Young Oakes Brown

At 99 years old, YOBCO (as we refer to ourselves) is the oldest professional firm in Blair County and is one of the largest independently owned accounting and consulting firms based between the metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. Daniel Bradley, John Huber, and Michael Maier joined as shareholders in 1995, David Scott joined in 2004, and James Berkhimer became a shareholder in 2013 (former shareholders George Savine and Gary Bonsell have begun to phase into retirement in recent years). With seven shareholders, the Firm has the ability to allow individuals to concentrate in certain disciplines. The Firm has always had a commitment to in-town Altoona and in 1989, expanded the current facilities to accommodate the entire organization. In the for-profit business area, the Firm provides accounting, auditing, tax planning and consulting for banks, bank holding companies, credit unions, finance companies, retailers, wholesalers, real estate and insurance companies, trucking companies, manufacturers, contractors, agricultural businesses, cooperatives, and virtually every type of service company and small business. We provide the accounting expertise needed to properly guide and advise development of effective accounting and administrative controls. The Firm acts as the principal accountant/auditor for some 775 businesses. One principal focus of our Firm is constructive and creative tax planning. Our tax clientele include individuals, partnerships, corporations, consolidated returns, limited liability companies, estates, trusts, gift, retirement plan informational filings, and not-for-profits. Many clients operate in several states and we prepare any out of state returns required. Annually we prepare approximately 3000 tax returns. Firm personnel have been retained by local attorneys to provide business valuations and fraud auditing services in connection with ending litigation. This litigation support consulting has required court testimony in many of these cases. Computer consulting and instruction has become another important area in the Firm's available services. The Firm is a member of the American Institute of CPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS). In 1989, the Firm was invited to join an exclusive trade association now known as Allinial Global. Allinial Global is an association of over 135 independent accounting firms from all over the world. The Firm is also a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPA's, the Institute of Management Accountants, American Management Association, American Society of Appraisers, Institute of Government Accountants, Healthcare Financial Management Association and other professional organizations. The Firm's shareholders recognize that financial service markets such as banking, insurance, financial planning, accounting, and brokerage have been combined under one roof by the giant banking institutions and commercial entities in many metropolitan areas. In response to this change in the profession, the firm has adapted by expanding its own consulting related services and by continuing to strive to provide clients with the skills and recommendations necessary to grow their own businesses.