Founded in 1994. Independently owned. The same partner handles your file every year.
Meridian CPA Group opened in Bozeman in 1994. The city had fewer than 25,000 people and one stoplight on East Main. Things have changed considerably. The way we work has not.
The firm was founded by James Whitaker, CPA, who saw a gap in the local market. Bozeman had national chain preparers and a few generalists, but no firm dedicated to the working-age professionals, small business owners, and agricultural families that actually made up the local economy. James opened a one-person practice above the bookstore on Main Street and was at capacity within two years.
Eleanor Park, CPA joined as partner in 2003. She had been a Big Four senior manager in Seattle and wanted to come back to Montana, where she had gone to college. Eleanor brought the small business practice that now makes up roughly half of our work. She handles entity structure, multi-state, and the more complex business engagements.
The third principal, Daniel Reeves, EA, joined in 2014. Daniel is an Enrolled Agent rather than a CPA, which means he's federally licensed to represent taxpayers before the IRS. He came to us from a regional firm in Billings and now leads our tax controversy and resolution work — the situations where a client has fallen behind, gotten a notice, or needs help with a more difficult IRS or Montana DOR matter.
"The difference between a good tax return and a good tax outcome is what happens in the other eleven months."
Today the firm has three principals, two senior associates, and a year-round administrative team. We've stayed deliberately small. Every client is assigned to one of the three principals at intake, and that's who you work with year over year. You will not be passed around. You will not have to re-explain your situation to a new person every spring.
Our office is on East Main Street, two blocks from where the original practice was founded. The address has changed twice. The work hasn't.
James Whitaker, CPA opens Meridian CPA Group in a one-person office above the bookstore on Main Street.
Brings the small business and multi-state tax practice that now anchors roughly half of our work.
Outgrew the original space. Took two floors of the historic Davidson Block, two blocks from the original office.
Enrolled Agent, brings tax controversy and resolution practice. Federally licensed to represent before IRS.
Started taking on year-round bookkeeping for small business clients so the books and the tax return live under one roof.
Still independently owned. Still the same three principals. Still on Main Street.
James founded Meridian in 1994 and continues to lead the individual tax practice. He works primarily with retirees, professional households, and the more complex investment-heavy returns. He is the partner most clients meet at their first appointment.
Education: University of Montana (BA, Accounting). Licenses: Montana CPA, AICPA, MSCPA. In practice: 31 years.
Eleanor leads the small business and entity tax practice. She handles S-corp and partnership returns, structure decisions, multi-state filings, and the planning conversations that happen at business sale or major-transition events.
Education: University of Washington (MBA), Montana State University (BS). Licenses: WA and MT CPA, AICPA, MSCPA. In practice: 22 years.
Daniel leads our tax controversy and resolution work — IRS notices, audits, back-tax filings, installment agreements, offers in compromise. He also handles a portion of our agricultural client work, particularly Schedule F preparation.
Licenses: Enrolled Agent (federal, lifetime). Practice areas: Tax resolution, agricultural taxation, multi-year amended returns. In practice: 14 years.
Sarah handles a portion of our small business engagements, our bookkeeping clients, and payroll processing. She also manages the firm's QuickBooks ProAdvisor work and trains new clients on their books.
Education: Montana State University (BS, Accounting). Licenses: Montana CPA. QuickBooks ProAdvisor. In practice: 7 years.
You're assigned to a partner at intake. That's who handles your file every year. Continuity is the entire point.
Scope and fee in writing before any work begins. Nothing is billed by surprise. If the work expands, we tell you before doing it.
We work all twelve months and answer questions year-round. Real tax savings happen in October, not April.
All three principals and Sarah are Bozeman residents. We support and serve on the boards of several local organizations and offer pro bono tax help during filing season through the local VITA program.
Schedule a free 20-minute consultation to see whether we're a good fit.
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