What makes Simon Lever one of Pennsylvania’s Best Places to Work?

Simon Lever is a CPA and accounting firm in Lancaster and Harrisburg. Their CPAs, advisors, and staff combine in-depth experience with customized solutions to drive business development and help clients gain a competitive edge. In 2021, Simon Lever celebrated 70 years of business and was also voted one of Pennsylvania’s Best Places to Work.

We had the opportunity to interview Simon Lever’s Director of Human Resources, Taura Thompson, to learn more about what makes their team and workplace special. Read what she had to say in this special Fig Q&A.

Fig: Tell us a little about Simon Lever and what sets it apart?

Taura: Simon Lever is a people-first firm at its core. While we are an accounting firm, our core purpose is to maximize the success of those we partner with, including people, clients, and communities. We are fortunate to provide our clients with sound work and advice across many industries. Our firm focuses on learning about our clients’ businesses holistically to best serve their individual needs. As a result, we build lasting relationships, and we can offer tailored, practical, and proactive advice to position businesses for success throughout the year. Our varied expertise areas give our team members growth opportunities to expand their skill sets, have variety in their work, and become subject matter experts for specific industries. Community is also very important to Simon Lever, and we take pride in our support of and work for many Central Pennsylvania non-profit clients too.

Fig: How long have you been with Simon Lever, and what drew you to work there?

Taura: This August will be my fourth anniversary with Simon Lever. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to join a firm that truly lives out its values every day. With my experience in mid- to large-size organizations, I was specifically drawn to being able to make connections with our team members and making a bigger impact on their lives. From my first visit to Simon Lever, I could just feel the difference in our culture. It’s a great environment. Our team members really enjoy working and collaborating with each other. They have fun in and out of work. And we continue to focus on technical and soft skill development for our team members centered around their strengths, passions, and interests.

Fig: What makes Simon Lever a “Best Place to Work?”

Taura: We work hard to make sure our team members feel included and well-cared for both personally and in their careers. Our team members enjoy amazing benefits, including parental leave and a hybrid and flexible-hours environment. Our wonderful Connection Committee celebrates our team members and plans events such as happy hours, food trucks, take-home meals, car detailing, and fun firm outings. Development is also a focus at our firm. We provide many learning opportunities and foster an environment that celebrates and supports each other. Our leaders operate with an open-door policy and are always accessible and genuinely concerned about the success of each individual. Our formal mentor program provides an avenue for both personal and professional development and builds camaraderie and teamwork. We work hard to show care for our team—not only as colleagues but as whole individuals. Overall, it all comes back to the people-first culture that we cultivate on a daily basis.

Fig: How do you see Simon Lever shaping workplace culture?

Taura: We recognize that our team members come to work as their full selves with outside passions and responsibilities. Everyone has different needs, and flexibility is critically important. Providing space for our team members to do what they love allows them to be present and engaged when they are at work. Equally as important, we are committed to offering a variety of development tools that help our team members become self-aware, recognize their strengths and the strengths of others, and understand how to work together to achieve goals. This builds a culture of self-awareness and a growth mindset. Employees are the heartbeat of an organization, and through the personal and professional development of our people, we enable them to embrace and lean into what makes them unique and how their unique contributions help maximize the success of our organization.

Fig: What would you tell someone interested in working at Simon Lever?

Taura: At Simon Lever, you’ll be able to make an impact to our team members, clients, and communities every day because of our approach to service. Our core purpose and values define who we are as a firm and how we serve each other. They form the foundation of our culture, and we aim to make them evident in everything we do. Simon Lever offers a Career Advantage. From the early days of a team member’s career, we encourage individuals to explore and spend time working in each core business service we offer rather than requiring they pick a specialization. Through our mentoring approach, we can help individuals lean into their passions, growing them in areas where their interest lies. Each team member is paired with a mentor who will provide them with the tools to be successful in their career and relationships.

Lancaster Office | 147 West Airport Road, Lititz, PA 17543 | 717.569.7081

Capital Region Office | 5053 Ritter Road, Suite 201, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 | 717.761.4000

Learn more about who Simon Lever is at simonlever.com.