LVB: RKL has been expanding a great deal lately. Why are you looking to grow?
Monborne: Merging in Allentown-based Stoudt Associates on Nov. 1 gave us a deeper bench of local talent. We already had a number of valued clients in the Lehigh Valley, so we’re excited to be closer to them and also to build new relationships. Today’s organizations and their leaders face a number of business, management and financial challenges and opportunities, and RKL is well-positioned to be a leader in helping them navigate these complexities.
LVB: What areas are you looking to expand into?
Monborne: Following our successful Lehigh Valley expansion, we announced another merger with a Chambersburg-based firm on Jan. 1. It’s exciting and optimistic to wrap up 2021 and kick off 2022 by writing new chapters of the RKL growth story.
Over the past year, we’ve expanded our specialized expertise with solutions in areas like HR consulting, data analytics, outsourced accounting solutions and information systems assurance and advisory capabilities. We will continue to invest in these areas and support new professional interests among our team. In the past few years alone, our knack for synchronizing individual interests with emerging demand resulted in the expansion and growth in these specialty areas.
The sky is the limit in terms of what our team will develop next, working together and listening to and learning from our clients. I believe this professional development approach is one of the main reasons we’ve been named one of the Best Places to Work in PA for five years running.
LVB: The technology being used in the industry has been changing, how have you adapted?
Monborne: One of the bedrocks of our latest strategic plan is innovation and excellence. Technology plays a major role here as we maximize the use of tools and systems to increase client convenience, access and satisfaction. It also keeps our team connected and supported as they devise new ways to deliver seamless service and solve pressing and emerging challenges.
LVB: What are the latest trends in the industry that impacting RKL and others?
Monborne: The public accounting industry is shifting from a purely compliance-oriented service approach to a more proactive, advisory model. Clients assume technical proficiency as a baseline – what they really want and need is a higher level of strategic guidance to navigate a changing landscape. Technology plays a role in this evolution, and at RKL we’ve certainly embraced tools that can produce efficiencies and free up more time for collaboration and innovation. But where it really begins is a shift in mindset that we encourage and practice among the RKL team – always inquisitive, never complacent and keeping one eye on the horizon for what’s next.
Consistently exceeding our clients’ expectations goes a long way toward earning their trust and loyalty.
LVB: What’s in the future for your firm?
Monborne: I’m excited and inspired about the new year at RKL. We are in the midst of executing our latest strategic plan, as mentioned before. As we devised it, we challenged ourselves to think bigger and envision firm’s future amidst an economy and industry that are rapidly changing. The plan is roadmap over the next few years to challenge the status quo and create opportunities for us all as we continue to grow as a leading partner for cross-disciplinary solutions.
