A Conversation With: Mike Rowley of Herbein + Co. Inc.

Herbein + Co. Inc. was founded in 1972 and has grown to become one of the115 largest accounting firms in the country.

Mike Rowley has been managing partner for over 15 years while also heading up the management advisory services team. The company currently has over 200 employees working from seven Pennsylvania offices and one New Jersey office. 

The upcoming year will be one of continued transition for Herbein, as Rowley will be turning the managing partner role to Dave Stonesifer. Stonesifer and Rowley have been working together since January to ensure the transition is smooth and that their team and clients do not miss a beat. Rowley will stay on as chairman of the board and continue to lead the management advisory services group. 

LVB: What do you think is the most important thing Herbein + Co. offers its clients?

Rowley: We have always been willing to help our clients determine what success looks like to them – it’s very personal. Going beyond compliance work into advisory work is really where our firm excels, and our people love the challenges of working with clients on their most important financial issues. 

LVB: How has Herbein + Co. grown and changed over the years?

Rowley: Our founder, Carl Herbein, always spoke of great adventures, and this attitude was instrumental in how our firm has grown. Our team has always been focused on helping clients plan for their futures and looking forward to determining the best ways to get there. As our client base increased, the need for more non-traditional accounting services became critical. We have been working with clients on such issues as business valuation, succession planning, operational best practices,and tax planning, which is really where our clients derive the most value. 

LVB: What are the biggest challenges for your firm and in the field of accounting right now?

Rowley: The industry is moving very quickly, and technology will continue to become more prominent. However, our greatest resource will always remain our people. There is a large group of retiring partners throughout the country who don’t have a next-generation team in place to continue working with clients. Fortunately, we have focused on making sure that Herbein continues for a long time, and our planning continues to pay off as evidenced by the transition of the managing partner position.

LVB: Where do you see Herbein in the future?

Rowley: To remain competitive and relevant, firms need to maintain growth and keep focused on clients’ futures. I expect that our firm will continue to expand geographically and add key talent to continue best serving a diverse client base.