Spartanburg CPA firm expands to Charleston market

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Spartanburg-based Elliott & Painter Certified Public Accountants is expanding into the Charleston market with a new office and the addition of Jay Gibson as partner.

Gibson will spearhead Elliott & Painter’s new Charleston office in Mount Pleasant, located just off the Ravenel Bridge, according to a news release.

“The decision to expand into Charleston is a significant one for our firm,” Marcus Q. Elliott II, CPA and partner of Elliott & Painter, said in the news release. “Charleston is a fast-growing market characterized by its entrepreneurial spirit and burgeoning small business sector. Jay and I have shared a professional relationship for years, and when the time came to launch our Charleston office, Jay immediately came to mind as the natural leader for our expansion.”

Gibson has worked in a full-service accounting firm in Charleston for nearly 10 years, managing client portfolios, and representing the firm with professional memberships in the SCCIA and the Friendly Society.

He has expertise in tax prep, audit and assurance, outsourced accounting, and captive insurance audits, according to the release, which also said Gibson’s experience in areas directly related to Charleston’s growth — such as port-related transportation, tourism and hospitality, and a rise in real estate buying, selling, and development — positions the firm optimally in the market.

“Joining a reputable CPA firm like Elliott & Painter is an exciting move,” Gibson said. “Our shared values and commitment to excellence in client services make this partnership a perfect fit. Charleston’s business climate and quality of life have spurred a surge of individuals leaving national firms to start their own ventures. Our team is primed to support these entrepreneurs, helping them leverage capital strategy opportunities to achieve their financial goals through comprehensive tax advisory services alongside offering outsourced accounting services, estate tax, and trust expertise.”

Following renovations, the new office is scheduled to open in early January. The Charleston branch will provide services that include tax preparation and advisory, audit and assurance, and outsourced accounting.

Established in 2004, the firm is headquartered in Spartanburg with an office in Union.