The Firm

Grady Arnold originated Branham & Arnold in Jackson. Earlier in the 1940s, the firm, Hancock & Branham, consisted of an attorney and CPA until ethics rules required separate practices.

William P. Alexander, Jr. returned from WWII and opened an accounting firm in Dyersburg, TN.

William Holmes moved to Dyersburg and joined Mr. Alexander to form Alexander & Holmes.

Jimmy Thompson was a principal in Cheeseman Thompson & Company.

Steve Carmichael and Richard Johnson joined the firm as partners.

Thompson Breeding & Dunn of Union City was the surviving firm of Cheesman Thompson & Company.

Winston Truett joined the partnership at Arnold Spain & Company.

Al Creswell and Art Sparks became partners, and the name changed to Thompson Breeding Dunn Creswell & Sparks. Mike Hewitt joined the partnership at Arnold Spain & Company.

Crawford and Company was purchased, adding offices in Paris and McKenzie.

Acquired a presence in Trenton, TN.

With the death of Jimmy Thompson, the retirement of Charles Breeding, and the admission of new partners Jerry Smith, Jim Horne and Mark Downing, the name changed to Dunn Creswell Sparks Smith Horne & Downing. Together, there were now offices in Union City, Paris, McKenzie, and Trenton, TN and Fulton, KY.

Carmichael & Associates merged with Dunn Creswell Sparks Smith Horne & Downing.

Arnold, Spain & Company merged with Dunn Creswell Sparks Smith Horne & Downing to become Arnold Spain Truett & Hewitt.

ATA became a BDO Alliance USA Firm and gained access to the resources and opportunities of the world's 5th largest accounting and consulting network through the BDO Alliance USA.

ATA acquired Trinity Solutions and created ATA Technologies, providing clients complete financial and technical coverage.

ATA was named as the recipient of the annual Readers' Choice Awards for "Best Accounting Firm" 10 years in a row by The Jackson Sun.

The acquisition of Goldstein & Sacks brought ATA's services to Nashville.

American City Business Journals named ATA as 9th largest firm in Tennessee.

ATA gained a presence in Memphis.

Partnership formed with Revolution Partners, RPATA, to deliver more convenient, consistent, and collaborative wealth management services. Partnership formed with Center Point Business Solutions, CPATA, to allow for a streamlined approach to human resource management solutions to businesses.

Sodium Halogen and Adelsberger Marketing joined the ATA Family of Firms bringing new marketing, design, and software development opportunities for our clients.

INSIDE Public Accounting’s recognized ATA as a National Top 200 Accounting Firm for the 5th consecutive year. ATA ranked 8th largest CPA firm in the Memphis area by Memphis Business Journal. Forbes recognized ATA as a top tax firm in America.

ATA Secure was formed to support evolving cybersecurity needs.

ATA named first ever Chief Information Officer Alan Watson.

ATA adds National Advisory Practice Leader and Partner Rick Schreiber.

ATA moves into Arkansas with the addition of 2 offices in the Hot Springs area.