Varney & Associates

Founded in Manhattan, Kansas in 1959 by T. William Varney, Varney & Associates has grown into a full-service public accounting firm serving businesses with tax preparation, accounting, financial planning, auditing, and management advisory work. Staff are organized into niche teams covering Agriculture, Financial Institutions, Nonprofit, Government, and Employee Benefits, allowing client work to be handled by people familiar with the regulatory and operational specifics of those sectors.

The firm operates under an Executive Committee and counts ten owners among its leadership, with Michelle Crow serving as CEO. Crow brings more than 20 years in public accounting to the role, overseeing a team that extends beyond the Manhattan headquarters to a second office in Emporia, Kansas. This structure supports clients across both locations without concentrating decision-making in a single office.

Staff tenure at Varney & Associates reflects long-term continuity: Tonya Wilkerson has been with the firm since 1990 and Stacy Burkdoll since 2008, while newer hires like Tonya Taylor, who joined as a Staff Accountant in 2025, bring in fresh accounting talent. The firm recently moved into a new building nearly double the size of its previous location, reflecting the growth of its staff and client base over more than six decades in Kansas.