To celebrate National Small Business Month, SCMC is highlighting the small businesses helping shape South Carolina.
This week, we’re spotlighting A.T. LOCKE, a Greenville-based management accounting company that has spent nearly two decades helping businesses get more out of their financial reporting and information critical for decision making.
Founded by Anna Locke during the 2008 recession, A.T. LOCKE was created to fill a gap between traditional accounting services and having a full in-house finance team. The company provides flexible accounting support and business insights to meet each client’s needs. Since opening with a team of three, A.T. LOCKE quickly grew to 20 employees and has served more than 600 clients across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, including nonprofits.
For Founder Anna Locke, the company was built around helping business leaders better understand the story behind their numbers.
“A.T. LOCKE was born from a desire to bring numbers to life inside businesses more often than just once a year,” said Locke. “As a financial statement auditor in the early years of my career, I had been trained how to determine whether financial statements were correct and was eager to see them in action. I wanted to see the decision making side – and not just watch, I wanted to participate.”
Over the years, the company has continued to evolve alongside its clients, adapting to changing business needs and expanding its reach. Locke said one of the company’s biggest strengths is its collaborative approach, which gives clients consistent support and multiple perspectives when making important decisions.
“Business leadership and especially entrepreneurial ownership can be lonely, and I believe leaders want someone who will talk straight to them,” said Locke. “As they rise in authority the number of colleagues and confidants diminish and we consider it a privilege to be at the table with them.”
That focus on teamwork and accountability has helped A.T. LOCKE stand out.
“Working in teams means no financial statement gets released without a second set of eyes, and that the preparer has had to explain their opinion to a colleague before moving forward,” said Locke.
Beyond its work with clients, the company has remained active in the community. Locke has served with organizations including InnoVision, NEXT High School, and the Center for Developmental Services, while members of the A.T. LOCKE team have contributed to local accounting advisory councils for local schools.
Locke said South Carolina’s business community and local chambers of commerce have also played an important role in the company’s growth.
“I want our clients to know that we are listening as well as participating in what is going on around their business,” said Locke. “Part of the value we bring is not being inside just one company’s walls each day.”
Looking ahead, the company is focused on continuing to grow its advisory team and helping businesses navigate uncertainty.
“Our job is to bring light to the financial information critical for decision making,” said Locke. “As the economy continues to have areas of uncertainty we look forward to hiring more advisors and helping clients navigate the uncertainty.”
