214 24th Street North · Birmingham, AL 35203

The Sheppard-Harris & Associates sign on their Birmingham office

Certified Public Accountants · Birmingham, Alabama · Since 1993

Audits and financial guidance for governments and nonprofits

Your financial statements answer to a lot of people: your board or council, your funders, oversight agencies, and often the public. Since 1993, Sheppard-Harris & Associates has specialized in auditing state and local governments and nonprofit organizations, and in helping them stay ready for that scrutiny all year.

We also provide the accounting, tax, payroll, and advisory services that businesses and individuals rely on.

Large enough to serve. Small enough to care.

Schedule a Conversation → Explore Our Services

How we help

Audit and Financial Reporting

Complete your annual audit with confidence. Independent financial statement audits for governments, nonprofits, and businesses, plus reviews and compilations when an audit isn’t required.

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Single Audits

Meet federal Single Audit requirements. If your organization spends $1,000,000 or more in federal awards in a fiscal year, a Single Audit is required. We perform them and help you prepare.

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Grant Compliance and Management

Manage grants without compliance surprises. Support with grant budgets, allowable costs, documentation, policies, and reporting so you stay in good standing with every funder.

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Fractional CFO Services

Get CFO-level leadership without a full-time hire. Budgeting, cash flow planning, board-ready financial reports, and an experienced advisor on call.

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Board Governance and Training

Equip your board to oversee the finances. Practical training on reading financial statements, understanding the audit, and carrying out fiduciary duties.

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Accounting and Tax Services

Keep the books, payroll, and taxes in order. Accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and tax services that keep everyday records accurate.

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Built for public money and mission-driven work

Governments and nonprofits are accountable to more stakeholders than most businesses. Their financial statements follow their own standards (GASB for governments, FASB for nonprofits), and their audits often include compliance testing that a typical business audit never touches.

That is the work our audit practice was built around. We understand the reporting deadlines, funder expectations, and oversight requirements you work under, and we share practical observations that help you strengthen your controls, not just a list of what went wrong.

Who we serve

State and local governments

Cities, towns, counties, and public authorities, boards, and districts.

Not-for-profit organizations

Charities, foundations, associations, and grant-funded community organizations.

Employee benefit plans

Plan sponsors who need independent financial reporting.

Healthcare organizations

Providers with complex reporting and regulatory obligations.

Businesses and individuals

Owners and taxpayers who need accounting, tax, payroll, and advisory support.

We serve clients in multiple states from our office in downtown Birmingham.

How an engagement works

A conversation first.
We learn about your organization, funding sources, deadlines, and what your board, funders, or oversight agencies need.
A clear proposal.
You receive a defined scope, timeline, and fee based on the work involved.
Planning and a request list.
We tell you early what documents and schedules we will need, so your staff can prepare without last-minute scrambles.
Fieldwork and open communication.
We keep you informed as the work progresses and raise questions as they come up.
Results you can use.
We review the report and any observations with management and, when appropriate, your board or audit committee.

About Sheppard-Harris

Founded in July 1993, Sheppard-Harris & Associates is based in Birmingham and serves clients in multiple states. The firm is led by Connie S. Harris, CPA, whose public accounting experience spans more than 35 years and who was appointed by the Governor to the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy.

Read Our Story →

What our clients say

“

Sheppard Harris and Associates offers exceptional service and far exceeds our expectations for an audit firm.

Wayne Rowe

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The engagement with Sheppard Harris is not about finding what’s wrong; it’s about finding ways to enhance the practices I have in place to prevent future problems.

Roger Watts

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The team at Sheppard Harris is very knowledgeable, responsive and focused on customer service.

Dr. Branch

We support our community.

Delta Research and Educational Foundation

Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants

Professional affiliations

The firm’s shareholder and CPAs are members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants

Preparing for an audit, a grant, or a new fiscal year?

Tell us what you are working toward and when it is due. We will help you figure out the right next step.

Schedule a Conversation → 205.323.5922