CKH Group share how they became Georgia’s fastest-growing Government Accounting Contractor

CKH Group is one of the fastest-growing government accounting contractors in the state of Georgia, providing assurance and accounting services to more than 70 municipalities and counties across the southeastern United States.

But growth like that does not happen by accident.

At CKH Group, the story traces back to one defining principle: community.

“When we first broke into the government space, we had a new Head of Business Development, Roger Nixon, a military veteran with a keen understanding of the government space. It was not an area that CKH Group had worked in before, but when he identified it as an opportunity, we were curious to explore it,” explains Nick Catrakilis, Executive Chairman of CKH Group.

What began as a strategic expansion quickly evolved into something far more personal.

The Importance of Annual Financial Statement Audits for Local Governments
Many people do not realize that local governments such as the towns and cities in Georgia cannot receive certain state or federal grants without a completed annual financial statement audit. Most states have similar requirements and thresholds, and these audits serve as a critical system of checks and balances, ensuring accountability and transparency across government entities.

For smaller municipalities, however, this requirement often becomes a serious barrier. Government assurance services require specialized expertise, and there are relatively few CPA firms equipped or willing to perform them, giving municipalities a limited set of options when it comes to price and quality. In addition, larger firms often prioritize higher-revenue engagements, leaving smaller cities without any viable options. The result is a cycle of delinquency seen across the United States: municipalities cannot afford support to get their books back on track or perform the audit, remain out of compliance, lose access to funding, and face increasing budget constraints. In many cases, cities fall behind not by one year, but by several.

“As a business full of people living in Georgia and directly impacted by this – we immediately knew what we had to do. It wasn’t just a business opportunity anymore, it was a chance to lift up our communities,” adds Roger Nixon.

That mindset resonated deeply with CKH Group’s growing team of military veterans in business development, where service, accountability, and community impact their core values.

CKH Group’s Response
CKH Group responded with a grassroots effort rarely seen in professional services. The team physically traveled to all 535 cities and 159 counties across the state of Georgia, meeting directly with clerks, mayors, and local government officials to understand their challenges. They asked difficult but necessary questions, identified municipalities behind on audits or their bookkeeping, and worked closely with CKH leadership to develop pricing structures and delivery models that aligned with complex projects, limited budgets, or urgent needs.

The effort did not stop there. CKH Group committed to showing up consistently, attending conferences, meetings, and events that connected them with local government leaders. They opened a new office in middle Georga located in Hawkinsville, GA to grant better access to the entirety of the state. They became an approved GSA Contractor. They expanded their team of government accountants and ceaselessly searched for ways to improve.

The goal was simple but ambitious: help municipalities regain compliance, restore access to funding, and rebuild trust in their financial reporting by showing that CKH truly cares.

The response was overwhelming, and the results spoke for themselves.