Our History - Mize CPAs Inc.

Our firm came into existence on July 1, 1956, by merging the practices of two CPAs — Robert P. Mize and Ralph E. Houser. Through the decades, we’ve gone through mergers and name changes but our commitment to providing stellar service and utilizing leading technology has remained the same. We’re grateful for the relationships we’ve built along the way and for the dedicated Mize professionals who have built our firm into the Top 200 firm it is today.

Technology

Leader in Technology

Since the early days of Mize, firm leadership recognized the importance of investing in technology. In 1961, a client asked us to handle the accounting tasks of their motel management operation and as their needs grew our legacy of leveraging technology began. We purchased an IBM computer and were one of the first accounting firms in the region to do so. Out-of-the-box software was rare and so our accountants were joined by a new group of professionals – systems analysts and programmers. By the 1980s, we were developing our own computer software and established a computer training center for our clients. We were outsourcing over 700 computer terminals to business owners across ten states.

Today, we continue to embrace the latest technology and utilize robotic process automation (RPA) so our professionals can spend more time providing valuable consulting services rather than performing repetitive tasks.

McDonald's

Serving McDonald’s Owners

Our use of technology sets Mize apart from other CPA firms and because of this, we caught the attention of Cobler Consulting, LLC in 2001. Cobler had been providing accounting and tax services to McDonald’s Owners since the late 1960s and realized a need to better connect with clients across the country. Mize merged with Cobler 2003 and we now serve more than 2,000 McDonald’s restaurants nationwide. Through decades of ups and downs, our team has continued to grow with the changing needs of McDonald’s Owners and we have advocated for them every step of the way.

Recognition

Award-Winning Service

From the earliest years of Mize, we have received recognition for our services and our use of technology. Both locally and across the country, Mize is a trusted name when it comes to accounting services.

1960s & 70s

In the sixties, a client asked us to handle the accounting tasks of their motel management operation. As their needs grew, we took the first steps into using computers which set us apart from other firms in the region. The local newspaper often reported on our technology equipment deliveries.

During this time of rapid growth for our firm, Mize became the largest CPA firm in Topeka and one of the largest in Kansas. Mize was also one of the leading CPA firms in data processing and hospitality accounting in the country.

1980s

Mize became an Industry Application Specialist for the CPA profession, a national designation awarded to companies by IBM. The firms chosen for this distinction exhibited skills that IBM wanted to adopt nationwide.

1990s

Mize received many awards during the 1990s.

1990 Chamber Member Firm – Topeka Chamber of Commerce
Top 100 Accounting Firms – Bowman’s Accounting Report
Top Consulting Practice in the United States – Bowman’s Accounting Report
80th Largest Accounting Firm in the United States– Bowman’s Accounting Report
Top 100 Public Accounting Firms in America – Public Accounting Report
Best of the Best (top 25 out of 100 accounting firms) – Bowman’s Accounting Report
Firm of the Future – Accountants Computer Users Technical Exchange (ACUTE)

2000s and Beyond

We continue our award-winning tradition of great service and are consistently ranked among Inside Public Accounting‘s Top 200 and Accounting Today‘s Top Firms in the Midwest each year. In 2024, Mize earned the Top Workplaces USA award issued by Energage. We also earned the Great Plains Top Workplaces regional award.