A Legacy of Integrity: How Charlie Jones Built Marshall Jones on Trust and Intention
When Charles “Charlie” Jones founded Marshall Jones, he set out to build a successful accounting firm built on trust.
Guided by integrity, intention, and an unwavering belief in doing what’s right, Jones shaped a legacy that continues to define the firm today. At 81, he remains an active force in the profession, mentoring the next generation and performing peer reviews for fellow CPAs. His journey stands as a testament to leadership rooted in character, consistency, and connection.
Early Influences
Jones’ introduction to accounting began at home. His father was a CPA in Philadelphia, and by the time Jones was six, the family had relocated to Bluefield, West Virginia, where his father’s firm served coal companies. “My dad didn’t have any money,” Jones recalled. “So when I wanted to go to boarding school, I had to get a scholarship. But those were the best two years of my life.”
That early independence and exposure to his father’s quiet perseverance instilled in him a deep sense of accountability. He went on to attend Washington and Lee University, where the school’s honor code left a lifelong imprint. “Integrity was everything,” he said. “It was the same at Arthur Andersen, where I started my career. Despite what happened years later, back then it was a firm built on integrity.”
From that point on, doing what’s right — especially when it wasn’t easy — became a defining thread through his personal and professional life.
Founding a Firm on Trust
After gaining experience at Arthur Andersen and later serving as a controller in real estate, Jones co-founded his own accounting firm, which eventually evolved into a partnership with Harry Marshall. Together, they formed what would become Marshall Jones.
“The partnership worked because it was built on honesty, not similarity,” Jones said. “We were totally different guys, but we were the two most honest people our mutual friend had ever met. That was probably the best compliment I’ve ever gotten.”
The firm grew slowly and deliberately, emphasizing quality over size. “After 25 years, we only had 11 people,” Jones recalled. “But we were profitable, and we had the right people.” When Harry Marshall passed away at just 61, Jones took full ownership and carried the firm forward. “Our honesty held us together,” he said. “It was the foundation.”
Empowering the Next Generation
Every great legacy depends on the leaders who come next — and Jones was intentional about preparing for that. One pivotal moment came when he hired Kristen Hendricks, now Partner of Firm Administration. “She came in as a $28,000 office manager, and I hired her on the spot,” he said.
Hendricks quickly became a catalyst for growth. Within a few years, she was modernizing operations, refining marketing, and helping the firm expand well beyond its traditional model. “A consultant once told me, ‘If you’re not careful, she’ll take over the firm,’” Jones said with a grin. “A few years later, I called him back and said, ‘She did — and we’ve doubled our people since then!’”
Jones’ leadership philosophy has always been about empowering capable people and trusting them to lead. “She really runs the firm,” he said proudly. “She’s the achiever type. If you don’t give her enough work, she’ll find more to do.” Alongside Managing Partner Greg Logan and a growing team, Ball has helped shepherd Marshall Jones into a new era — without losing the cultural DNA that Jones established decades ago.
Innovation Rooted in Values
After the loss of his partner, Jones helped transform the firm by expanding into outsourced accounting, then a new concept in the industry. “We started taking over everything for nonprofits — paying their bills, doing payroll, keeping their books,” he said. “It took off.”
That strategic shift positioned Marshall Jones as a trusted partner for nonprofit organizations, a niche that remains one of the firm’s strengths today. “There’s a real need there,” Jones noted. “Nonprofits often have complex accounting requirements, and we understand them.”
Even as services and staff expanded, one principle remained unchanged: integrity comes first. “Integrity and quality — you just have to have that,” he said. “If people hear the name Marshall Jones, I want them to think of honesty and exceptional work.”
Mentorship, Connection, and Purpose
Though Jones no longer manages daily operations, his influence continues to shape the firm’s leadership culture. He still meets weekly with Kristen for lunch — a tradition that’s lasted nearly a decade. Their ongoing conversations reflect the deep trust and mutual respect that have guided the firm’s evolution. “We’ve always been able to speak candidly with each other,” Jones said. “That openness has been key to our success.”
Outside of work, Jones remains as active and sharp as ever. “I’m 81,” he joked, “and I tell people my friends are either dead, thinking about it, or in a home. So I’d rather go to a baby shower than a funeral.” His schedule is full: golf on Mondays and Wednesdays, peer reviews on Tuesdays and Thursdays, lunch with his wife on Fridays, and family time on weekends. “You’ve got to have something to do,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what it is — staying busy keeps you sharp.”
A Lasting Vision
When Jones looks to the future, his hopes for Marshall Jones are both ambitious and grounded. The firm aims to grow from $7 million to $35 million in revenue over the next decade, becoming one of the largest local firms in Atlanta. But for Jones, the real measure of success isn’t in numbers — it’s in reputation.
“I want people to know that we’ve done it the right way,” he said. “With honesty. With quality. With care for people.”
More than five decades after he began his career, Charlie Jones’ philosophy still guides the firm that bears his name: lead with integrity, empower others, and let trust be your legacy.
