Thomas Beisner, CPA
Tom Beisner has worked in public accounting since 1986. He specializes in auditing, tax and consulting services for financial institutions. Prior to joining the Whitlock Company, Tom worked for the GRA Thompson and White Company, a Kansas City based bank consulting and accounting firm. He became a partner (and the banking industry service leader) at The Whitlock Company in 1999.
Tom’s academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts degree in accountancy from the University of South Florida, Tampa. He is a member of several professional and civic organizations including the PKF North American Network’s Financial Institutions Committee, the Missouri Bankers Association Associate Member committee, the Oklahoma Bankers Association, the Kansas Bankers Association, the Institute of Internal Auditors, the Missouri Independent Bankers Association, the Missouri Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, Leadership Springfield, Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust, Inc. and Webster University (Advisory Board of Directors).
Tom regularly contributes to local publications on his topics of expertise.
What drew you to your area of expertise?
I went to work for a large regional firm after college. It was right at the beginning of the Savings & Loan crisis in the mid 80s and the firm scheduled me to audit several savings and loans. In that firm you either audited financial institutions or governments in the summer. Luckily I was chosen for the financial institution group because I loved the work. Working through the savings and loan crises gave me a crash course on financial institutions and I have been working with financial institutions ever since. Today I primarily work with community banks.
What is your favorite event/moment at the Whitlock Company?
My favorite events are the firm’s regular Wii tournaments. We remodeled our offices recently and built a state-of-the-art training facility with a huge HD screen and surround sound. Although it is used regularly for our in-house training, we also have very competitive Wii tournaments when we need to blow off some steam.
What do you hope to achieve at The Whitlock Company?
Along with the help of the rest of our Community Banking Group I hope to grow our community banking niche by 300% over the next five years. Recently we expanded our practice by entering three new states and the opportunities appear endless.
What word would you use to describe The Whitlock Company?
Innovative-We are constantly changing our firm in order to make Whitlock a better place to work or to give our clients a better product. I love change and the opportunities and challenges that change brings. It is not boring at Whitlock.
What is your favorite movie and why?
Raging Bull- I love boxing and Robert DeNiro gave one of the most powerful performances I have ever seen.
If you could live during any other period in history, when would you live and why?
I would have liked to be older during the 60s because the music was incredible. I would have loved to see Jimi Hendrix or Janis Joplin play live. I would have been at Woodstock.
What book are you reading right now?
Eric Clapton: The Autobiography. Clapton is probably my favorite musician and his life story is great.
Are you a cat person/dog person/neither and why?
I am definitely a dog person because you know where you stand with dogs and they will go out of their way to make you happy. Cats on the other hand, are only interested in getting what they want when they want it.
Where would you like to travel and why?
I would like to travel to Italy to eat the wonderful food and to see some of Michelangelo’s work.
