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

Bryan has been dedicated to LSL CPAs since 2004, and his loyalty to LSL has been deeply rooted because of the people, culture, and continued opportunities for growth and development. This eventually led Bryan to become LSL’s Managing Partner in 2021.

Bryan began his career in accounting because of its reputation as the language of business. He became a CPA in 2008 when he found that public accounting could give him the opportunity to work with an even more diverse group of people and a wide range of clients. To this day, he still believes that a solid understanding of accounting can transform businesses in a multitude of ways.

As Managing Partner, his vision and passion are to focus on growing LSL’s people, culture, and development to move forward and be the firm of the future, while bringing our best to our clients. Bryan believes that “it is the most exciting time in history to be at a CPA firm, and there is more opportunity than ever before because innovation and change have captured the profession to drive higher value.” Creating opportunities for our clients and employees is what continues to drive him every day.

Great Clients for Bryan … Bryan is drawn to clients who are looking for answers to hard questions. He enjoys leveraging his team’s expertise relating to new laws and regulations, evolving technology, and challenging business environments to foster not just survival but growth.  

LSL candidate tip … By combining resources from near and far, Bryan finds immediate solutions to his client’s pressing problems and tries to anticipate and prevent future situations through intermediate and longer-range planning cycles.

Personal … Bryan loves the ocean and the mountains, and especially enjoys hiking, camping, biking, swimming, running, golfing, and spending quality time with his family. He likes visiting the wine country and relaxes by cooking when he’s at home.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Member and Presenter, California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO)
Member and Technical Reviewer, Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
Member, Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
Member, Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA)
Local Troop Leader, Boy Scouts of America

Education:

B.A. degree in Business Administration with Accounting emphasis – California State University, Fullerton

Kelly Telford is a Partner in LSL’s Consulting & Advisory Department bringing over 20 years of experience in working in and with government agencies.  Her background as previous Director of Finance for city and county agencies gives her unique insight and specialized expertise in accounting and auditing, financial forecasting, and budget development, along with investment and grant management.

With a passion for local government and extensive technical knowledge in governmental accounting, she has built an advisory practice where she and her team assist local governments with their finance, accounting and operational needs every day. Kelly excels in transforming conventional approaches to more innovative methods that help organizations more easily develop a clear, defined path to accomplishing their goals and objectives. Her strategic focus on transparency and trust makes her one of the top consultants and speakers in the governmental industry.

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

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

Brandon Young is LSL’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Business Development Executive, as well as a Partner in the firm’s Assurance & Advisory – Government practice. Since joining LSL as a staff accountant in 2012, he has grown into a firm-wide leadership role while staying connected to his roots in government advisory services.

As COO, Brandon oversees LSL’s internal operations—including HR, IT, accounting, and marketing—ensuring the firm has the infrastructure, processes, and accountability to support long-term growth. He focuses on streamlining workflows, fostering a culture of responsiveness, and enabling the firm to adapt quickly to clients’ evolving needs.

In his role as Business Development Executive, Brandon serves as the face of LSL, building strong relationships with prospective and current clients, identifying opportunities that align with LSL’s core values, and connecting organizations with the services that will drive their success. His approach goes beyond compliance, aiming to deliver solutions that help organizations achieve their next level of growth.

Brandon continues to work closely with government clients, overseeing audits, serving on committees, and providing creative solutions to fill operational gaps in finance departments. His collaborative, team-oriented mindset—rooted in his background as a college athlete—shapes both his leadership style and his client relationships.

Outside of work, Brandon enjoys life with his wife, Lauren, and their five young children. A former collegiate baseball player and NAIA Capital One Academic All-American® in 2012, he’s an avid sports fan, especially of the Los Angeles Kings and Denver Broncos. He also enjoys playing golf whenever he can.

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