WATERTOWN — Bowers & Company CPAs PLLC, a Syracuse–based accounting firm, is finalizing plans for construction of a new 7,800-square-foot office to house its two Watertown locations. The firm will own the building at the 1 acre construction site located on Commerce Park Drive East in Watertown, which doesn’t yet have an assigned address. “Construction […]
WATERTOWN — Bowers & Company CPAs PLLC, a Syracuse–based accounting firm, is finalizing plans for construction of a new 7,800-square-foot office to house its two Watertown locations.
The firm will own the building at the 1 acre construction site located on Commerce Park Drive East in Watertown, which doesn’t yet have an assigned address.
“Construction will start next month and we should be all moved in by December,” says Michael D’Avirro, co-managing partner of Bowers & Company.
He spoke with the Business Journal News Network on June 13.
Charles Valentine Construction of Chaumont (Jefferson County) will be the contractor on the project. Aubertine & Currier Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors, PLLC of Watertown is serving as the architect, he says.
Bowers & Company currently operates two offices in Watertown. One is in the Marcy Building on Polk Street, and the other is on Clinton Street.
Bowers & Company last Dec. 2 announced it had merged with Poulsen & Podvin CPAs P.C. of Watertown. Neither firm released the financial terms of their merger agreement.
The firm made the decision to pursue a single location when it completed the merger, D’Avirro says.
“It’s much more efficient for all us to be under one roof. We’ll have state-of-the art technology. We’ll have an efficient floor plan. We’ll have very easy access for our clients’ parking,” he adds.
The firm believes a newer, single location will give Bowers & Company CPAs the “presence” it needs to properly service its clients, D’Avirro says.
The new location will also provide additional space to hire more CPAs.
“We are always looking to hire CPAs in Watertown and in Syracuse, but the Watertown space now will have enough space to house those people,” he says.
The firm is hoping to add between two and five employees in the Watertown office, he says.
Bowers & Company currently has 25 employees in Watertown and 45 employees in Syracuse.
Watertown expansion
Bowers & Company has a total staff of about 70, which includes 16 partners.
Syracuse–based Bowers & Company serves clients in 35 states and throughout upstate New York. Poulsen & Podvin worked with clients in the Watertown area and Northern New York, according to the Bowers firm.
The combination is a “very natural fit” for the two organizations, allowing Bowers & Company to expand its office and personnel in Watertown, D’Avirro said in announcing the combination last December.
“This will double our firm’s size in Watertown, allowing us to continue to make investments in the Watertown [and] North Country market,” D’Avirro said.
Richard (Dick) Poulsen and Laurie Podvin, who founded Poulsen & Podvin CPAs in 1990, became partners in Bowers & Company, the firm said.
“I look forward to … providing more services to our clients, and to continue the growth of our firm,” Poulsen said in the news release announcing the merger.
Bowers & Company also completed a merger with Sovie & Bowie CPA, P.C. in Watertown in 2012, according to its website.
Founded in 1977, Bowers & Company operates offices in the AXA Tower I in downtown Syracuse and in the Marcy Building and at 145 Clinton St. in Watertown.
The Bowers firm works with clients in industry groups that include manufacturing, retail, professional services, construction, community banks, real estate, transportation, and convenience stores.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com