Straight answers about your numbers — and the workpapers behind them.
A year that never got filed. An accountant who left mid-job. Books nobody trusts. As a Certified Internal Auditor, I prove what’s in your books rather than assume it — and you are welcome to check the work.
CPA · Certified Internal Auditor · Certified Information Systems Auditor
Sole practitioner since 2008 · direct access, no handoffs · SE Wisconsin & Chicagoland
Demo figures, not client data
Start by Finding Out Where You Actually Stand.
Before anything gets fixed, you get an honest picture of what is really in the books — and what it will take to put it right.
People who call are usually worried about something specific. Most often it is one of these.
You cannot tell if you are actually making money:
The reports come out, but they do not show profitability, cash flow, or where the money is really going.Somebody else left a mess behind:
A bookkeeper who left mid-year, an accountant who stopped answering, or a company that ran things under your name and your EIN.Something never got filed:
A return that was prepared but never sent, payroll forms generated and then forgotten, or a year that quietly got skipped.You are not sure what you might be on the hook for:
Personal and business accounts mixed together, entries posted twice, balances plugged to force a statement to balance. Usually the real worry is not the bookkeeping. It is the exposure underneath it.
None of this is unusual, all of it is fixable, and none of it is the first time it has come through the door.
Books three years behind. A ledger carrying nine overlapping correction series. Eleven bank accounts that never made it onto the books at all. A return that was prepared and then simply never filed. Most firms want clean annual clients and will politely decline all of it.
This practice was built for exactly that work. Not as a favour, and not as a last resort — it is the core of the book. It is closer to forensic reconstruction than to bookkeeping, and doing it properly takes audit training rather than tax software. That is why the credentials read CPA, CIA and CISA instead of CPA alone.
So if you have already been turned away somewhere, you have not run out of options. You have just been talking to firms that do something else for a living.
Tell me what you are dealing with →If a prospect arrives with something you would rather not take on, send them here. You keep the relationship, they stop being your problem, and you can have them back once the file is in order. Call 630-338-9359 or email [email protected].
Meet Your CPA
Steven Towne, CPA, CIA, CISA
Steven brings 15+ years of experience in accounting, auditing, tax, and financial systems. Based in Racine, WI and serving businesses across Mount Pleasant, Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Southeast Wisconsin — with remote clients extending to Chicago and northern Illinois. He works directly with every client. No junior staff. No handoffs.
“One of the few accountants that actually explained all of my options and benefits of following his recommendations. One of the better experiences I’ve had with someone that actually took the time to go through my business return at length and answer every question.”
“They take the time to meet with us and explain complex issues in plain, accessible language, which gives us confidence and peace of mind. JTA has been our trusted accounting partner for more than three years.”
It is a one-week examination of your books, and it works like this. You send your bank and credit card statements and your accounting file. I go through them, establish what is actually there and what is missing, and write it up. You keep the report whether or not you hire me afterwards.
It exists because most people delay dealing with their books for two reasons — not knowing what will be found, and not knowing what it costs simply to find out. This answers both for a fixed price.
What the report tells you
How it works
You Are Not the First Person to Call About This.
Whatever shape things are in, it has been seen before — and it has been put right before.
Much of the work here starts with books somebody else left behind: duplicate entries, balances plugged to force a statement to balance, accounts that never got reconciled, a year that quietly went unfiled. Untangling that is ordinary work here, and it is a large part of what I do. It begins with real accounting leadership, not just bookkeeping.
You work with the CPA directly. Not a junior associate, not a call center, not a different person each time you call — the one who has actually been through your file and knows what is in it. That is deliberate, and it is why the firm stays the size it is.
None of this is a judgement on how things got this way. Most people who call have been carrying the worry for a while. It usually gets lighter after the first conversation, once the problem has a size and a plan.
CPA is the tax license. CIA — Certified Internal Auditor — is the one that matters when your books are in bad shape. It is the discipline of proving what is actually there instead of accepting what you were handed. Very few small firms carry both, and it changes how the work gets done.
Where People Usually Start.
Pick whichever one sounds most like your situation.
Taxes
A year that never got filed, a letter from the IRS, or simply a return you want done right — business and individual returns, with planning before the year closes.
Business Accounting
Books that are behind, plugged, or left by someone else — caught up, proved against the bank, then kept current month to month.
Accounting Software
QuickBooks, Sage or Microsoft Dynamics, set up so the reports answer the questions you are actually asking.
Assurance
Reviews, compilations and audits for when a lender, a buyer or a board needs numbers an independent CPA has tested.
What You Gain When You Work With JTA-CPA
Books You Can Actually Trust
Reports That Answer Your Questions
Set Up Around How You Work
A Close Every Month
Decisions Made on Real Numbers
Trusted Since 2008
CPA, CIA and CISA
Thirty minutes costs nothing. Tell me what you are dealing with and you will leave with a straight answer about what it takes to fix.
Book a free 30-minute consultation →
What working together actually looks like.
Four steps, and you know exactly what is happening at each one.
Start with a conversation
Thirty minutes, no charge. You describe the situation, I ask questions, and we work out whether I am the right fit before anyone commits to anything.
See where you actually stand
I go through the numbers and tell you what is really there — including anything you would rather hear now than at filing time.
Get it in writing first
A written scope before work begins: what gets done, in what order, and what it costs. No billable-hour surprises and no scope creep.
Then stop worrying about it
Monthly closes, quarterly planning, and a CPA who already knows your file when you call. Not just someone you hear from in March.
Industries We Serve
Cost accounting, WIP schedules, IRC §460 compliance, and tax planning for commercial contractors and subcontractors across Wisconsin. Learn more →
Inventory costing, COGS optimization, R&D tax credits, and financial reporting for Wisconsin manufacturers and industrial businesses. Learn more →
Practice overhead management, entity structuring, accounts receivable, and tax planning for physician and dental practice owners. Learn more →
Depreciation strategy, 1031 exchanges, passive activity rules, and Wisconsin-specific tax compliance for residential, commercial and short-term rental investors. Learn more →
Cash and tip reconciliation, sales tax, payroll, and food and labor cost reporting for restaurants, bars and quick-service operators. Learn more →
We Also Build the Software Our Clients Use
Job costing and manufacturing costing platforms, built in-house — try the live demo yourself, no signup required.
Job Costing Portal
Real-time job costing, change orders, and WIP reporting — built for how contractors track a job.
- Budget vs. Actual, Live
- Synced from QuickBooks Online
- Change Orders Tracked to Budget
- Your Own Login, Anytime
Manufacturing Costing Portal
Real-time standard costing, BOM rollups, and variance reporting — built for a real shop floor.
- Standard Cost Variance, Live
- Synced from QuickBooks Online
- BOMs & Routings Roll Up to Budget
- Your Own Login, Anytime
ADVISORY OPERATIONS
The JTA Advisory Command Center
Where financial data, CPA judgment, and forward‑looking guidance come together to support informed decisions.
Monitoring • Interpreting • Advising
- Direct CPA access for planning and decision‑making
- Systems designed to support visibility, scalability, and insight
- Financial close that supports timely, informed decisions
- Reporting translated into actionable insight
- Financial clarity around profitability and performance
- Compliance with proactive tax planning built in
- Payroll structured to align with cash flow and growth
- Ongoing tax guidance — not just filing
- Advisory oversight as complexity increases
What Clients and Colleagues Say
Clients rate the firm 5.0 on Google from 12 reviews. Read them on Google →
In their words, not mine
What Clients and Colleagues Say
“One of the few accountants that actually explained all of my options and benefits of following his recommendations.”
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“One of the few accountants that actually explained all of my options and benefits of following his recommendations. One of the better experiences I’ve had with someone that actually took the time to go through my business return at length and answer every question.”
David LangeClient
“They take the time to meet with us and explain complex issues in plain, accessible language, which gives us confidence and peace of mind.”
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“JTA has been our trusted accounting partner for more than three years. Their careful, proactive approach to bookkeeping and tax planning consistently helps our small business maximize deductions and reduce stress. They take the time to meet with us and explain complex issues in plain, accessible language, which gives us confidence and peace of mind. We enthusiastically recommend their services.”
Gerrit & Leann GronowskiClients
“…his work ethic and performance have always been exceptional.”
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“I have known and worked with Mr. Towne for several years, and his work ethic and performance have always been exceptional. He quickly absorbs new information, applies it with precision, and consistently delivers high‑quality results. Any organization would consider him a highly valuable asset.”
Larry RogersFormer colleague
“Steve possesses an excellent skill set … is professional and has great attention to detail.”
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“I had the opportunity to work with Steve on several state and local tax projects. Steve possesses an excellent skill set, maintains an ability to absorb new information quickly, is professional and has great attention to detail. In the near future, I look forward to working with Steve again!”
Zachary ReifFormer colleague
Proudly Serving Southeast Wisconsin & Northern Illinois
From Racine to Milwaukee — and across the Illinois state line — JTA-CPA delivers trusted tax, accounting, and QuickBooks services wherever your business operates.
Racine, WI
Our home base. Full-service tax preparation, small business accounting, QuickBooks advisory, and assurance.
Mount Pleasant, WI
Tax planning, corporate returns, bookkeeping, and financial reviews for Mount Pleasant businesses.
Kenosha, WI
Payroll, 1099 filing, LLC accounting setup, and ongoing tax support for Kenosha clients.
Milwaukee Metro
Metro Milwaukee accounting, financial reviews, and multi-entity tax strategy for growing businesses.
Chicago & Northern Illinois
Remote CPA services for Chicago-area businesses and individuals seeking Wisconsin-licensed expertise.
JTA-CPA is a Southeast Wisconsin accounting firm serving Mount Pleasant, Racine, Kenosha, and Milwaukee — with remote services extending to Chicago and northern Illinois. We provide tax preparation, small business accounting, bookkeeping, QuickBooks consulting, and assurance services to individuals, LLCs, corporations, and contractors. Community-based. Professionally focused.
Related Services
Common Questions We Hear (And Our Honest Answers)
Choosing an accountant is a big decision. If you’re feeling unsure, you’re not alone. These are some of the most common concerns people share with us.
Worried you might be too small?
You’re not. I work with small and mid‑sized businesses and individuals every day—that’s exactly who this practice is built for.
Switching accountants feels overwhelming?
I handle the transition for you and make sure nothing falls through the cracks, so the process feels smooth and manageable.
Behind or overwhelmed with your books?
No judgment here. Cleanup and catch‑up work is the core of this practice, and I’ll help you get back on track.
Frustrated by poor communication?
You work directly with Steven Towne, CPA, CIA, CISA—no being passed around, and no unanswered questions.
Do you serve clients in Racine, WI?
Yes — our office is located at 500 College Ave, Racine, WI 53403. We serve individuals and businesses in Racine and Racine County year-round for tax, accounting, and QuickBooks services.
Do you work with Kenosha, WI businesses?
Absolutely. We serve Kenosha County clients both in-person (from our Racine office) and fully remotely. Contractors, LLCs, and established businesses across Kenosha rely on us for tax preparation and ongoing accounting support.
Can I work with JTA-CPA remotely from Milwaukee?
Yes. Milwaukee-area clients work with us primarily via secure remote access and video consultation. In-person meetings are available at our Racine office when needed.
Do you serve Chicago-area clients?
We do. We provide remote CPA services to businesses and individuals in Chicago and northern Illinois who need Wisconsin-licensed expertise or who have cross-border tax situations.
One Conversation. A Straight Answer.
Thirty minutes, no charge, and you will leave knowing what is really in your books and what it would take to put it right.
