Brown Edwards CEO to retire in June

Brown Edwards partner and CEO Jason Hartman will retire this summer, the Roanoke-based public accounting firm announced Tuesday.

Hartman joined Brown Edwards in 1986 and has led the firm for the past seven years. Laura Sprouse, Brown Edwards’ chief operating officer and partner, will become the next CEO on June 1.

Under Hartman’s leadership, Brown Edwards grew through acquisitions, expanding the firm’s market to Richmond, Colonial Heights and Newport News. He also helped the firm reach No. 72 on Inside Public Accounting’s list of the top 100 U.S. accounting firms based on net reviews.

Sprouse has been with Brown Edwards for 25 years and led the firm’s accounting information systems group before she became COO. She became COO at the same time Hartman became CEO, and together, they expanded Brown Edwards’ firm-wide shared services group and built out a C-suite.

Sprouse joined Brown Edwards in 1998 and as COO led the firm’s internal administrative teams, including information technology, human resources, finance and business development, and she spearheads many of the firm’s special projects. Under her tenure as COO, the firm’s revenue has grown from $25 million to $80 million in top line revenue, through acquisitions, focusing on organic growth in local markets and key niche service lines. It is now the largest independent CPA firm headquartered in Virginia, based on number of CPAs.

Sprouse will maintain some of her current responsibilities in her new role and will not immediately name a new COO.

“I am truly honored to assume the role of CEO at BE,” Sprouse said in a statement. “I am committed to building upon Jason’s remarkable legacy and steering our firm towards a future of continued growth, innovation and client-focused excellence. Along with our exceptional team, we will uphold our core values and remain a trusted partner for all our clients’ financial needs.”

Sprouse graduated from Ferrum College with a bachelor’s in accounting and decision support systems.

Named a 2023 Best Tax and Accounting Firm in America by Forbes, Brown Edwards reported $80.1 million in revenue in 2022 and employs 350 people in Virginia.