THE FIRM
Built on teamwork, strategy, communication, and trust.
Carter P.C. is a public accounting firm focused on highly personalized client service in the areas of tax, assurance, and accounting. We have offices in Asheville and Charlotte that serve clients throughout the Carolinas.
Our firm’s structure consists of hand-selected client teams. Our Directors tap into the diverse resources of the firm to best serve you, and each CPA is strategically selected to match your needs.
We purposely structured the firm in a think-tank fashion to encourage collaboration rather than competition. With the wisdom and creativity of the entire firm at our disposal, we can leverage a variety of strategies that bring you the best results. We view your financial picture holistically and create a path to your future plans, not just the immediate needs of tax compliance and accounting.
Additionally, we can cooperate with your legal and financial advisors to provide a forward-thinking, efficient, and cohesive strategy.
Our CPAs are licensed to provide assurance services in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. We provide tax, accounting, audit and business advisory services for closely held businesses, large non-public corporations, nonprofit entities, governmental bodies, and foundations.
Want to know more about our experts? We invite you to meet the entire Carter team.
The firm’s philosophy was established by its founder T. Ladd Painter who laid the foundation for success by focusing on kindness and respect for one another, being client centric, and maintaining strong technical skills. The Carter brothers have continued this philosophy as the firm continues to grow its service footprint in the Carolinas and beyond.
The firm was originally founded in 1975 by T. Ladd Painter in Asheville, North Carolina as a sole practitioner providing audit and tax services.
In 1977, the practice moved to the Executive Park in downtown Asheville.
In 1978, the firm added Butch Patrick as a partner to become Painter & Patrick, CPAs.
The next decade produced significant growth, with clients that have remained with the firm to present day. Due to the growth, in 1987 the firm moved to Chestnut Street in Asheville to a renovated home owned by the partners. That same year the firm hired its longest tenured employee, Allison Booker Galbraith, a Western Carolina graduate who would eventually lead the audit practice.
In 1993 Charles Russell joined the firm as a partner and it was renamed Painter, Patrick & Russell CPAs.
The practice continued to grow and moved to the Drhumor Building in 1995 with the assistance of Lou Bissette, former Asheville city mayor. The Drhumor Building is the oldest standing commercial building in Downtown Asheville, dating back to 1895. Shortly after the move, Butch Patrick left the firm to start his own business, and the firm was renamed Painter, Russell & Associates.
In 2011, at the retirement of Ladd Painter and Charles Russell, the firm was purchased by brothers Richard Carter and Rob Carter and renamed Carter, P.C. Both Ladd and Charles have remained associated with the firm.
In 2012 the practice opened a Charlotte office.
In late 2015 the Asheville office moved to 16 Biltmore Avenue, Suite 200.