About Our Firm
Our Mission and Philosophy
Our mission is to meet the needs of clients by developing, marketing, and performing services of outstanding excellence within a dynamic environment. We are dedicated to helping clients attain their economic and social goals by providing professional service and advice at the highest quality.
Our History and Practice
The Firm was founded in 1967 by Melvin W. Kist and Gilbert C. Bernhardt and was called Kist, Bernhardt & Co. The first office was opened in downtown Cincinnati and provided accounting and tax services to clients with future growth opportunities. In 1979, the Firm relocated their offices to Blue Ash. In 1991, Melvin W. Kist retired from the practice of accounting and the Firm changed its name to Bernhardt & Associates. In October 1996, Timothy R. Franz bought the Firm from Gilbert C. Bernhardt and changed the name to FRANZ CPAs, Inc. The Firm moved to the existing location at 8370 E. Kemper Road in September 2014. In October 2019, Edward L. Soergel and Anthony J. Borgerding purchased the Firm from Timothy R. Franz.
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Edward L. Soergel, CPA
PRESIDENT
Eddie manages our Tax Department and oversees the Firm operations. Eddie is well versed in all tax related matters for individuals and businesses. Throughout his career, Eddie has assisted individual and business clients in a number of taxation and consulting areas, including IRS audits, merger & acquisitions, buy/sell agreements, estate tax planning, just to name a few.
Eddie is a graduate from the University of Cincinnati and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and The Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants.
“At FRANZ CPAs, we pride ourselves on getting to know our clients on a personal level, in which, provides us the opportunity to develop tax planning strategies for not only today, but also for future years’ to come.” - Edward L. Soergel, CPA, President
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Anthony J. Borgerding, CPA, MBA
VICE PRESIDENT
Our Accounting and Auditing Department is managed by Tony. Tony has a wide range of experience working with clients in multiple industries, including Common Interest Realty Associations (CIRA), Service Corporations, and Nonprofit organizations. One of Tony’s unique skillsets is the ability to work with and understand the needs of both the CFO of a large company and also the bookkeeper of a small family business.
Tony received his undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo and his master’s degree from Xavier University. Tony is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and The Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants.
The FRANZ CPAs Difference
You deserve an accounting firm that is going to respect you and provide honest, clear communication. We distinguish ourselves from other CPA firms through exceptional client service. We keep all clients informed of the latest issues and bring strategies, expertise, and solutions to the table. You can connect with our team at any time: we remain in regular contact with clients throughout the year. FRANZ CPAs keeps our fees competitive and our work product timely, accurate, and reliable.
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