About

Our Firm

Reese & Novelly is a CPA firm providing accounting, audit, software, tax and consulting services. We serve Northeast Kansas from Kansas City to Abilene with offices in Wamego, St. Marys, Manhattan, Onaga and Kansas City. Our clients include governments, non-profit organizations, housing authorities, health care, retail, construction and other businesses, individuals, trusts and estates.

Steady growth since 1981

Reese & Novelly was formed in 1994 when Rick Reese and Nick Novelly merged their practices (founded in 1981 and 1989 respectively). Carol McCullough joined ownership in 2004.

Rick Reese, CPA - Founding Partner

Rick Reese earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Kansas State University and is a licensed CPA in Kansas.

30 Years and Counting

In 1981, a banker asked Rick to open an accounting practice in his hometown of St. Marys, Kansas. Rick merged his practice with Nick Novelly in 1994 to form Reese & Novelly, P.A. Rick has more than 30 years of accounting experience, and manages the St. Marys office. He specializes in agriculture, retail and construction tax and accounting services.

Oversees tax return preparation for more than 500 individuals and 100 businesses annually

Rick supervises the filing of more than 600 tax returns each year. He has identified education tax credit savings of $1,500 - $2,000 for the average individual client. His usiness clients have up to $15 million in annual sales. He has helped businesses resolve payroll tax issues with the IRS, set them up properly to timely file payroll tax returns and avoided further penalties.

Current on farm and agribusiness tax law updates

Rick stays up-to-date on currently available farm credits, and works with more than 50 farmers and agribusinesses each year. He has advised farmers regarding updates to Section 1790, and has helped one customer save nearly 45% in the current year's taxes.

   
Nick Novelly, CPA - Founding Partner

Nick Novelly earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a licensed CPA in Kansas, and was a member of the inaugural class of the Flint Hill Region Leadership Program, the Leadership Kansas Class of 2002, Wamego Ambassadors, and the St. Joseph Businessmen's Association.

From international accounting firm to hometown roots

Nick began his career with six years at Ernst & Young (then Ernst & Whinney) in Dallas, an international accounting firm with global revenues of $24.5 billion in RY 2008. But family roots brought him back to Kansas in 1989, and he started a successful accounting practice. In 1994, he merged with Rick Reese to form Reese & Novelly, P.A. He manages the Wamego office, and has clients in manufacturing, government, retail, not-for-profit, small business, and individuals.

Saved a customer over $20,000

Nick has worked with more than 50 clients to set up, customize and train staff to use MAS90/200 and QuickBooks. He has helped one client avoid an unnecessary purchase of a $25,000 industry specific accounting system by customizing their current software to fit their needs. His goal is to gain a through understanding of each client's situation so that he can identify opportunities and make the right recommendations.

Helped a small business identify $17,000 in fraudulently reconciled bank statements

Nick helps clients reduce the risk of fraud, and has helped many clients identify ways to improve their accounting systems. He participates in the Government Finance Officers Association Excellence in Financial Reporting Program, which encourages state and local governments to go beyond minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles.

Contributing to the community

Nick makes it a priority to spend time with his family and give back to the community. You can find them year-round at school and church activities, and out sailing in the summer. The whole family - all eight of them - act in local theater productions. Nick is also a member of the Chambers of Commerce in Manhattan, Onaga, St. Marys and Wamego.

Carol McCullough, CPA - Partner

Carol McCullough earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Kansas State University, is a licensed CPA in Kansas, A Kansas Department of Commerce CDBG Administrator, has completed the Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program.

Supervised audits for more than 75 customers

Carol served as Chief Financial Officer for HomeCare and Hospice - a non-profit organization - for 10 years before joining Reese & Novelly. She has over 25 years of accounting experience, including extensive experience in Medicare cost reporting, and currently manages the office in Manhattan, Kansas. Carol has worked with more than 50 cities and quasi municipalities for over 26 non-profit and health care organizations, many of which are repeat customers.

Long-term financial stability is important to Carol. She builds long-term relationships with clients through sharing of thorough and meaningful information. Her attention to detail has helped identify taxes that didn't need to be paid, and situations where employees were duplicating their work and performing tasks that were not needed.

Carol has assisted clients with crafting their policies and procedures, determining compliance requirements of grants, and identifying internal controls for religious organizations. She has experience with filing Not-For-Profit 990 Tax Returns, and advising 501(c)3 applicants to help expediate the approval process. Carol is also a certified Community Development Block Grant administrator for the State of Kansas.