Church finances are not something ministry leaders love talking about, let alone enjoy spending time on. However, accuracy, integrity, and transparency are of the utmost importance when leading a church ministry. To accomplish that, we needed to assemble a team to provide a high standard of bookkeeping and accounting for our congregation.

Christian Life Center’s leadership had made a commitment to excellence in the area of finance. Once that commitment was made, we went looking for an accounting firm to help us meet our goals of accuracy, integrity, and transparency. Battershell & Nichols has delivered an incredible service to our church and team. We’ve tried other firms, and the difference we’ve seen in B&N’s quality of work and care for our ministry makes us grateful to have B&N as a part of our finance team.

We wholeheartedly recommend B&N to you. You will find a highly competent group of professionals working alongside your team who share your commitment to your mission and ministry.

Virgil Brown, Lead Pastor

Christian Life Center

When our organization was founded a few years ago, we made a commitment that our financial records would be done professionally by a CPA firm that had a lot of experience with nonprofits. We went with Battershell & Nichols, and they have been with us from the beginning. They have not only helped our leadership team, but the fact that we have CPA oversight has brought about a trustworthiness to our donors. I believe this has helped us with increased donations too over the years.

We quickly found out how many accounting and tax questions we encountered on a day to day basis. The team at Battershell & Nichols not only prepare our financial statements, compilations, and tax returns, they also have become part of our team as a trusted advisor that helps us navigate a lot of complex accounting and tax matters.

I remember one time I had to work with an attorney and an insurance auditor that gave me financial reports that I didn’t really understand. I called the team at Battershell & Nichols and asked for one of them to join me at this meeting. I knew it was beyond their scope of work, but they sent one of their team anyway. That’s the kind of people they are. They are very professional and excellent at what they do. And they also care deeply for the success of our mission at WAMS.

Another side benefit I’ve observed about this team. When our organization was founded, I was the Development Director and I was recently promoted to be the CEO. I’ve realized that some of the skills I now possess to lead this organization were gained through my working with Battershell & Nichols. I am a better leader because they are on my team.

Helen Nguyen, CEO

Women’s Accessible Medical Services (WAMS)

And their spirit is also a blessing. They are flexible to our needs and even support us in prayer from time to time. From all of us who are responsible to steward the finances at SRC, we give a big THANK YOU to all the staff at Battershell & Nichols. Hopefully, we can continue this relationship with you for many more years.

Grant Bruneau, Treasurer

Seattle Revival Center

For the first several years, Rick educated me on current tax law for business expenses, and I realized significant financial tax savings.

As a pastor of a growing mega-church, I employed his firm to perform our annual audits. That has empowered our organization in the critical task of demonstrating its financial integrity.

When I opened up my first corporation, Rick successfully navigated me through the state and IRS processes as well as HR issues which needed to be addressed.

Now, in my retirement, this firm continues to keep me current on all tax regulations, even as I navigate 1031 real estate transactions and commercial property investments. To date, I have never been audited by the IRS. For these, and many other reasons, I continue to be a satisfied customer.

Jim Amandus

Client

It is hard to believe that we have been with Battershell & Nichols for almost 30 years! They handle the accounting for our nonprofit ministry, for-profit preschool, and our personal taxes. Their professionalism and care have remained the same from the beginning when our organizations were small through the years of growth which followed.

Through the years, Battershell & Nichols have answered our questions, sorted our problems, and kept our operations running smoothly. We have partnered with them to strengthen our bookkeeping, file all the necessary tax documents, and generally stay informed about the constant changes in finance and tax laws. Our financial health is due in large part to the knowledge and expertise of Battershell & Nichols.

You go to someone because you have a need. You stay because they can be trusted. The counsel we have received has been invaluable and given us peace of mind. We always know our books are in good shape and our taxes are properly filed.

Having an expert in our corner has allowed us to focus on the things we do well and achieve our goals. It also helps if the experts are nice people who have your best interests at heart. We have enjoyed our relationship with Battershell & Nichols for many years, and we hope it continues for many more!

Ray Armstrong

Client

Paul Greenwood

Client

They have provided the confidence needed in the accounting and tax areas while my company continued to grow. But that’s only part of what they have done for us. When we needed to outsource our bookkeeping, B&N helped us secure the right person. Then, when we decided to bring our bookkeeping in-house, they came along side us to find competent staff to fill the accounting and administration positions. They coached me on how to run a tight ship and maintain integrity in our internal controls and financial reporting.

We couldn’t be happier working with the Battershell & Nichols team and plan to continue our business relationship in the years ahead. From bookkeeping, to training, to tax planning, I highly recommend Battershell & Nichols. I am certain they will do the same for any other business seeking professional oversight in accounting and tax matters.

Cameron Carter

Owner, Patriot’s Choice

The Battershell & Nichols team helped educate us as owners as well as our employees in areas where we were weak. Through this process, we have built trust in them. We have faith that they will tell us the hard truths to help us streamline and improve our business.

Battershell & Nichols has drastically helped our efficiency as a business. They also, unknowingly, have helped us to understand better discernment in hiring the right help for our business.

John Ware

Managing Partner, Five Star Mechanical

Dave Erickson, Exec. Pastor of Admin.

Bethany Baptist Church
Puyallup, Washington

Ray Armstrong

Calvary Community Church
Sumner, WA

Ron Lalime, Business Director

Riverview Community Church
Kent, WA

I have served in administrative positions at Our Savior Lutheran Church for the past 17 years. During that time Robin Nichols and Rick Battershell have helped our church with preparing financial statements, classifying employees correctly, and answering confusing financial questions that come up from time to time. Rick and Robin have a special passion for helping church administrators implement best practices as they apply to church finances. I have attended many of their presentations at the local meetings for church business administrators and their annual workshops and have found the information relevant, up-to-date, and very helpful.

Sue Bratz, Former Business Administrator

Our Savior Lutheran Church
Tacoma, WA

As a nearly 50-year-old church, we took pride in emphasizing our spiritual purposes but in the process of doing so, we neglected to carry out financial practices with the consideration they deserve. Such inattention brought the leadership and the overall church into a very difficult time. Not keeping up to date on appropriate financial procedures and practices nearly cost us our good name in the community and, further, eroded the confidence of our congregation. Trust in both organizational and spiritual leadership were questioned. The result of not having our financial house in order was that we were significantly distracted from focusing on our spiritual calling. We are grateful to the available, calm, and professional leadership of Battershell & Nichols, PS. They played a significant role in getting us to the place of relative financial peace that we presently enjoy. Without their prompt, patient, and professional guidance we would have surely continued to struggle to keep up with the ever-changing IRS and State regulations. We continue to rely upon them for ongoing advice and training. Our church is not alone in overlooking sound financial accounting practices. We are thankful for His Grace and for the ongoing assistance of Battershell & Nichols to counsel us toward sustaining sound financial procedures and practices.

Tim Larson, Chairman, Elder Board

Faith Church
Kent, WA