Accounting Firm in Nashville

June 14, 2026

Choosing an accounting firm in Nashville means more than handing off a stack of receipts at tax time. A local firm gives business owners and individuals a year-round relationship with professionals who understand Middle Tennessee’s industries, from healthcare and entertainment to construction and hospitality, and who can sit across the table to work through audits, tax planning, and growth decisions. Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with a population of roughly 715,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its concentration of corporate headquarters, privately held businesses, and high net worth households supports one of the deepest professional services markets in the South.

Accounting work in Tennessee spans a wide range of services, and not all of it requires a CPA. General bookkeeping, payroll processing, and basic tax return preparation can be performed by non-CPAs, but the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) title and attest services, including financial statement audits and reviews, are restricted by law to individuals and firms licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. The board operates under the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and regulates both individual CPAs and registered accounting firms. Consumers can verify a CPA or firm license through the board’s public lookup at verify.tn.gov before engaging a provider.

The distinction between a CPA firm and a general accounting or bookkeeping service matters when the work touches lenders, investors, regulators, or the IRS. A bank financing a commercial loan, a nonprofit board overseeing federal grant funds, or a buyer conducting due diligence on an acquisition will typically require statements that carry a licensed CPA’s audit, review, or compilation report. Many Nashville firms also hold membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Tennessee Society of CPAs (TSCPA), which set professional standards and continuing education expectations. These memberships, while voluntary, signal a firm’s engagement with current standards in assurance, tax, and ethics.

Service offerings across Nashville firms generally fall into a few categories: tax planning and compliance, audit and assurance, advisory and consulting, outsourced accounting and bookkeeping, and payroll. Larger firms add specialized practices such as business valuation, transaction advisory, estate and trust planning, and industry-specific consulting. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, which shapes how individuals and businesses approach planning, though federal obligations, the state’s franchise and excise taxes on businesses, and the 7% state sales tax plus local option still require attention. Consumers who believe they have encountered deceptive practices can contact the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), while complaints about a CPA’s professional conduct go to the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy.

Top Accounting Firm Providers in Nashville

1. Puryear & Noonan, CPAs

Address: 40 Burton Hills Boulevard, Suite 170, Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: (615) 296-0500
Website: https://pn-cpas.com
Services: tax preparation and planning, audit and assurance (financial statement audits, reviews, compilations), accounting and bookkeeping, mergers and acquisitions advisory, business consulting
Description: Puryear & Noonan, CPAs is a locally owned firm in Nashville’s Green Hills area, formed effective January 1, 2019 through the merger of two long-established practices. Its roots trace to 1962, when William P. Puryear began his certified public accounting practice (later Puryear, Hamilton, Hausman & Wood), while the McKerley & Noonan firm was founded in 1999 by Michael McKerley and Spike Noonan. The combined firm describes itself as one of the top locally owned CPA firms in the Nashville area and serves small businesses, nonprofits, and individuals across Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, and surrounding communities. Its client base spans food and beverage, real estate and property management, professional services, hospitality, and nonprofit organizations. The firm is a member of the MSI Global Alliance, an international network of independent legal and accounting firms.

2. Cherry Bekaert

Address: 222 2nd Avenue South, Suite 1240, Nashville, TN 37201
Phone: (615) 383-6592
Website: https://www.cbh.com
Services: audit and assurance, tax planning and compliance, accounting, advisory and consulting
Description: Cherry Bekaert maintains a downtown Nashville office that grew out of its 2017 acquisition of Frasier, Dean & Howard, PLLC, a long-standing Middle Tennessee firm. The Nashville practice has been described as one of the ten largest CPA and consulting firms serving Middle Tennessee, with eleven partners and more than fifty associates at the time of that combination. The firm provides accounting, audit, tax, and advisory services across a range of sectors, including technology, healthcare and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, education, and nonprofit organizations. Cherry Bekaert has been recognized by Forbes among America’s Best Tax and Accounting Firms and ranks among Nashville’s largest accounting firms.

3. Doeren Mayhew

Address: 2723 Berrywood Drive, Nashville, TN 37204
Phone: (615) 367-2476
Website: https://www.doeren.com
Services: tax planning and compliance, outsourced accounting, audit and assurance, cost segregation studies, advisory services
Description: Doeren Mayhew operates a Nashville office serving family-owned and privately held businesses throughout Tennessee, with the firm citing more than 93 years of overall experience. It is an independent member firm of the Moore North America (MNA) association, part of the global Moore network, which gives the local office access to resources beyond the region while maintaining direct partner attention for clients. The Nashville practice serves industries including construction and real estate, health care, professional services, manufacturing, logistics and distribution, and hospitality. Its service mix combines tax planning and compliance, outsourced accounting, cost segregation studies, audit and assurance, and broader advisory work for closely held companies.

Frequently Asked Questions About Accounting Firm in Nashville

Q: Do I need a CPA, or can a regular accountant handle my taxes in Nashville?

It depends on the work. General bookkeeping, payroll, and basic tax return preparation can be handled by a non-CPA accountant. However, the CPA title and attest services such as audits, reviews, and compilations of financial statements are legally restricted to individuals and firms licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. If a lender, investor, grantor, or regulator requires audited or reviewed financial statements, you will need a licensed CPA firm.

Q: How do I verify that an accounting firm in Nashville is a licensed CPA firm?

You can verify both individual CPAs and registered accounting firms through the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, which operates under the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The board provides a public license lookup at verify.tn.gov, and you can also reach the board by phone at 888-453-6150. Checking the license confirms the firm is authorized to use the CPA designation and provide attest services in Tennessee.

Q: What is the difference between an audit, a review, and a compilation?

These are three levels of assurance a CPA firm can provide on financial statements. An audit offers the highest level of assurance and involves testing and verification procedures to express an opinion. A review provides limited assurance through inquiry and analytical procedures. A compilation involves presenting management’s financial information in statement form without providing assurance. All three are attest or accounting services that, when issued under a CPA report, must come from a licensed CPA firm.

Q: Does Tennessee charge state income tax on individuals?

Tennessee does not levy a state income tax on wages and salaries. This affects how individuals and businesses approach tax planning, though federal income tax obligations remain, and businesses must still address Tennessee’s franchise and excise taxes and the 7% state sales tax plus the applicable local option rate. A CPA firm can help structure compliance with both federal and state obligations.

Q: What should I look for when choosing an accounting firm in Nashville?

Consider whether the firm holds an active license with the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, whether it offers the specific services you need (tax, audit, advisory, bookkeeping, or payroll), and whether it has experience in your industry. Membership in the AICPA and the Tennessee Society of CPAs indicates engagement with current professional standards. For audit or assurance work, confirm the firm is a registered CPA firm rather than a bookkeeping-only service.

Q: How do I file a complaint about an accounting firm in Nashville?

Complaints about a CPA’s professional conduct or licensing should be directed to the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. For disputes involving deceptive business practices, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104) and accepts consumer complaints. Keeping your engagement letter, invoices, and correspondence helps support any complaint you file.