Your goals deserve more than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Uniting financial guidance with human understanding.
Accounting should support decisions, not simply record outcomes.
Running a business means making high-stakes decisions that affect more than financial outcomes.
The Way We Work
Elvin Lay is the Tax Director at Archford. In this role, he oversees client relationships and staffing for Archford Accounting. Elvin brings a great deal of experience to the team and has previously owned and managed a CPA practice which provided services to 1,100 clients relative to bookkeeping, payroll, and tax. He also served as the Assistant Director of Financial and Compliance Auditing for the Illinois Office of the Auditor General and served as the Fiscal Officer for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS).
Elvin obtained his Master of Science in Business Administration degree with an emphasis in accounting at the University of Central Texas in 1990, and also earned his graduate degree with a Master of Arts in Accounting at the University of Illinois, Springfield in 2007. On top of his education, Elvin has served as an alderman for the city of Auburn, IL and was the finance committee chair. He also served on the Board of the Auburn, IL Fire Department and volunteered for the Auburn Lutheran Church finance committee.
As a member of the United States military, Elvin was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and served during the Gulf War. Within the State Government, he was assigned to manage and participate in various projects and positions such as the implementation of the State of Illinois’ child support State Disbursement Unit, Manager of the Illinois Federal Statewide Single Audit, participation in the Illinois Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and oversight of the audits of Medicaid providers in the Illinois HFS Office of the Inspector General.
In his free time, Elvin enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, traveling, golfing, and other outdoor activities. He has also been an avid volunteer for community organizations, the church, and a proud supporter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Amanda White brings close to 20 years of experience as a Certified Public Accountant to her role as Chief Financial and Compliance Officer at Archford. With a background in public accounting and leadership roles at both regional and national firms, she has developed deep expertise in working with closely held businesses, family enterprises, and high-net-worth individuals.
Amanda oversees the firm’s financial operations and regulatory compliance, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and adherence to industry standards. She is responsible for internal controls, risk management, and financial reporting, as well as guiding strategic initiatives that support Archford’s long-term growth. In addition to her executive responsibilities, she manages Archford Accounting, where she advises business owners and individuals on tax strategy, compliance, entity structuring, and succession planning. Amanda frequently consults on complex business matters. She is often sought out for her ability to translate complicated financial concepts into clear, actionable strategies for clients.
As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), Amanda helps clients and attorneys navigate the financial aspects of settlement negotiations and court cases. She has also provided litigation support and expert testimony in divorce proceedings. Amanda earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance from Saint Louis University. She is a past president of the Missouri Society of CPAs – St. Louis Chapter and was recognized in 2013 as one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s “30 Under 30” honorees.
Before joining Archford, Amanda served as a Tax Manager with BDO and Brown Smith Wallace, where she specialized in tax planning and compliance for privately held businesses and their owners. Since becoming one of Archford’s earliest team members, she has played a central role in shaping the firm’s infrastructure by developing accounting policies, implementing software systems, and establishing operational best practices.
Outside of her professional work, Amanda enjoys traveling and spending time with her three children. A lifelong lover of the ocean, she takes every opportunity to recharge at the beach.
Jennifer Buchanan is a Tax Manager with Archford Accounting. In this role, she is responsible for assisting clients with their tax return preparation as well as tax planning and projections. She understands taxes can be overwhelming to some people and she works to help make the process less stressful for clients.
She brings to the table over 24 years of experience in the tax industry, having previously worked at bank trust companies, public accounting firms and private firms. She received her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from McKendree University.
Jennifer enjoys spending her free time camping and hiking with her husband and two dogs.
Carrie Schultheis is an Enrolled Agent with over 24 years experience in the accounting field. As the Accounting Services Manager at Archford Accounting, Carrie oversees the Accounting Services staff who specialize in payroll, bookkeeping, financial statements, compilations, sales tax and accounts payable and receivables, and new business set up. Her experience in multiple industries helps her guide the team in continually working to provide exceptional services to a varied array of clients.
Carrie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Before joining Archford, Carrie held a variety of accounting positions including 6 years in public accounting. She also spent 17 years in the private and non-profit sectors where she managed finances and business operations in real estate, construction, health care and public broadcasting.
Carrie enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids. She is active with the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois and her church. In her free time, she also enjoys reading and cheering on the Cardinals.
Jennifer Davis is a Tax Manager at Archford Accounting and a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with extensive experience in tax compliance and strategic tax planning. Her career blends a strong foundation in public accounting with valuable time spent in multi-family office environments, making Jennifer a holistic and diverse tax planner who adapts strategies to address the broad spectrum of client financial objectives.
She holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from American Public University and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College. Jennifer is committed to building strong client relationships and believes collaboration across teams is essential to delivering strategic, tailored tax solutions.
Beyond her professional work, Jennifer enjoys reading, traveling, motorcycling, and cherishing time with her husband and daughter.
Joey Maher is a Tax Accountant with Archford Accounting. In this role, he supports the tax managers by helping prepare tax returns as he continues studying for securities licenses and navigating the CPA exam. Joey is also involved in community work.
Prior to joining Archford, Joey attended Indiana University Bloomington (IU) where he completed his Bachelor’s in Accounting at the Kelley School of Business. After completing his undergrad, he completed his Master of Accountancy at Saint Louis University (SLU).
During college, Joey was a devoted student-athlete who excelled on and off the field. In 2023, he was recognized as Scholar All American by United Soccer Coaches for Men’s NCAA Division I student-athletes. Joey played soccer for both IU and SLU where he was named team captain of both teams, demonstrating his excellence in leadership. Helped lead his team to two Big Ten Regular Season Championships, and two Big Ten Tournament Championships. His team made the NCAA College Cup twice and was drafted 30th overall by Toronto FC in the 2024 MLS Draft.
Joey is excited to help and serve others with the Archford team and be a part of the mission of Taking Care of Families. Joey enjoys helping others because as he put it, “…that’s simply my purpose. Being able to help put a smile on someone’s face will immediately light mine with joy.”
In his free time, he enjoys traveling with family and friends, playing sports, and watching the Hoosiers, Billikens, and Nashville S.C.
Ryne Harris is a Senior Tax Accountant at Archford Accounting. In this role, he works on bookkeeping, payroll, payroll tax returns, sales tax, financial statements, compilations, and both personal and business tax returns for clients.
Prior to joining the Archford team, Ryne worked at a local high school as Director of Student Affairs and Scheduling. He was responsible for preparing students for their next steps after high school whether that be college, trade school or the workforce. He received his Master’s in Accounting from Lindenwood University.
In his free time, Ryne enjoys watching sporting events, attending concerts and playing golf.
Nathan Martin is a Senior Tax Accountant. In this role, he assists with tax return preparation and bookkeeping for clients. In 2019, he was an Archford Scholar and continued working with the firm through multiple accounting internships until starting his full time position.
Graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia in December 2022, he has earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Accountancy. Prior to attending Mizzou, Nathan attended O’Fallon Township High School.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, playing golf with his friends, and watching Mizzou sports.
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Whether you’re looking to preserve wealth, plan for the next generation, or align your family’s legacy with your values, we are here to guide you through the whole process.
