Government Audits & Non-Profit Audits Division
Our accounting firm has earned a strong reputation for performing timely, professional audits for city and county governments as well as water, sewer and other public authorities throughout North Georgia. Going beyond standard audit practice, we provide extensive analysis and recommendations to strengthen internal controls and improve efficiency and operation.
Your professional audit partner
Why take a chance with your audit? With Rushton as your audit partner, you’ll never take a chance. Rushton offers a full range of proven auditing services to help governments, private businesses and non-profits strengthen and grow their futures. We make it our business to be knowledgeable and up to date on rapidly changing accounting standards, rules and regulations — many of which carry stiff penalties for non-compliance. At Rushton, we have the track record and expertise to guide you through the process with confidence. We pay attention to every detail, so you don’t have to.
Our team, which includes three “Certified Fraud Examiners” (CFE), also excels in investigation of fraud and litigation support through forensic accounting. We provide internal control consulting to ensure that safeguards such as proper supervision and sign-off on financial procedures are in place to avoid mismanagement or fraud.
The Rushton audit team edge
- Oversight by experienced CPAs
- Extensive experience with municipal and county governments and public utilities with budgets from $10 million up to $75 million
- Team is highly trained in government accounting standards
- Provides GASB 34 consulting services, including capital assets and infrastructure
- Skilled at forensic accounting
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
- GAO Yellow Book and OMB A-133 audits
- Expertise in internal controls and efficiencies
- Guidance in compliance with State of Georgia regulations
Non-profit audits
Our strong audit reputation extends beyond those for city and county governments to numerous non-profit agencies and private businesses in the region. Again, going beyond standard non-profit audit practice, we provide extensive analysis and recommendations to strengthen internal controls and improve efficiency and operation.
Clay Pilgrim, CPA, CFE –Audit Partner
Having worked in the industry since 2005, Clay Pilgrim specializes in nonprofit and governmental entities. Certified as a Fraud Examiner as well as in Financial Forensics, Clay oversees audits as well as performing training for government, nonprofit and business clients throughout the state of Georgia.
A busy individual, Clay still finds time to devote to numerous civic endeavors like the United Way of White County and the White County Parks and Recreation, where he is a youth basketball coach.
At the professional level, he is the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA) Educational Foundation Treasurer, Chair of the Investment Committee, and Chair of the Golf Tournament Task Force.
He has taught audit classes as well as a Fraud Examination class at University of North Georgia, where he graduated with a degree in Accounting.
J. Chris Hollifield, CPA – Managing Partner
As Managing Partner of Rushton, Chris manages audits for governments and nonprofit groups. A graduate of the University of Georgia, he has been with Rushton since 1994 and a partner since 1997.
Chris most enjoys interacting with clients and helping them work through situations to achieve their goals. He holds memberships in a number of professional organizations and is actively involved in the community. His volunteer work includes serving on the Finance and Audit Committee of Northeast Georgia Health System, Treasurer for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children), board member and Finance Committee of Georgia Mountains YMCA, and board member and Finance Committee of Trinity United Methodist Church.
Sam Latimer, CPA, CFE -- Audit Manager
Sam specializes in consulting with local governments, authorities and nonprofits. Having worked in the industry for 12 years, he most enjoys meeting people and helping them learn about accounting and internal controls.
Sam believes in building a strong community, and he volunteers his time and leadership skills serving on the board of Junior Achievement, as well as serving as past president of the Gainesville Jaycees and PAC Team Member for Youth Leadership Hall County.
Julie George, CPA -- Audit Manager
Audit Manager Julie George has 20 years of experience, specializing in government accounting and auditing. What she most enjoys about her job is helping clients and staff through the training process. She finds that her days are never boring with the variety of people and tasks that come with a career in auditing.
Julie’s professional memberships include GSCPA, AICPA and GGFOA. She is a 2015 graduate of Carroll Leadership Academy, member of Bridge Builders through the Carroll Leadership Alumni Association, and a member of the Optimist Club of West Georgia serving on the Youth Projects and Community Projects committees. The Optimist Club of West Georgia is a new club chartered in the summer of 2019. She is very excited to be a part of something from the ground up that will have such a positive impact on the community.
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