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Premium Associate Member Spotlight: Clayton & McKervey

This article appeared in the May 2019 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.

A manufacturer’s story is more than a few lines on a tax form. Manufacturers live in a global market where Michigan may be their home but their business is all over the world. Valuable resources exist across Michigan to provide all manufacturers — from automakers to food manufacturers to system integrators — with specialised advice to expand their talent, equipment and technology investments.

“Manufacturers will find a lot of benefits to working with an accounting firm experienced with the global marketplace and trained to take a holistic approach to a company’s needs,” said Tim Finerty, CPA, a shareholder of Clayton & McKervey, a Southfield-based tax and advisory provider for small- to mid-sized businesses.

Finerty continued, saying that the Clayton & McKervey team “takes an outside-in approach to working with clients.”

Founded in 1953, the firm started in Michigan’s domestic and inbound automotive sector before expanding its consulting services for companies looking to expand internationally.

“The excitement is the continuation of learning about a challenge faced by a client, providing the opportunity for me to be a part of the solution,” Finerty stated. “Much of the time it’s about optimizing cash flow to make their future as bright as possible.”

The work done by Clayton & McKervey’s 75-person team goes beyond everyday compliance work. They are often on the road meeting with clients to better understand their business.

“You can always be more effective. You can always be more efficient. There’s always a way to save time or cost while maintaining the strong safety and compliance standards Michigan manufacturers are known for,” reminded Finerty. “If you’ve ever struggled to invest or hire because you don’t think the funds are there, we can help reduce that struggle and get your business further than you thought it could go.”

Whether it’s understanding how America’s new 21 percent corporate tax rate can maximize your cash, learning why your company may be missing out on potentially game-changing R&D tax credits or ways you can utilize more automation to offset existing hiring challenges, firms like Clayton & McKervey provide a unique service to Industry 4.0 manufacturers.

“We want to provide value-added solutions. That’s our No. 1 goal,” said Finerty. “When you think of Michigan, you think of manufacturing and we want to get you to the right people, the right partners and the right new ideas to succeed in Michigan and anywhere else you do business.”

If you’re questioning what comes next, a conversation with a firm like Clayton & McKervey could put you on the right path.

“What do you need? Outsourced CFO and accounting services? A better understanding of data analytics? New knowledge of cyber security and new technologies? We’ve got that knowledge and experience here,” Finerty explained. “We want to add value to what you already do so well. If you’re taking one step forward, come talk to us. Let’s move you two steps forward instead.”