variety of techniques and arguments.

Litigation Support
As part of your litigation support team, we can help negotiate settlements and investigate the tax impact of a potential settlement. Our experience with tax issues, valuation skills, and years of professional experience can be brought to your organization.

Board of Directors
If you have never held a Board of Directors meeting, consider using RPB to create one for your business. Boards are used to review the financial and operational results and to set a plan for the upcoming quarter. A BOD does not have to be an off-site trip or a daylong session. It can simply be a meeting at your location or in RPB’s offices, for a few hours.

Activity Costing
Activity based costing takes into consideration all elements of a transaction. It reviews all phases of accounting involved in acquiring, touching, storing, financing, shipping, insuring, accounting for, and invoicing a product item, or in providing a service. If material costs $100, it does not mean you can sell it for 50% more and make a profit. If you sell it for $150 and the costs to manage the “movement” are $60, then you may be losing $10 for every item sold. A profitable business could be significantly more profitable if you evaluate the activity related costs of all factors.

Breakeven & Margin Analysis.
At some point you have calculated breakeven costs. Your management team probably has a series of goals to meet in order to achieve targeted profit objectives. Profitability modeling looks at utilization factors, profit margins by service or product lines, and the impact of volume pricing and discounting. Some businesses benefit by changing the “mix” of products or services sold rather than focusing on the traditional growth path of increasing revenues. RPB can help develop detailed information on specific items for your operations.

2nd Opinion Review
Not sure if the advice you are getting is right for you? Unless you know tax laws, it is difficult to understand if your current CPA is providing the proper advice. Our 2nd Opinion separates advice from service. We try our best to provide our clients with great service. However, good advice is what adds to your bottom line. RPB’s 2nd Opinion provides a review of your organization’s last few tax returns. We look for opportunities, inconsistencies, and provide the chance to get another opinion on tax issues.

RPB has extensive experience servicing the non-profit sector. Our firm audits a large number of not for profit organizations. These organizations have budgets, or assets ranging from $10,000 to $150,000,000. Each organization is unique and provides a vital community service. RPB’s vast experience enables us to bring the efficiencies of a professional, experienced, non-profit team to your company.

Our services include:

• Financial Statement Preparation
• Tax Return Preparation (990, 990T, 4T, etc.)
• Proxy Tax Matters
• Exempt Status Applications
• Operational Consulting
• Cash Flow Planning
• Financial Statement Audits
• Single Audits
• Compliance Audits
• Preparation of Registration Statements (RL308, 1952, etc.)

Government agencies and organizations have different management and financial rules, which require their financial professionals to have specialized skills and a unique understanding of their organization. RPB has provided audit, accounting and management services to more than forty municipal entities.

Our services include:

• Audits, Reviews & Compilations
• Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) Audits
• Governance Structure Reviews
• Utility (Electric, Water and Sewer)
• Special Management Studies
• Grant Application Assistance
• Community Development Block Grant Programs (CDBG), Audits & Reviews
• Computer Systems Evaluation