St. Pete accounting firm names new partner

St. Petersburg-based company Spoor Bunch Franz, one of the area’s most prominent accounting practices, has named Julie Moore as a new partner.

Moore officially was brought on as a partner last month. She is the first SBF employee to advance to the partner level.

“Those of us in the public accounting sector strive to one day become partners – it’s the top level,” Moore said. 

Moore has 13 years of experience in tax and advisory services. She joined SBF in 2016 as a tax manager, specializing in tax compliance, tax planning, and financial accounting services, according to a Wednesday announcement. 

Moore is credited with rolling out SBF’s programs and guidance services to help businesses through the pandemic.  

“Over the past seven years, we have seen Julie’s dedication to make SBF a better place,” Managing Partner Rich Franz said in a statement. “She genuinely cares about her co-workers and the firm, and consistently goes out of her way to help anyone in need. She has grown into a true leader within the firm and is someone that people go to on a regular basis for technical or personal assistance. She has built tremendous relationships with clients and has proven she has the ability to help the firm grow.”

Before joining SBF, Moore was a senior tax associate at Chicago-based Grant Thornton LLP, focusing on large publicly traded companies, and working closely with CFOs to maximize efficiencies in their internal tax departments. Her experience also includes multi-state tax compliance and consulting on purchase accounting matters.

While Moore is a native of North Carolina, she has built her roots in St. Pete and serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the St. Petersburg Police Athletic League. 

Today, SBF has 105 employees with five partners and three other offices, including one in Tampa and Clearwater, as well as another in Knoxsville, Tennessee. Moore said she is based out of the St. Petersburg office and commutes to Tampa once a week. 

Moore said the firm, founded in 2016, has been fueling its growth by adding new business lines and retaining additional clients. In January, SBF merged with Clearwater-based Westbay, known for specializing in forensic accounting and business valuations. The recent merger allows clients to have all the services within one umbrella, especially aiding clients who need assistance getting their business ready to sell or marketing it to an outside party. 

SBF works with executives in a multitude of industries with a heavy concentration on medium and large firms involved in real estate. 

“Every business is different with unique needs. We’ve experienced a lot of organic growth through existing customers referring us,” Moore said. 

SBF’s clients generally earn revenues ranging from $5 – $20 million.