This article originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of the South Carolina CPA Report
Mauldin & Jenkins has built a reputation as a firm that puts people first. More than a century after its founding in 1918, its culture continues to set it apart. With 19 offices across the Southeast, Mauldin & Jenkins lives its commitment to guiding with wisdom, serving with compassion, and leading with integrity. It’s not just a motto, but a purpose. That purpose drives innovation, fosters stewardship toward its people and clients, and reinforces trust and excellence in every engagement.
The foundation of the firm’s success, growth, and lasting impact is its culture—evident in collaborative teamwork, visible leadership, community engagement, and a genuine family atmosphere.
Values in Action
Partner Todd Dailey, SC.CPA member since 1993, joined Mauldin & Jenkins in 2017. He said he’s witnessed the firm’s values come to life through teamwork and resource sharing.
“All the offices work together,” Dailey said. “We utilize a centralized tax pool where professionals can get assistance with compliance work and technical reviews. This includes team members having the ability to pick up engagements as needed. The same model applies to business valuation and litigation support. By cross-sharing resources and staffing, we have a firm scheduling model that allows us to easily identify resources to assist with engagements across different offices.”
The firm also prioritizes technology, with committees that meet throughout the year to explore new concepts and identify ways the team can work better together while creating a healthy work-life balance.
Community Connections
Mauldin & Jenkins’ impact, also one of the firm’s core values, extends well beyond the office. Each location maintains an active volunteer presence with local organizations, strengthening bonds both within the firm and in the broader community. Past events include Blood Cancer United’s Light the Night, which raises awareness for blood cancer, and the Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s Big Bank Theory, a financial literacy program for high school seniors.
“We like to give back,” Dailey said. “From a bonding standpoint, it helps not only within our office but also as a way to share what each office is doing for their local community.”
Leaders in Action
Leadership at Mauldin & Jenkins sets the tone for the firm’s culture. According to Dailey, the commitment to core values starts at the top and influences every decision.
“I think it’s top down from an education and a culture of staying independent as a firm,” Dailey said. “We want to be in our industry right now. Despite the significant presence of private equity in the accounting industry, we have decided to stay independent. By choosing this path, we are taking full ownership of our future and the direction of our firm. This decision allows opportunities for everybody to grow within the firm.”
That sense of independence ties back to what Dailey calls a family culture.
“We’re going to keep it all within our company, and when we look at making acquisitions of other firms, we make sure we have a cultural mix and the right synergies before we move forward from a due diligence standpoint,” Dailey said.
Investing in People
That dynamic is reflected throughout the firm, including its investment in its people.
Professional development is encouraged, and the firm goes beyond state requirements for continuing education with internal programs, training, and conferences throughout the year.
“I’m interested in people continuing to grow professionally, whether they want to obtain new certifications or be able to balance and switch to other niches. This enables our people to grow professionally, which allows our clients to trust them from an overall relationship. This professional relationship is what we want to have with all of our clients,” Dailey said.
Intern 360: A Hands-On Start
The firm’s commitment to self-discovery begins on day one. Through the Intern 360 program, Mauldin & Jenkins interns can explore every facet of the firm with hands-on experience across a variety of industries and service lines.
“That allows them an opportunity to get involved with all the different service lines that we have to determine (if they) really want to be in a specific client industry or they want to be serving a different service line than what they thought,” Dailey said.
Internship Opportunities
Potential interns are invited to a summer conference at the Atlanta office to learn, grow, meet people, and understand more about Mauldin & Jenkins’ culture and the opportunities available through an internship.
“And if somebody comes to work with us and they feel like Mauldin & Jenkins is not the environment they’re interested in, we’re OK trying to help people find out what they’re interested in through a referral.”
A Workplace That Wins Awards
Mauldin & Jenkins is consistently recognized as a Top 100 firm and a top place to work.
“I think it’s the overall family environment that we’re trying to have in today’s society—with work-life balance, giving people opportunity, valuing them, showing them that we value our clients through our service model, and providing a belief to our staff that Mauldin & Jenkins truly is a great place to work,” Dailey said. “Not only supporting people with continuing education but also investing in technology and showing our professionals that there are opportunities as we grow. If somebody wants to move to another office, they can. If someone wants to work virtually, they can. Or some type of hybrid—in-office and virtual—as well.”
Mauldin & Jenkins continues to build on its strong cultural foundation while pursuing sustainable growth, expanding its specialty advisory services, and strengthening resources through strategic hiring.
Through all of the success, at the end of the day, Dailey hopes that staff continue coming to work each day enjoying what they do, who they work with, and the diversified client base they serve.
