The Top Accountants in Lexington, KY: 2025 List
We examined 20+ accounting firms serving the Lexington, Kentucky area. We ranked the top 7 according to our proprietary ranking algorithm, listed below. The purpose of this list is to help you choose the best accountant for your business.
The rankings reflect criteria most relevant to small business and S-Corporation owners. Here is the ranking algorithm:
Ranking Factors
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- S-Corp Tax Specialization (30%): Depth of expertise in S-Corporation taxation, reasonable compensation analysis, and distribution planning
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- Personal CPA Service (25%): Whether a CPA personally prepares returns or supervises junior staff
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- Service Integration (20%): Whether the firm offers integrated bookkeeping and tax planning vs. separate services
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- Client Communication (15%): Accessibility and responsiveness to client questions throughout the year
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- Years of Experience (10%): Length of time serving Kentucky businesses
Top Lexington Accountants
| Firm | S-Corp Tax Specialization | Personal CPA Service | Years Experience | Service Integration | Client Communication |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Professional Associates | Primary focus (60% of practice) | Matthew L. Ward, CPA, personally prepares returns | 25+ years | Bookkeeping + tax planning integrated | Direct CPA access |
| Dean Dorton | Corporate tax services | Partner oversight, staff preparers | 90+ years (founded 1933) | Audit + tax + advisory | Account team structure |
| Baldwin CPAs | Industry-specific (construction, auto) | Partner supervision model | 85+ years | Audit + tax + bookkeeping | Assigned team contact |
| Hicks & Associates | General business tax | Partner-led small firm | 14 years (founded 2011) | Audit + forensic + tax | Direct partner access |
| Sterling CPAs | General small business | Staff accountants | Not disclosed | Bookkeeping + payroll + tax | Email/phone support |
| Besten & Dieruf | General business tax | Traditional CPA firm | 60+ years | Tax + audit + consulting | Standard office hours |
| Cherry Bekaert | Corporate/enterprise focus | Multi-office team structure | National firm (acquired MCM 2023) | Audit + tax + advisory + technology | Regional office contact |
The Top Accountants in Lexington, KY
1. Bluegrass Professional Associates
Bluegrass Professional Associates is a veteran-owned CPA firm specializing in S-Corporation taxation for small businesses in the Louisville and Lexington areas. Matthew L. Ward, CPA, personally prepares all tax returns and provides year-round strategic planning, contrasting with larger firms where junior staff handle preparation under CPA supervision. The firm integrates bookkeeping services with tax advisory, focusing on businesses generating $25K-$10M in revenue who need proactive S-Corp guidance rather than transactional tax preparation. Businesses seeking strategic tax planning with direct CPA involvement should consider them.
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- Kentucky CPA License: #11938
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- Service Model: Personal CPA preparation
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- Year Founded: 1998
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- Location: Louisville, KY (serves the Lexington area)
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- Specialty: S-Corp taxation and integrated bookkeeping for small businesses
| Summary of Online Reviews |
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| Clients emphasize Matthew’s direct personal involvement and S-Corp expertise. The practice model contrasts with larger firms where junior staff prepare returns under CPA supervision. |
Contact: (502) 456-4513 | office@bpa.tax
2. Dean Dorton
Dean Dorton ranks #92 among the Top 100 US accounting firms with offices throughout Kentucky, including Lexington. Founded in 1933, the firm serves mid-to-large corporations, healthcare systems, construction companies, and manufacturing businesses. Their practice emphasizes audit services, corporate tax compliance, and technology/cybersecurity advisory for organizations requiring enterprise-scale solutions. For most small businesses, it will not make financial sense to work with Dean Dorton, but for those larger companies that can, they provide extensive resources and specialized industry knowledge.
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- National Ranking: #92 Top 100 US Accounting Firms
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- Service Model: Partner oversight with staff preparers
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- Year Founded: 1933
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- Location: Multiple Kentucky locations, including Lexington
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- Specialty: Healthcare, construction, manufacturing, technology advisory
| Summary of Online Reviews |
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| Dean Dorton’s reputation is reflected in their #92 ranking among the Top 100 US accounting firms and long-standing relationships with Kentucky healthcare systems, construction companies, and manufacturing businesses. The firm has limited publicly available online reviews, making it difficult to gauge individual client experiences. |
3. Baldwin CPAs
Baldwin CPAs, based in Louisville with Lexington-area service, is a Top 400 national accounting firm specializing in construction, government, nonprofit, healthcare, and automotive dealership industries. The firm emphasizes industry-specific expertise with dedicated practice groups understanding sector regulations and compliance requirements. For companies in specialized industries requiring deep sector knowledge, Baldwin CPAs provides dedicated practice groups that understand industry-specific challenges. However, small businesses outside these specialties may find their services less personalized.
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- National Ranking: Top 400 Accounting Firm
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- Notable Clients: National Metal Processing, Local Farm Owners
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- Service Model: Partner supervision with industry-focused teams
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- Year Founded: 1939 (85+ years)
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- Location: Louisville, KY (serves the Lexington area)
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- Specialty: Construction, government, nonprofit, healthcare, auto dealerships
| Summary of Online Reviews |
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| Client testimonials highlight long-term relationships. George Begley states: “Baldwin has been doing my accounting for as long as I can remember… they are my trusted friends.” Norman S. Graves of National Metal Processing notes: “Client for over 25 years. They know our industry and offer relevant advice.” |
4. Hicks & Associates CPAs
Hicks & Associates CPAs, founded in 2011 by David W. Hicks, CPA, specializes in audits, forensic accounting, and litigation support for Lexington businesses. The firm focuses on audit services, peer reviews, and expert witness testimony rather than general tax preparation, serving organizations requiring specialized audit expertise or involved in legal proceedings. Businesses needing financial statement audits, forensic analysis, or expert testimony should consider them, but those seeking primarily tax planning may find limited services.
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- Service Model: Partner-led small firm with direct access
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- Year Founded: 2011
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- Location: Lexington, KY
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- Specialty: Audits, forensic accounting, litigation support, expert witness testimony
| Summary of Online Reviews |
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| Google reviews (4.9/5, 49 reviews) consistently praise responsiveness and expertise, with one client stating they are “by far, the best that I have found” and another noting that the firm’s representatives are “responsive, professional, patient in answering all of my questions.” |
5. Sterling CPAs
Sterling CPAs targets small businesses in Lexington seeking affordable bookkeeping, payroll, and basic tax preparation services. Services emphasize operational support rather than strategic tax planning. For businesses prioritizing low cost over strategic advisory, Sterling CPAs provides straightforward services with clear pricing, though companies needing S-Corp expertise or proactive tax planning may find limited strategic guidance.
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- Service Model: Staff accountants
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- Year Founded: Not disclosed
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- Location: Lexington, KY
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- Specialty: Affordable bookkeeping, payroll, and basic tax preparation
| Summary of Online Reviews |
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| Web platform reviews (4.9/5 rating) indicate clients appreciate Sterling CPA’s affordability and reliability. One testimonial states: “After having to fire an accountant elsewhere, Sterling CPAs took my case and got me a quick and very satisfying turnaround and my case was done on time.” |
6. Besten & Dieruf, PLLC
Besten & Dieruf (formerly Enderle Besten Dieruf) operates from the historic Ridgely House in Gratz Park, providing full-service accounting to Lexington individuals and businesses. The firm offers traditional CPA services, including tax preparation, audits, bookkeeping, and CFO services, with a generalist approach serving diverse client needs. Businesses seeking a traditional Lexington CPA firm with long local history should consider them, though those needing specialized S-Corp or industry-specific expertise may find limited differentiation from other generalist firms.
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- Service Model: Traditional CPA firm structure
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- Year Founded: 1960s (60+ years, formerly Enderle & Company)
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- Location: Lexington, KY (historic Ridgely House, Gratz Park)
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- Specialty: Full-service tax, audit, bookkeeping, CFO services
| Summary of Online Reviews |
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| Google reviews highlight the firm’s role as trusted business advisers beyond basic tax preparation. One small business owner describes them as “a trusted adviser” that “was a lifeline when it came to setting up the financial end of my real estate business.” Reviews consistently praise the staff as “extremely thorough, knowledgeable, professional and friendly” with one noting they “listened to my accounting needs and have delivered fantastic service.” |
7. Cherry Bekaert
Cherry Bekaert (#20 in Accounting Today’s Top 100 Firms, #1 in Southeast) acquired MCM CPAs & Advisors, Kentucky’s largest accounting firm, in October 2023. This firm has an established presence in Lexington, Louisville, and Cincinnati. The national firm serves mid-market and enterprise clients requiring multi-office coordination, specialized industry groups, and technology integration services. For most small businesses, Cherry Bekaert’s enterprise focus and pricing structure will exceed their needs, but larger companies requiring multi-state coordination and specialized advisory benefit from their extensive resources.
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- National Ranking: #20 Top 100 US Accounting Firms (#1 in Southeast)
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- Service Model: Multi-office team structure
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- Year Founded: National firm; acquired MCM CPAs (Kentucky’s largest) in October 2023
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- Location: Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati offices
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- Specialty: Enterprise audit, tax, technology consulting, M&A advisory
| Summary of Online Reviews |
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| Trustburn client reviews praise the firm’s expertise and professionalism. Clients note the team is “highly skilled, dedicated, and always available to answer any questions.” Others describe working with this firm as a “game-changer for our business” that helped “streamline our accounting processes and improve overall efficiency.” |
Best S-Corp Specialists in Lexington
S-Corporation taxation requires specialized knowledge of reasonable compensation requirements, distribution timing, and QBI (Qualified Business Income) deduction optimization that generic CPAs often lack. QBI eligibility and limitations vary significantly based on compensation structure, income levels, and industry classification.
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- Bluegrass Professional Associates – Primary practice focus (60%) on S-Corp taxation with 25+ years of specialized experience
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- Dean Dorton – Corporate tax services, including S-Corp compliance for mid-to-large businesses
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- Baldwin CPAs – S-Corp services within industry-specific practice groups (construction, healthcare, auto dealerships)
Best for Personal CPA Service
Business owners seeking direct CPA involvement benefit from firms with partner-led service models.
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- Hicks & Associates – Small firm with direct partner access and personal attention
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- Bluegrass Professional Associates – Matthew L. Ward, CPA, personally prepares all returns and handles complex planning
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- Besten & Dieruf – Traditional firm structure with consistent CPA relationships
If you have any questions or would like a copy of this report, contact us here.