As a college athlete, Brandon loved being part of a team. This eased his transition from college to career when he joined the LSL team as a staff accountant in 2012. Now an assurance partner, Brandon provides consulting and oversees audit and accounting services for state and local governments and municipalities. In addition to being a team player, he often finds himself coaching new employees and clients as they tackle technical matters.

Brandon brings new ways to help his clients fill the day-to-day gaps in their finance department while adding value to their finance team. This could include interim staffing, process automation, and other creative solutions that can keep departments afloat during times of high turnover or recruiting challenges. He documents procedures to improve processes, solidify controls, and provide clarity and consistency to finance departments. Brandon is passionate about helping clients think outside the box to advance their department and forge a path forward that is consistent, sustainable, and leverages current resources.

Great Clients for Brandon… Find value in the genuine relationship they build together.
LSL candidate tip… Ask him about golf! 
Personal… Brandon has an amazing wife named Lauren and three little ones running around at home, plus one on the way. He played baseball through college and was named an NAIA Capital One Academic All-American^® in 2012. In addition to playing sports, he is a die-hard Los Angeles Kings and Denver Broncos fan.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Vanguard University

As a CPA with auditing and consulting experience, Kelly A. Telford is glad to be back at LSL CPAs after serving in Financial Director and City Treasurer positions at the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) and the cities of Costa Mesa and Seal Beach, California.

Kelly was originally a math major but decided to focus on accounting when she learned it was similar to conducting investigations. Her joy comes from searching for new ways to help clients achieve their goals. Plus, she comes from a long line of CPAs and obtaining her CPA in 2008 just made sense.

Through her experiences in local government agencies, she gained expertise in accounting, financial forecasting, budget development, public utilities, investment management, grant management, human resources, and information technology. She applies all she’s learned to LSL clients’ needs, which may include shifting from some conventional approaches to more innovative ways to achieve an organizations goals and objectives.

Great Clients for Kelly… Leveraging her experience in local government agencies—including large and small cities, redevelopment agencies, special districts, and Native American Tribes and Tribal casinos—she can serve as an extension of clients’ Finance Departments to help with budgeting, planning, or whatever they require.

LSL Candidate Tip…For Kelly, consulting and auditing in government agencies have helped her better understand and appreciate the demands of these entities. She strives to achieve improved financial reporting, internal controls, and efficiencies while focusing on transparency, trust, and teamwork. “I like to have a collaborative relationship year-round, not just during audit season.”

Personal … Kelly has two kids who love sports. ”My favorite thing is watching my son run for a touchdown or get an interception in football and seeing my daughter learn to play t-ball.”

Professional and Civic Involvement:

• Firm Member, Prime Global
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
• California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO)
• Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
• Government Finance Officers Association of Texas (GFOAT)

Education:

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting – California State University, Fullerton, 2003

Ryan’s passion for accounting began long before becoming a CPA. During college, he worked as an operations manager for a retail chain which required an attention to detail that has carried over into his career in public accounting. He started working at LSL in 2013 after graduation from California State University, Fullerton, and worked his way up in the firm.

As an assurance partner, Ryan oversees engagements for a variety of governmental clients, providing accounting guidance and other services, including audits, consulting, and ACFR preparation, with a high level of care and precision. He is also involved in training new staff members, and acts as a mentor and resource to both his clients and his team.

Ryan has a strong technical focus and enjoys researching and learning about complex accounting requirements to the benefit of his clients. He is a regular speaker at LSL’s annual GASB update on technical topics. His primary client base is local governments, but he also works closely with for-profit entities who receive federal funding. Ryan’s expertise in the planning and execution of Single Audits of federal award programs in accordance with the Uniform Guidance earned him an advanced certification from the AICPA on the topic.

Ryan is an active member in a number of professional organizations, including CSMFO, CalCPA and  AICPA, and is a member of GFOA’s Special Review Committee for the Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

Great Clients for Ryan… Foster a collaborative relationship and strive towards constant improvement
LSL candidate tip… Ask him about the firm’s culture.
Personal… Ryan is an active member in his church along with his wife, Rachel, and two children. His hobbies include playing golf and taking care of his cars.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Governmental Financial Officers Association (GFOA), Special Review Committee

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, California State University, Fullerton

At Gray CPA Consulting: Gail is the founding principal of Gray CPA Consulting. She works with our team to ensure we are providing a high quality of service to our clients. She is our Governmental Sector Subject Matter Expert for the Caseware GASB Template. She is the private sector subject matter expert for Caseware solutions for our Accounting and Corporate clients as well. She is the lead consultant and trainer for our Caseware Partnership Projects.

Personally: Gail values a strong work ethic and high-quality customer service. She believes this is what sets us apart in a very competitive workspace. If we take care of each of our clients like we would our family and become a part of their team, we will keep our clients successful and happy. Treating her team and her clients like family is a big deal to Gail because of her strong family values. She believes this is what empowers her team, and that her family empowers her.​

Off the Clock: Gail has a strong commitment to her family and it is important to her to be an influential part of their lives. True to her word, Gail serves as the family matriarch both on and off the clock, as we have many family members as part of our team. She and her husband love to take their family and friends to Mexico and share the blessings God has provided them. She has a strong faith in God and believes he is the provider of all we have and accomplish. Her dog, Grayce is her therapist. Her husband, Bob, is such a blessing and she could not accomplish all that she does without him being as supportive as he is.

Fav Quote: “l can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” - Philippians 4:13

Funky fact: Gail was a medic and a psych tech working in an inpatient psych hospital in the Army

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/gail-gray-cpa-121b2136

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, Prime

Global GFOA Member

Education:

BA in Accounting, Methodist University

Christian has always loved problem-solving, and being a CPA allows her to work one-on-one with her clients to troubleshoot their difficulties and develop the best process that fits their needs. It’s also a career that can be worked around family obligations when needed—a flexibility that helps a lot with her three school-aged boys.

She has been dedicated to the public accounting field since 2012, working continuously in governmental services and auditing, including federal grant compliance. She became a CPA in 2015.

Great Clients for Christian… Government agencies needing help with their Financial Statement Audit and Single Audits (Uniform Grant Compliance Audits) consulting and assisting clients in specific needs and reconciliations.

LSL Candidate Tip… ask her about tent camping in the summer.

Personal … Married with three sons, Christian enjoys spending her free time with her family. She loves being outside or checking out fun indoor activities.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Member of the AICPA and GFOA
Firm Member, Prime Global

Education:

B.S. in Accounting with a minor in Economics – The College at Brockport State University of New York

A.S. in Business Administration – Genesee Community College

At Work: Matt manages our ongoing implementation and development projects. He also contributes to training materials and our Caseware library content. He is on our support team and offers governmental accounting as well as software specific support for our clients and our fellow team members. He also serves as a Caseware authorized trainer, consultant, and implementation specialist.

Personally: Matt believes that a project is not successful until the client believes it to be so. Matt also thinks work-life balance is important for our whole team. We've had a tendency to overwork themselves – which is an awesome trait – but Matt has made it his mission to make sure everyone takes care of themselves. He also unofficially monitors the happiness and enrichment levels of our team and is the first to sound the alarm if someone needs a change of pace.

Off the Clock: Matt truly values the power of play and participates every year in Extra Life to raise funds to provide enrichment to chronic illness patients at Texas Children’s Hospital. Matt is passionate about all methods of gaming. Gaming is a way to provide education and healing to people as well as just for fun. Gaming is how we make connections and friends in our area and wherever we go. Matt also loves his family; including his wife, Natalie; their Dogs, Yuki and Vixen; their cats, Miss Kitty, Piwo, and Yotsuba. They almost always have a foster dog from the Texas Sled Dog Rescue as well.

Favorite Quote: “To infinity and beyond.” – Buzz Lightyear

Funky Fact: Matt likes to build and assemble things like Legos, Gunpla, Models, and Miniatures

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-freitas-889194124/

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm Member, Prime Global

Education:

BS in Accounting and Finance, University of California, Santa Barbara

BS in Computer Science, University of Advancing Technology

Amber is a problem solver and creative at heart. She has always excelled in math and English, and the combination of business and accounting was a great way to leverage both. For her, developing a new financial model for a specific challenge is exciting—like creating a work of art.

Amber was drawn to public accounting and consulting because it provides opportunities to help so many more local governments than just one at a time. With over a decade of experience in municipalities, Amber knows all too well the challenges our clients face, having literally walked in their shoes.

As LSL’s Consulting Manager in Government Services, Amber brings a fresh and insightful perspective to tackling tough challenges. She loves helping clients optimize their fiscal processes and procedures for efficiency and compliance, taking into consideration limited resources. She thrives on leveraging resources and thinking outside the box.

Great clients for Amber … Anyone with a tough problem to solve can count on Amber to jump to their aid. She loves using her strategic mindset and creativity to develop innovative solutions and new financial models.

LSL candidate tip ... Not only does Amber serve as a close consulting partner, but she blends in well as an extension of your department to help meet all agency and intricate financial needs and goals.

Personal ... Amber is an outdoor enthusiast—whether snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking, or paddleboarding—and she loves to travel and cross items off her bucket list. Her adventurous spirit leads her to high-energy live hockey games, new restaurants, and music shows, but her two favorite long-standing interests are hot dogs and the world of espresso.

Professional and Civic Involvement

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO)
Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC)

Education

B.S. degree in Business Management, specialization in Public and Non-Profit Management – Colorado State University, Global Campus

GFOA Leadership Academy – College of Charleston, SC