Young Oakes Brown & Co PC

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Young, Oakes, Brown & Co., P.C. Certified Public Accountants
Since its founding in 1917, Young, Oakes, Brown & Company, P.C. has built its practice on a commitment to excellence. The Firm represents a broad range of clients including individuals, privately held business, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations and governmental entities.
The original firm traces its beginnings to the enactment of the now-overpowering income tax regulations when Robert E. Young opened for business in Altoona. He was an owner in the practice until his death in 1960. He was a powerful committee of one for the preservation of many local enterprises through The Great Depression and beyond. Numerous jobs in this area remained intact because he helped plan business security with those whom owned or managed businesses. In 1923 he employed Edna J. Hoover of Duncansville and formed a partnership, Young & Company. Beginning in 1927, Young was the auditing trustee for the forty liquidating building and loan associations then in existence in Altoona. He performed an outstanding job for all of the thousands of investors in this area and at its conclusion it could be said that not one cent was lost on investments in the aftermath of these liquidations. In 1948, the Firm moved into its present location at 1210 13th Street with nine employees.
Young and Hoover began to phase into retirement and J. William Oakes of Hollidaysburg and C. William Keagy of Altoona became a partner. Edward R. Brown of Clearfield joined the Firm and became a partner in 1959. The three men worked together and saw the practice grow to thirteen employees, when Keagy withdrew in 1969. Oakes and Brown continued to use the Young & Company name until 1974, when it was changed to Young, Oakes, Brown & Company. In the late 1970's, Oakes had retired and upon Brown's sudden death in 1979, the Firm was sold to Gary Bonsell, Rex Kaup, George Savine, Jr., and David Baumgartner, all CPA's of the Firm.
At 90 years old, YOBCO (as we refer to ourselves) is the oldest professional firm in Blair County and is the largest independently owned accounting/consulting firm based between the metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. With seven shareholders--Daniel Bradley, John Huber, and Michael Maier joined as owners in 1995 and David Scott joined in 2004 as George Savine, Jr. was phasing into retirement--the Firm has the ability to allow individuals to concentrate in certain disciplines. The Firm has a commitment to in-town Altoona and in 1989 expanded the 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 over 2900 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 PKF International. PKF 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. The Firm is looking to expand its consulting services with clients to help them become more self sufficient in addressing their own in-house accounting needs. In 2002, the Firm secured contracts with major companies in Pittsburgh and in the states of Maryland, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Because of the commitment of the past, present, and future personnel to the "Same Team, One Goal" tradition of the Firm, YOBCO will remain a leader in Central Pennsylvania well into the future.