Our History

Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP (KEB) was founded in 1931 by Louis J. Kerber and Albert O. Eck Sr., two certified public accountants (CPAs), who opened offices simultaneously in Springfield, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri. In 1938, Walter E. Braeckel joined the firm, establishing the name that continues today.

Through the years, KEB has grown both in number of our office locations and in the extent of services we can provide to our clients. After the initial two offices opened in 1931, the following offices were established:

  • Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Milwaukee, Wisconsin opened in 1974
  • Litchfield, Illinois opened in 2013
  • Columbia, Illinois opened in 2015
  • O’Fallon, Illinois office opened in 2017 and existing Belleville, Illinois office merged into O’Fallon in 2018
  • Marion, Illinois office opened in 2018 and existing Carbondale, Illinois office merged into Marion in 2018

When the firm first started, KEB primarily focused on basic auditing, accounting and tax services. KEB continues to redefine and diversify itself by adding specialties that reflect the needs of current clients, and continue to position KEB as a market leader. KEB now expands beyond traditional audit, accounting, and tax preparation services to include management and financial consulting, investigative accounting, litigation support, business valuation, employee benefit plans and administration, financial planning, and wealth management.

In 1999, KEB formed an affiliated entity named KEB Asset Management, LLC, adding asset management to its list of services.

With a team of experienced professionals serving clients across multiple offices and states, KEB brings the depth of knowledge, technical capabilities, and resources needed to address complex accounting and business challenges. At the same time, the firm remains committed to building strong relationships and providing the personalized attention, accessibility, and responsive service clients value.

KEB has provided quality service for generations. At KEB, we are fully committed to serving your needs. We are CPAs, management consultants, and business advisors who can promise you professional, personalized service. KEB looks forward to continuing to provide its tradition of excellence into the years ahead.