Messes don't worry Michael. His natural organizing skills take over until everything makes sense again.

His clients include entrepreneurs and busy professionals who value an advisor to keep their taxes and financials in order. He might meet with a manufacturer one day and a real estate investor the next, but their goals center on minimizing tax impact and building a healthy balance sheet. For Michael's professional clients, this is especially important due to potentially complex compensation, risk management and succession issues.

Practicing since 1998, Michael decided to focus his practice on high net worth tax clients and closely held companies at LSL CPAs because of the complexity and multiple advisory needs. He not only provides tax planning and reporting, but he also consults on business strategic planning and has represented clients before tax authorities. He enjoys being available to clients for any business or personal financial questions.

Great Clients for Michael... want to be proactive in minimizing tax impact as they build wealth.
LSL candidate tip... Talk about baseball; Michael, his wife and their best friends are working on seeing a game in every Major League baseball stadium.
Personal... member of a weekly roller hockey league and happily married with children who enjoy taking the family camper on a road trip.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Member, Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce
Member, ProGrowth
Volunteer Auditor, local elementary PTA

Education:

Masters of Science in Taxation, California State University, Fullerton
B.A. degree in Business Administration with Accounting emphasis, California State University, Fullerton

It takes a lot of strategy and endurance to work in assurance, but Adam Odom just imagines himself on a green field racing toward the goal.

Encountering challenges, circling around to try another route, knowing the rules and working in a team are the sports analogies Adam employs when researching and performing audit services for closely held businesses as well as entertainment venues. The more complex the rules and the strategies he needs to consider, the more rewarding it is to successfully complete an engagement at LSL CPAs. His end goal every time is the accuracy of financial statements and sufficient controls to advance the client’s vision.

After graduating with an accounting degree in 2006, Adam was immediately hired as a staff auditor. He joined LSL in 2013 as an audit manager to oversee a variety of audit engagements and to train staff. Among private companies, he has particular experience with auto dealership accounting, manufacturing and construction. In addition, he has experience working with entertainment venues including convention centers, stadiums, arenas and theaters. He performs 401(k) audits for larger companies as well as reviews, compilations and audits of financial statements. He will also consult on best practices and controls for specific areas of a client’s business or organization. His favorite projects involve research and structuring of new entities and advising on best practices for closely held businesses. Mentoring LSL staff to be better auditors and consultants is especially rewarding.

Great Clients for Adam… need research on business processes or have multiple entities to organize.
LSL candidate tip… Mention your favorite soccer team or offer to take him golfing.
Personal… Beautiful wife, LuAnna, and two amazing children. He coaches soccer for both of his children. Adam is a member at Inland Hills Church.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
Orange County, Business Advisory Network (BAN)
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Member, Auto Dealer Office Management Association (ADOMA)
Member, International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM)

Education:

Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, Vanguard University of Southern California

Adam is a member of our Automotive Accounting Team

For over 30 years, Maria has served clients in a variety of areas including financial statement audits, reviews and compilations as well as business and individual taxation. Maria excels working with clients in the real estate, and healthcare industries, along with employee benefit plans.

Maria manages our not-for-profit and ERISA Pension Plan Audit Department. She has experience auditing labor unions, associations and 401(k) plans. Maria leads her department in staying up to date on the ever-changing trends, laws and Department of Labor regulations.

As an expert in the real estate industry Maria brings tax strategies such as Cost Segregation, 1031 exchanges, debt restructuring, capital financing and cash flow projections to the table. Maria manages LSL’s Cost Segregation department and is responsible for the implementation and completion of all Cost Segregation studies. Maria is involved with Commercial Real Estate Women of Orange County (CREW-OC), one of the leading commercial real estate organizations for executive women in Orange County.

Maria’s passion is to help run manufacturing and distribution businesses with specialization in international business entering the US market. Her focus is on overseas production including business expansions. Maria understands the complexities of manufacturing accounting and business advice in such a unique industry.

Great Clients for Maria…value a partner in their business to help guide them to greater success.
LSL candidate tip… Ask her about her kids and traveling and her big fat Cuban Family.
Personal… Her son, Kyle, was married in August 2018.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Member, California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Member, Commercial Real Estate Women of Orange County (CREW-OC)
Member, Western Pension & Benefits Association
Licensed as a Registered Representative and Life Agent

Education:

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

Clients see Dave as more than a tax expert. They see him as a business partner.

Since 1984, Dave has been a firm believer in treating clients and colleagues with respect and integrity. He joined Vilmure, Peeler & Boucher in 1992 and became a partner in 2000. The firm merged with LSL CPAs in October 2013.

Dave focuses on tax compliance and planning in the areas of income and estate tax. He is the tax partner for our automotive accounting group but he’s also tapped for his expertise in real estate, manufacturing and professional services. He’s a whiz at estate and gift taxation and can create a customized approach to designing and implementing a successful exit plan for business owners.

Whether it’s assisting with the sale of a business to a publicly traded company or answering a simple question on California state tax, Dave’s here to help. He wants to help take your business to the next level – whatever your goals.

Great Clients for David… those who are highly motivated to build and make their business successful.
LSL candidate tip… Ask about his travels throughout California in his vintage 1972 trailer.
Personal… Dave is married to his wife and best friend, Darlene. They have two daughters.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

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

Education:

M.S. degree in Taxation, Golden Gate University

Sometimes an accounting career finds you. Just ask Kim, a Spanish major who discovered her love of accounting while working in the university student bookstore at UCLA.

Kim joined LSL CPAs in 1988 working as a staff auditor, she then obtained her CPA license, and hasn’t looked back. She has evolved in her career to serve as a trusted consultant for unusual client tax issues such as the establishment and dissolution of business entities. She has also supported improvements to LSL audit processes to better serve clients. She aspires to keep long-term clients because they demand her best work.

Her clients are eclectic, ranging from business improvement districts to foundations. She has a particular focus on not-for-profits regarding tax and regulatory issues, registrations and audit engagements. She enjoys the opportunity to visit clients, meet the staff and see how they work. This supports a stronger base of knowledge when she and her team make recommendations.

Great Clients for Kim… appreciate her knowledge and match her warm personality.
LSL candidate tip… Discuss the arts, the vibrant West Hollywood area or parenting.
Personal… Busy with three children and has traveled to domestic and exotic locations, but a favorite road trip was visiting her father’s home state of Texas to see family.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Former Technical Reviewer, Government Finance Officers Association Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Member, Brea Chamber of Commerce
Auditor and Treasurer, Parent Teacher Association
Summer Camp Counselor

Education:

B.A. degree, University of California, Los Angeles

Jocelyn chose the accounting profession because it allows her to take a holistic approach to helping clients and their organizations while, in turn, making them feel that they are part of a bigger team accomplishing more together. She loves the sense of community in the accounting industry and being able to work with other professionals to provide our clients with the best service.

After finishing a calculus class a year early in high school, Jocelyn’s teacher recommended she take a local class in accounting. From there, Jocelyn found her love for numbers, structure, and balance and went on to become a CPA.

As a partner in our Audit & Assurance department, Jocelyn assists privately held businesses with audit, internal controls and implementing new systems, including workflow, user access, and gaps in internal controls. Because accounting regulations change rapidly and the software that supports those guidelines rolls out at breakneck speed, Jocelyn’s dual degrees in Accounting and Information Systems & Decision Science serve any company with challenges to keep current with both.

Jocelyn is also a “professor” at LSL, serving on her department’s committee to research, train, and implement ASC (Accounting Standards Codification) Topic 842 for Leases. FASB issued this update to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements.

Great Clients for Jocelyn … clients with problems to solve: she recently helped a client having trouble with their fixed asset management software while implementing a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

LSL candidate tip … Businesses who value help with accounting and systems.

Personal … Outside of work, Jocelyn enjoys spending time with her husband and two corgis, baking, and sharpening her mind with jigsaw puzzles.

She is a fan of live shows, especially comedy shows and musicals. Her favorite comedians are Bill Burr and Tom Segura. Meanwhile, “Yellowstone,” “Jack Ryan,” and “Stranger Things” top her list of great series’ to watch when she’s not hiking and exploring the beautiful outdoors.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

AICPA, CalCPA, Firm Member of PrimeGlobal

Education:

BS in Business Administration in Accounting and a BS in Information Systems and Decision Science, both from California State University, Fullerton

Kiyomi Shiota has a green thumb. Her knack for growth, however, is with people and businesses.

As a senior assurance manager, Kiyomi oversees audit engagements and completes technical reviews of financial statements. She also assists with staff training and development. Kiyomi is known for being patient and flexible. She is proud to help others become successful, and is a high performer herself.

Kiyomi started her audit career at a Big Four firm and worked in the assurance department for 16 years, including an overseas tour to Japan. She joined ELLS Certified Public Accountants and Business Advisors in 2017 and continued with the firm after it merged with LSL CPAs and Advisors in January 2018. She primarily works with clients in construction, healthcare, distribution and not-for-profit. Clients have access to a wealth of resources and experience through Kiyomi and her colleagues.

Great Clients for Kiyomi… are open to new ideas that will benefit their business.
LSL candidate tip… Talk about your resiliency and ability to embrace change.
Personal… Kiyomi is an animal lover and known by her friends as being reliable. She’s often the first person they call for help.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA),
Member, California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Member, Supervisory Committee for Altura Credit Union
Volunteer, Red Bucket Equine Rescue

Education:

B.S. in Accounting, California State University, San Bernardino