From Accountant to Owner: How Matt Myers Built a Portfolio of Small Businesses

From auditor to small business ownership, Matt Myers has taken a thoughtful path to building a portfolio of growing companies. He started as an accountant and eventually launched Notion CFO & Advisors, an accounting firm that now supports clients across construction, manufacturing, professional services and other industries.

Along the way, Matt expanded beyond accounting. He co-founded Steeplechase Academy, a premium childcare center in Kansas City, and acquired Gieske Custom Metal Fabricators, a century-old custom metal fabrication business.

In this feature, we explore how Matt built Notion, what drew him to operating businesses, and the lessons he’s learned about growth, ownership, and staying patient.

Keep reading for this month’s Business Breakdown featuring Matt Myers.

Making an Impact in Accounting

Matt didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. What first drew him in was accounting. "I always liked the mix of business and numbers," he said. He studied Accounting at Kansas State which helped him land his first job at Grant Thornton in public accounting.

During his six years there, he worked in Kansas City, spent time in Chicago, and even took on a short secondment in Brisbane, Australia. The work was rigorous and wide-ranging, giving him exposure to both public companies and privately held businesses across industries.

As Grant Thornton moved upmarket and began serving more billion-dollar clients, Matt found himself gravitating in the other direction. He realized he preferred working with small and mid-sized companies where he could interact directly with business owners and see the impact of his work. "You get more variety, more ownership, and you feel like you're actually helping them," he said.

That insight led him to join TPP, a Kansas City-based CPA firm focused on serving privately held businesses. The firm aligned well with Matt’s growing interest in working closely with local business owners. Over time, he began to see a gap in the market. He believed there was an opportunity to build a firm that offered the same level of technical excellence but with more flexibility, more responsiveness, and a deeper focus on client relationships.

That’s when he decided to branch out and launch what would eventually become Notion.

Building Notion From the Ground Up

When Matt launched Notion in 2015, he wasn’t trying to chase headlines. He just saw a gap in the market and believed he could fill it. Coming out of TPP, he had a few trusted relationships, a clear point of view on what clients needed, and the willingness to start small.

“The early days were slow,” he recalled. “I had to be patient. But I had strong referrals and focused on doing the work well. That was enough to get traction.”

The work started with interim controller and CFO engagements. In some cases, he filled in after a finance leader left unexpectedly. In others, he helped owners clean up their books, prepare reports, or manage through transitions. Along the way, Matt found himself increasingly pulled toward construction-related clients. That focus eventually became a core strength.

Over the years, he added team members gradually. First an intern, then a full-time controller, then a second lead. Today, Notion has grown into a ten-person firm that supports more than 100 clients with revenues typically ranging from $2 million to $50 million.

“Our clients are mostly in construction, manufacturing, private equity, and professional services,” Matt said. “They’re at the stage where they need structure, better reporting, and someone to help them think a few steps ahead.”

Creating a Scalable Service Model

What makes Notion stand out is the way client service is structured. Every client      is supported by a dedicated three-person team. A senior lead (usually Matt or his business partner Alyx Hubler, President of Notion), a mid-level controller/client manager, and a third team member who helps with day-to-day execution. If the client also engages Notion for tax services, a fourth tax professional joins the team.

This model was designed to create both reliability and scale. Instead of one person juggling everything, responsibilities are distributed and clearly defined. Clients get faster response times and better continuity. Internally, the team has space to focus on their strengths.

“We built the structure to make the work better for both sides,” Matt explained. “The monthly cadence gives us a chance to build real relationships. And having multiple people on each client means we’re not starting from scratch when someone is out or moves on.”

Notion’s team culture emphasizes performance and flexibility. Compensation is tied to the revenue supported. Hours are reasonable, typically 35 to 40 per week. And retention has been strong, with core managers averaging more than six years at the firm.

“Our goal is to keep great people and give them the freedom to do their best work,” Matt said. “We don’t want to burn anyone out. That’s just not the culture we’re building.”

Expanding Through Wabash Capital

As Notion matured, Matt began to think about how he could apply his skills outside of financial consulting. His interest in small business had grown deeper, and when the right opportunities appeared, he stepped into more active ownership roles.

The first opportunity came through a client and friend who had purchased an old church building near 92nd and Wornall in Kansas City. They began exploring ways to redevelop it, and the idea of launching a premium childcare center started to take shape.

As a parent himself, Matt had experienced the high cost and inconsistent quality of daycare. He saw a chance to create something better. Together with his partners, he launched Steeplechase Academy, a full-service early childhood education center for children ages six weeks to five years.

“We wanted it to feel like a high-end facility, but with a local flavor,” Matt said. “The idea was to offer something really high quality but grounded in the community.”

After some COVID-related delays, the school opened in 2022. It now serves nearly 200 children, with plans to expand its capacity to 300. A second location in Leawood is expected to open in 2026.

In 2022, Matt and his partners acquired Gieske, a Kansas City-based custom metal fabrication business with a 100-year history. The company was a long-term Client of Notion. That experience allowed Matt to deeply understand the strengths and opportunities inside the business.

Gieske serves a wide range of clients across industrial, architectural, and ornamental metalwork. Its work includes HVAC components, railings, sculptures, kitchen hoods, and precision prototypes. Since acquiring the business, Matt and his partners have upgraded equipment, streamlined operations, and focused on sales growth.

“The first two years were slower than we expected,” he admitted. “But the past six months have been strong. The biggest lesson was to make decisions faster. If something isn’t working, you need to change it. Waiting only slows you down.”

In both ventures, the decision to buy the underlying real estate has paid off. “The buildings turned out to be some of the best parts of the deals,” Matt said. “The real estate has consistently outperformed our original projections.”

Focusing on the Future

Recently, Matt has refocused most of his time on Notion. While the operating businesses remain active and important, he sees significant opportunity in continuing to grow the firm he started nearly a decade ago.

“I thought I was ready to step back,” he said. “But I realized I’m not. Notion is still my primary interest and the asset I want to grow.”

He continues to lead business development and serves as the first point of contact for many prospective clients. While he still manages a few long-time accounts himself, most new work is handled by the broader team. His goal is to double the size of the firm over the next five years, using a mix of referrals, selective marketing, and strategic hiring.

The team’s growth will include a blend of U.S.-based professionals and a growing offshore group based in the Philippines. “In five years, I think our team will be split fifty-fifty,” he said. “It’s working well so far and gives us more flexibility to scale.”

What hasn’t changed is the core philosophy. “We try to be proactive, responsive, and bring business owners ideas they haven’t thought of yet,” Matt said. “A lot of clients come to us because their previous provider isn’t responsive. We make it a point to always show up.”

For business owners and acquirers looking to level up their financial operations, Notion offers more than outsourced support. It provides structure, insight, and a team that understands what growth actually looks like.

Get Connected

Connect with Matt Myers via his LinkedIn Profile.

For more information on Notion CFO & Advisors visit their website.

For more information on Gieske Custom Metal Fabricators visit their website.

For more information on Steeplechase Academy visit their website.

If you know of a business owner that should be featured in a future newsletter, please contact JB Mason ([email protected])