Our story
In 2006, the Staton family began a small accounting firm in Rutherfordton, NC, focusing on tax preparation and small businesses advisory services. Samuel Staton worked in the business while completing his college education. The firm grew in size and breadth, adding a partner in 2011.
By mid 2013, Samuel was licensed as a one of the youngest CPAs in North Carolina. Samuel’s childhood friend Daniel (who joined the firm in 2012) received his license later that year as well. In January 2015, Samuel took the helm, and the firm was established as Staton CPA, P.C.
From the beginning, our firm has been dedicated to our clients. It’s about you. We believe in developing long-term relationships and providing excellence in customer service. We are committed to providing accurate advice and timely services. Our mission is to help you reach your business and personal economic goals while helping you stay compliant and financially sound, by providing ethical advice focused on the long term. We believe that, at the end of the day, honest and healthy businesses always win. Fast and big is not always good.
In addition to our in-house talent, we are able to recommend outside expertise to help reach your objectives. Whether you are in need of legal advice, investment advice, marketing services, computer security or just about anything else related to your business and financial life - we would love to help you assemble the team that you need to do your best, so that you can spend your time and energy doing what you do best.
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We know that finding the right adviser is a choice not to be taken lightly. That’s why we offer consultations to walk you through your needs, the scope of your goals, and your budget.
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Professionals
Samuel Staton
Managing Partner
Samuel began working in the accounting field at 15 years old assisting his father with scanning tax documents and collating completed tax returns. This sparked his interest in pursuing a career in accounting. Samuel obtained his bachelor’s degree in accounting by age 20, completed his master of business administration degree, passed the CPA exam, and became a fully licensed CPA by the age of 21, all while working full time at the firm that grew into Staton CPA, P.C.
Samuel’s passion for accounting and business consulting has only continued to grow. He believes in the importance of diligence no matter how small or large the task. He does not shy away from the most difficult cases – whether they be years of unfiled tax returns, years of unreconciled IOLTA accounts, or crashed accounting databases that need to be rebuilt. Hands on experience provides the greatest education – not just textbook learning, and Samuel has accumulated diverse skills through tackling many of these complex projects. He will not stop his tireless work until the complete, positive result is realized.
Samuel truly and genuinely believes in the importance of long term relationships. Samuel has worked with parents and now works with their children. He firmly believes the best way to grow his business is through building steady relationships built on mutual trust and honest advice.
Samuel oversees the day-to-day operations at Staton CPA, P.C. In this role, he specializes in individual and business taxation and tax dispute resolution; business planning, consulting, and valuation services; and forensic accounting.
Samuel resides on a farm in Rutherford County NC with his wife Caroline, daughter Abrielle, and son Nathaniel.
Education
GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY
Master of Business Administration, 2013
GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY
B.S., Accounting, 2012: Summa Cum Laude & GOAL Senior Scholastic Award - Highest GPA
Affiliations
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Member
• North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants, Fellow
• National Association of Certified Valuators & Analysts, Member
Certificates & Licenses
• North Carolina, CPA License #37822
• Certified Valuation Analyst #20215
• Chartered Global Management Accountant #110045597
Selected Achievements
2018 – Completed IOLTA reconciliations for real estate attorney with over 7,000 transactions when software record of transactions had been completely lost.
2016 – Rebuilt QuickBooks database for law firm after server crash completely lost all accounting data.
2015 – Obtained over $207,000 trust fund civil penalty abatement with the IRS through extensive appeals process.
2014 – Processed multiple tax return amendments providing over $13,000 of refunds, and over $50,000 of future savings that would have been lost due to previous preparer failing to properly handle Net Operating Losses (NOLs).
2011 – Assisted firm with appeal of IRS audit determination – able to reduce amount assessed by IRS audit from over $85,000 to less than $39,000.
Raymond Staton
Founding Partner
Raymond Staton is the founding partner of Staton CPA, P.C. In 2025, he joined the firm full-time after a successful career spanning more than three decades as an executive of a publicly traded corporation. Throughout his career, Raymond held leadership responsibilities across a wide range of disciplines, including accounting, human resources, information technology, operations, and strategic planning.
As a seasoned executive, Raymond brings a practical, real-world perspective to business challenges. Having spent years helping lead large and complex organizations, he understands the opportunities and obstacles business owners face as they grow, manage employees, implement systems, and make critical strategic decisions. His experience allows him to provide clients with insights and guidance typically associated with larger regional and national consulting firms while maintaining the accessibility and personal attention of a local advisor.
Within Staton CPA, Raymond is known for his commitment to excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. He brings the discipline and operational focus developed over decades in corporate leadership and helps ensure the firm maintains the highest standards of service for its clients.
Raymond enjoys working with business owners and leadership teams to help them think strategically, solve problems, and position their organizations for long-term success. His broad experience across finance, technology, and operations enables him to view challenges from multiple perspectives and identify practical solutions that create lasting value.
Affiliations
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Member
• North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants, Fellow
Certificates & Licenses
• North Carolina, CPA License #30357
Education
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
B.S., Business Administration, 1986
Daniel Hudson
Partner
Daniel joined our team in 2012 and became a Certified Public Accountant in 2013. He earned both a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
Daniel’s professional interests include technology, data analysis, and financial markets. He enjoys helping clients build stronger businesses, make informed financial decisions, and create long-term opportunities for themselves and their families. He believes accounting is most valuable when it provides clarity, helps identify opportunities, and supports better decision-making.
Throughout his career, Daniel has developed a reputation for looking beyond the numbers to understand how businesses operate. He enjoys helping clients leverage technology and gain insights from their financial data. Whether implementing new tools or helping clients better understand the story behind their numbers, Daniel is always searching for ways to make information more useful and actionable.
Daniel has a strong interest in technology and innovation and is continually exploring new ways to leverage automation, data, and emerging technologies to improve processes and enhance the client experience. His combination of accounting expertise and technology-focused thinking allows him to bring a unique perspective to client challenges.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Daniel has spent most of his life in Western North Carolina and is proud to call Rutherford County home. He and his wife have two children and are active in their local church and community.
Education
GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY
Master of Business Administration, 2013
GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY
B.S., Accounting, 2012
Affiliations
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Member
• North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants, Fellow
Certificates & Licenses
• North Carolina, CPA License #38031