John Templeton, CPA, CVA, MBA
CEO & Managing Partner
Curiosity Is Where Every Conversation Begins
John Templeton didn't stay in public accounting because he enjoyed spreadsheets or financial statements.
He stayed because every business presented a new puzzle to solve, a new leadership team to learn from, and a new opportunity to make an impact.
"I really enjoyed working on different clients, different businesses, watching them grow, helping them grow, coming up with ideas… trying to solve problems," John says. "There's always something different every day."
More than two decades later, that curiosity still shapes the way he approaches his work. While accounting provides the technical foundation, John believes the real value comes from understanding the people behind the numbers. Every engagement begins with learning how a business operates, where its leaders want to go, and what challenges stand in their way.
Only then do the numbers begin to tell their story.
Listening Before Leading
John's first instinct when meeting with a client isn't to offer answers.
It's to ask questions.
Over the years, he's learned that financial statements rarely tell the whole story on their own. The best advice comes from understanding the decisions behind the numbers, the goals driving the business, and the people responsible for moving it forward.
"We usually end up asking a few more questions than an order taker would," he says. "That gives you the context for where they're trying to go."
That approach often uncovers opportunities clients hadn't considered, not because the answers are hidden in the financials, but because they emerge through conversation.
Listening, John believes, is one of the simplest ways to demonstrate that you genuinely care about the outcome.
"One way to show that you care," he says, "is not spending the whole meeting telling them how great you are. Listen."
It's advice that's easy to say but much harder to practice, especially in a profession built around expertise. For John, understanding always comes before recommending.
Every Business Has Something to Teach You
"I always thought it was just tax returns and calculators," he says. "It's so much more than that."
Working with organizations across construction, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofits, real estate, and countless other industries exposed him to an endless variety of business models, leadership styles, and operational challenges.
Each engagement became an opportunity to learn something new.
That curiosity continues to shape the way John advises clients today. Rather than relying on assumptions or one-size-fits-all solutions, he approaches every organization with the belief that understanding its people, culture, and goals is just as important as understanding its financial performance.
Because no two businesses grow the same way.
Helping People Grow
As Templeton has grown, John's role has evolved alongside it.
When he joined the firm, much of his attention was focused on serving clients directly. Today, as CEO and Managing Partner, he's equally invested in helping the firm's people develop into thoughtful advisors and confident leaders.
"It's been really rewarding," he says, "to see a lot of our people blossoming."
That shift has changed the way he thinks about leadership.
"I've become much more collaborative."
Rather than solving every problem himself, John spends more of his time coaching, asking questions, and helping others work through challenges from different perspectives.
He sees leadership much the same way he sees client service, not as having all the answers, but as creating an environment where people can continue learning, growing, and succeeding long after the conversation ends.
It's About the Journey
One client conversation has stayed with John throughout his career.
Years ago, while working with a retired Air Force colonel who had gone on to build several successful businesses, John asked why he didn't simply sell everything and retire.
The answer surprised him.
"He looked at me and said, 'Because I love it. It's all about the journey.'"
At the time, John admits he thought success was defined by reaching the next milestone.
"I always thought there was an endpoint," he says. "A pot of gold somewhere."
That conversation changed his perspective.
Business isn't simply about arriving at a destination. It's about the relationships built along the way, the challenges that shape you, and the opportunity to keep learning from the people around you.
Today, that same outlook continues to guide John's work.
Whether he's advising a business owner, mentoring a young professional, or leading Templeton into its next chapter, he approaches every opportunity with the same belief that first drew him into public accounting years ago:
There's always another question worth asking.
There's always something new to learn.
And there's always another way to help someone move forward.
Areas of Expertise
- Audit & Accounting Services
- Business Valuation Services
- Due Diligence Services
- Litigation Support Services
- Executive Leadership
- Strategic Business Advisory
Education & Professional Affiliations
- Bachelor of Arts, Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Florida State University
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA)
- Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Member, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA)
- Member, Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA)
- Member, National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA)
- Active member, Construction Association of South Florida
- Active member, Broward Workshop
- Active member, Community Foundation of Broward
- Active member, Forum Club of the Palm Beaches
- Active participant in several nonprofit organizations throughout South Florida