Trade journal chooses Las Vegas accounting firm best place to work in U.S.

Free lunches every day.

Video games in the break room.

Intranet bingo with gift certificates to restaurants and movie theaters.

Surely, we're talking about the perks at Zappos, Google or some other fun, cutting-edge Internet startup, right?

Not this time.

The company offering those benefits is a small Las Vegas-based accounting firm that just won national accolades for its office environment. Trade journal Accounting Today has named Johnson Jacobson Wilcox the best U.S. accounting firm to work for among firms with 15 to 49 employees. The magazine evaluated firms based on their employer benefits and policies, as well as their corporate culture, training and overall employee engagement.

"Most people think of accounting firms and accountants as dull, without much of a personality -- people with their heads down and green eyeshades on, who work all day long and don't talk to too many people unless the phone rings," said Gary Johnson, the company's president and managing partner. "We're just not like that. We like to have fun once in a while."

Start with those video games.

Johnson Jacobson Wilcox runs a stress-busting Wii bowling tournament every tax season -- 2011's edition kicked off Monday -- complete with a trophy. During the 24-employee firm's busy season from mid-January to April 15, the company brings in free lunch for employees every day. The company also sends new hires an orientation binder complete with business cards two weeks before they start, and a $500 clothing allowance awaits them as soon as they walk through the door. The firm gives workers time off during the work day to volunteer for community groups as well.

"My partners and I have always wanted to be a place where people wanted to work," Johnson said. "We want a waiting list of people who want to work here. We just felt that if we had people engaged in the firm and loving working here, they would take really good care of our clients, and that's what we're here for in the first place."

It hasn't been easy maintaining benefits during the recession. The firm's client base went heavy on real estate and development businesses before the downturn, and the recession carved 30 percent out of the company's revenue from 2008 to 2010. But the partners took significant pay cuts to keep the perks in place and to keep from reducing salaries, Johnson said.

"We didn't feel it (slashing pay and benefits) was the right thing to do to our people. They're just way too important to us, and way too good," he said.

Forging a great workplace isn't about perks alone, Johnson said.

The firm also emphasizes transparency, sharing its financial results with its staff during companywide meetings and on its Intranet. Employees even know how much the firm's partners earn in total. Employees can see how much net income the firm took in, and they earn bonuses out of that profit. The idea, said Johnson, is to create an "entrepreneurial interest" in how the firm performs. Employees can see both the risks and the rewards of owning an accounting firm.

"We believe in the future of Las Vegas. No matter how long it takes for things to turn around, we want to be positioned with a great firm with great people who serve our clients at exceptional levels," Johnson said. "Owners of companies have to make investments in the future, and that's why we do what we do."

Contact reporter Jennifer Robison at jrobison@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4512.