From a very young age, Cole has learned the value of a strong work ethic from his parents, who have always worked hard to provide and set their family up for success. Cole’s father founded and continues to operate Harris Restaurant Group, which manages a number of franchises in the Knoxville area.

Having grown up in an entrepreneurial environment, Cole chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and contribute to the family business however possible. As such, he attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, from which he earned his Bachelor of Science and Business Administration in Accounting, as well as his Master of Accountancy in Taxation. 

With his newly-acquired credentials, Cole accepted the position of Tax Associate from Burkhart & Company, P.C., a local accounting firm. In this position, he would prepare clients’ tax returns, manage year-end financial adjustments, prepare time series analyses for clients’ financials, and maintain work papers in support of clients’ tax returns.

After dedicating just over one year to this work, Cole decided to make the transition and begin working in his father’s restaurant group — a position he had been groomed to take on since his undergraduate days at the University of Tennessee.
Now, Cole Murphy Harris serves as a Tax Manager for Harris Restaurant Group. Besides tax preparation and planning, his responsibilities also include payroll accounting, lease management, and bookkeeping.

Although accounting is a difficult subject to master, Cole would encourage anyone who is interested in the field to dive straight in and abandon the idea that you must thoroughly enjoy every part of your job to feel fulfilled. While it may not always be easy, Cole recognizes that having the answers to people’s difficult questions is currently a hot commodity — and likely always will be. Outside of the job security this field provides, Cole also stresses the value of its teachings, as those who delve into the subject of accounting are equipped with a true understanding when examining business financials.

On this website, Cole Murphy Harris will be exploring the topic of accounting. Should you be interested in learning more, be sure to check his blog page regularly.