We're not your typical accounting firm.
We sit at the intersection of accounting, operations, and technology — which is exactly where growing multi-location businesses need a partner.
Built for operators who needed more than a bookkeeper.
We founded Howley & Company because we kept seeing the same problem: growing multi-location businesses with smart operators, solid concepts, and a back office that couldn't keep up. The accounting was behind, the systems were disconnected, and nobody had a clear picture of what was actually happening across locations.
Generic accounting firms weren't the answer — they could handle the bookkeeping but had no idea how to connect a POS system, automate a reconciliation workflow, or build a dashboard that actually reflected the business. IT firms could integrate software but didn't understand the accounting implications. And consultants would hand over a recommendation deck and walk away.
We built something different: a team that does all three. We design and manage the systems, run the financial operations, and make sure you have the reporting you need to make decisions with confidence — every day, not just at month-end.
The people behind the work.
Lee Howley
Lee founded Howley & Company in 1981 to manage the corporate functions of various companies he started with a talented group of Ohio professionals. His background spans a Panera Bread franchise on the east coast, developing cable TV systems in the U.S. and Europe, building a medical-related real estate company, representing the United States at the United Nations under President Clinton, and chairing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum. Lee's biggest thrill is working with talented and caring people who know how to deliver exceptional customer service.
Adam Vanek
Adam leads all financial functions for our clients, having risen from Financial Analyst to CFO over 10 years with the firm. He holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from Baldwin Wallace University, and prior to HCO worked at a healthcare IT startup and spent over six years with a multi-unit franchise, advancing from Shift Leader to District Manager. Outside the office, Adam enjoys time with his wife and three children, staying active in his church, and working through his ever-growing reading list.
Lee Howley III
Lee provides IT support for our franchise clients and oversees email and server infrastructure at our Westlake, Ohio headquarters. He spearheaded implementation of an HRIS system and has overseen multiple technology rollouts that have increased manager efficiency, and built Howley & Company's customized reporting tool. He is also implementing neural network-driven predictive analytics for better sales forecasting. When not tinkering, he enjoys long bike rides through the Cleveland Metro Parks.
Robin Meermans
Robin leads all accounting functions at HCO, with a career spanning manufacturing, retail, entertainment, and public accounting. When not crunching the numbers, you can find her at a slot machine in Vegas, working in her flower gardens, or just enjoying nature.
Terrie L. Gilland
Terrie oversees our payroll department at the Ohio Support Center in Westlake, which processed over 3,000 W-2s for our clients last year. A Certified Payroll Professional since 2003, she has been with Howley & Company since 2006, with prior roles at The Great Lakes Construction Company, Riddell Sports, and The Cleveland Christian Home for Children. She currently serves as Volunteer Dog Rescuer, Crazy Dog Lady, Skilled and Accomplished Annoyer of her son, HGTV addict, and Firefly/Serenity geek.
Scott Hamper
Scott focuses on systems integration and automation, with work that has driven considerable improvements in the accuracy and timely processing of sales, employee, and accounting data. He holds a degree in game design and development from the Rochester Institute of Technology. When not communing with cloud infrastructure, Scott can often be found putting the FUN in functional improvements to his home or exploring his extensive knowledge of coding methodologies.
Chrissy Smink
Chrissy brings experience from healthcare billing, payroll, and project management to her role supporting our payroll operations. A Bryant & Stratton graduate, her prior positions included a decade in kidney dialysis billing, a payroll specialist role at Riddell, and project management in telecommunications. Her hobbies include throwing darts in a league for the past 26 years, diamond art painting, going to concerts, vacationing to warm destinations, and raising her son.
Lindsey Broderick
Lindsey handles accounts payable, vendor contact and onboarding, and café permits and licensing for our clients. She is currently working towards her Accounting degree at Cleveland State University. She juggles her time between her 3.5-year-old son and their American Boxer, Krumbley Sue — exploring the Metroparks, riding bikes, and frequenting Lakewood Park.
Mitchell McNamara
Mitchell manages accounts payable and vendor relations for our clients, bringing a double major in Accounting and Operations Management from the University of Colorado Boulder. With prior experience in data analysis and financial operations, he brings strong attention to detail and a collaborative approach to his work. Outside the office, he's an avid K-Pop fan, always keeping up with the latest music trends.
Leslie Pakush
Leslie oversees the design and construction of new builds and remodels for our clients, including Panera Bread Cafes and Sola Salons, as well as large maintenance projects. For over 35 years she has worked on the development and construction of many projects including sophisticated medical facilities and office buildings, managing all aspects of their ongoing physical operations. When she's not managing projects, Leslie enjoys traveling with her husband, visiting their children at college, and making the most of life with family and friends.
A few things we believe deeply.
Automate before you delegate
Manual processes are expensive, error-prone, and don't scale. Our first question is always: can this be automated? If yes, we build it. If not, we staff it — but we keep looking for the automation.
Clarity over comfort
We tell clients what their numbers actually mean — including when it's not good news. Sugarcoating a bad P&L doesn't help anyone. Understanding it does.
Built for your next ten locations
We design systems that are ready for where you're going, not just where you are. Scaling from five to twenty locations shouldn't require rebuilding your entire back office.
Systems over spreadsheets
If your accounting team is spending most of their day in Excel, something is broken. We replace spreadsheet-driven workflows with integrated systems that produce the same outputs automatically.
We act like it's our business
We're not an outside vendor. We're a part of your operating team. That means we flag problems before they become crises, and we care about your growth because it drives ours.
Deep niche expertise
We know multi-location operations. The POS quirks, the delivery platform reconciliation headaches, the franchise reporting requirements — we've seen it, solved it, and built systems around it.