When you are personally interviewed by a future managing partner, it leads to good things. Erika joined LSL CPAs through an on-campus interview and was hired a couple weeks after graduation in 2002.

She has steadily moved up the career ladder to manager, providing accounting and assurance services primarily to municipal, commercial and automotive accounting clients. She describes herself as loyal, to the firm and to her clients. Her favorite time of day is digging into the financials of her clients and helping them put everything in proper order.

In fact, Erika’s love of accounting expands into her personal life. She lends free time and expertise to her local church finance committee. She has also stayed active in her college sorority by helping a local chapter house maintain a safe and functional facility.

Great Clients for Erika… like detail-oriented management of their accounting and audits.
LSL candidate tip: Talk about your dogs.
Personal: She and her husband bought their first home recently and enjoy attending Angels baseball games and staying active outdoors.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Member, Auto Dealers Office Management Association (ADOMA)
Member, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, treasurer of local Affiliated House Corporation Board

Education:

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

Jeffrey Boxx likes a challenge. He finds great reward in helping new businesses launch and existing businesses enter new markets. No matter the challenge you’re facing, Jeffrey is there for you.

As a tax manager, Jeffrey reviews tax returns and tax projects, and oversees internal staff and client accounts. Clients appreciate his ability to listen to and address their concerns. He helps clients learn about new opportunities that will support growth and minimize their tax burden. Jeffrey is also available to answer any questions they have along the way, from setting up payroll to tracking expenses.

For the first six years of his career, Jeffrey managed the financial analysis project for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Real estate is a natural focus for Jeffrey, due to his prior experience, but he also focuses on manufacturing and health care. He joined ELLS Certified Public Accountants & Business Advisors in 2006 and continued with the firm through its merger with LSL CPAs and Advisors in January 2018.

Great Clients for Jeffrey… value his input and ideas when it comes to operating a successful business.
LSL candidate tip: Talk about your ability to problem-solve.
Personal: When he’s not spending time with his wife and two young sons, Jeffrey enjoys cycling.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA),
Member, California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Ambassador, Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, University of California, Riverside
MBA, Management Information Systems, University of California, Riverside

“I like to work on large puzzles,” Krystal says of her reason for choosing accounting for a profession, so auditing seemed like the perfect fit. “l like to figure out where mistakes can happen, and fix them” she says. Krystal manages components of municipal assurance engagements, such as Financial and Single Audit engagements and CAFR preparation for Lance, Soll & Lunghard (LSL) CPAs and Advisors.

Krystal likes being a CPA because, “it's a constant learning process.”  She appreciates that all accountants are required to do CPE (Continuing Professional Education). She says, “I've always been really into school, so constantly getting to learn new things every day keeps the job interesting.”

Of specializing in the auditing area, Krystal says, “My stepdad is an auditor for the postal service. He suggested I think about focusing on auditing, and here I am. He was right.”

Great Clients for Krystal … “Pensions can be a problem for a lot of government agencies. We helped them work through that and made sure they knew how to book those entries.” In fact, one of Krystal’s superpowers is making sure her clients are booking their pensions correctly. She even sets up training with them to make sure they understand what they have to do.

LSL Candidate Tip … “I love to talk about ways to improve internal controls and financial statement preparation as well as crafting. My favorite part is getting everything to balance out.”

Personal … On days when she is not at work, Krystal keeps busy chasing after her crazy two-year-old and improving her margarita-making skills.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Municipal Finance Officers Member (CSMFO)

Education:

BA Accounting, California State University, Fullerton
MS in Accountancy, California State University, Fullerton

Gary Eder is an advocate for his clients. He is often the first person they call when they need help making business decisions and, even if it’s not in his area of expertise, he is more than happy to point them in the right direction.

As a senior tax manager, Gary oversees client relationships, acting as the primary contact and helping to ensure the highest quality of work. He understands the importance of teamwork, and supports and mentors staff as they move along in their career.

Prior to joining LSL CPAs and Advisors in January 2018, Gary gained extensive experience in accounting for real estate and construction clients. He leans on his background to assist clients with complex issues that are unique to their industries. Count on Gary to apply his knowledge to your project for the best possible results.

Great Clients for Gary… call him before making important decisions about their business.
LSL candidate tip: Share what excites you about accounting.
Personal: Gary loves sports, especially hockey and football. He also enjoys cycling, traveling and spending time with his wife and son.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)

Education:

B.B.A. in Accounting, California State University, Fullerton
Master’s degree in Tax, Golden Gate University

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

Riley became interested in accounting after an entrepreneurship club in college. The group project was to create a start-up company, and Riley naturally fell into the accounting role due to his interest in economic planning and transactional tracking. From then on, he knew that there was nothing else he would rather do for a career.

As a CPA with over five years working at LSL, Riley finds great satisfaction in working with people at the top of the accounting profession. He says, “Being a CPA means constantly learning about the changing regulations and adapting them to the situation.”

As an Assurance Manager at LSL, Riley has found satisfaction in helping some of LSL’s clients implement an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) award for the first time.

Great Clients for Riley … Government entities like cities, water districts, fire authorities, special districts, and nonprofits are all good fits for Riley’s knowledge in assurance and attestation. He has assisted in consulting projects such as Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) implementations in previous roles, adding to his skills and expertise along the way.

LSL Candidate Tip … Riley’s background has been primarily in government. He is also increasingly interested in leveraging technology in accounting and feels cyber-crime is one of the world’s greatest threats. As a result, Riley was recently certified by the AICPA in cybersecurity advisory services.

Personal … When Riley is not at work, he’s at the beach, outside playing sports, or traveling. He lived in London, England for a year and a half, but as a Southern Californian at heart, his favorite teams are the Angels and the Chargers. Indoor-wise, he takes cooking and wine very seriously.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal

GFOA (Government Finance Officers Association) technical reviewer

Education:

Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Accounting – University of California, Santa Barbara

It’s no wonder why clients enjoy working with Brytni Gonzales. Her goal is to improve their lives by understanding their businesses and goals for the future.

As a tax manager, Brytni manages client relationships and oversees tax planning and preparation of privately held entities and high net worth individuals. She also mentors staff and helps them grow. By making herself available and approachable, everyone who works with Brytni is comfortable going to her for guidance.

Brytni joined LSL CPAs and Advisors in January 2018. Her focus is on taxation for real estate, manufacturing and professional services. She applies her knowledge in these areas to help her clients every step of the way. They appreciate her willingness to walk them through documents, helping them understand what it all means in plain English. By educating her clients on where they’ve been, where they are and where they can go, she is better able to meet their needs.

Great Clients for Brytni … trust her to take care of them.
LSL candidate tip… Talk about the strengths you bring to a team.
Personal… Brytni is married with two children. She is supportive of their activities, from her daughter’s involvement in swim and dance to her husband’s soccer hobby with some of her LSL colleagues. She and her husband are looking forward to taking their daughter to London and Paris in 2018.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

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

Education:

B.S. in Accounting, Arizona State University
Master’s degree in Accounting and Information Systems, Arizona State University

 is an economics term that inspired Sam to choose a career that fit her strengths.

A community college course in bookkeeping led to her major in accounting. She joined LSL CPAs in 1998 and is one of the firm’s valued tax managers, focusing on various tax returns for closely held businesses as well as entity structures and assurance. Her clients include individuals, partnerships, estates, trusts, corporations and not-for-profit entities. Sam has successfully represented clients in resolving tax disputes with the IRS and California Franchise Board.

Many of Sam’s clients are in manufacturing and distribution and hold real estate assets. Her consulting encompasses estate, income, sales and property tax minimization and reporting. A good day for her is working on a tax audit to discover ways that clients can minimize their taxes while efficiently and accurately reporting income or revenue.

Great Clients for Sam… treat their employees well, create interesting businesses and want to comply with the law.
LSL candidate tip… Talk about Frank Lloyd Wright or Star Trek.
Personal… Enjoys hiking and has summited Half Dome in Yosemite; interested in art, science fiction and environmental science.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
National Association of Tax Professionals
Member, Treasurer, Kiwanis Club of Brea
Member, Sierra Club
Former Camp Secretary, YMCA

Education:

M.S. degree in Taxation with commendation, California State University, Fullerton
B.A. degree in Business Administration, Accounting emphasis, with honors, California State University, Fullerton

Kirk Hamblin sees the potential in every client, prospect and team member he meets. His perspective drives his approach to management and brings out the best in everyone on his team.As an assurance manager, Kirk oversees municipal, water districts, special districts and not-for-profit audits. This includes collaborating with clients to establish expectations and helping to ensure that his team is providing the best level of service. He also provides recommendations for improvements and best practices. Using his strong organization skills, Kirk is responsive to clients and often manages multiple engagements at once. That being said, you can always count on his full attention when he’s working on your audits.

Although he joined LSL CPAs in 2011, Kirk remembers being a young accountant. He provides a patient, comfortable approach to mentoring young team members and encourages them to keep an open mind to allow for growth. This is his way of contributing to a positive firm culture and developing an excellent team.

Great Clients for Kirk… appreciate clear expectations and a team-oriented approach for growth and improvement.
LSL candidate tip… He likes watching the Los Angeles Angels, but he loves watching the Anaheim Ducks.
Personal… Kirk and his wife Brittany welcomed twins (a boy and a girl) in July 2015. He takes pride in his ability to balance work and life, making preparations to watch his children grow up while advancing in his professional career.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal

Education:

B.S. degree in Accounting, University of La Verne

Stephanie Joseph became interested in accounting while working as a Credit Analyst, where she analyzed tax returns and financial statements for commercial lending. She soon realized she wanted to prepare the returns she spent so much time analyzing and became an accountant. Sixteen years later, she is still enjoying that career choice.

With a double major in Mathematics (Concentration in Actuarial Science) and Statistics, Stephanie says, “It’s no wonder accounting was a natural career path for me. And I have been working for a CPA firm from 2008 to my time here at LSL CPAs.”

Adding value is very important to Stephanie. She takes each client’s financial statement data and creates a meaningful analysis based on what the client will want to know about their business. These special reports accompany the monthly financial statements she delivers, and serve as a way to help her clients know where to focus their efforts ­and energy.

Stephanie also provides LSL clients with Virtual Office accounting, a back-office for hospital-based medical groups without their own office. In addition, she works closely with owners on cash flow planning, projections, tax planning and forecasting.

Great Clients for Stephanie… Most of her experience is in medical accounting, and some real estate, and her background supports working both at the corporate and individual tax returns level.

LSL Candidate Tip … You’d want Stephanie on your side of the accounting ledger in whatever she’s working on for you. She has been doing CrossFit for almost ten years and likes to compete on occasion.

Personal … Beside CrossFit, Stephanie plays golf with her husband and spends much of her free time running their two boys to hockey practices and games. Stephanie played golf in college, so watch out if you join her on the “links” one day! She and her family spend part of their summers in Whitefish, Montana, where she was born and raised.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Math and Statistics – Colorado State University, 2001

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

Not many people know that Anita homeschooled her three children all the way through high school. Somewhere along the way, she achieved a Bachelor’s and CPA. In 2016, she obtained an MS (Master of Science) degree in Accounting at Texas A & M University. Those accomplishments and her church and community involvement give you an idea of Anita’s work ethic, and how she cares about building relationships. It spills over into her calling as an accountant—helping others.

Anita’s career began with Price Waterhouse, where she spent four years in the audit services department. She subsequently enjoyed more than two decades of experience in the corporate sector providing accounting, financial, and tax support to business owners in a variety of industries. Particularly experienced in the oilfield services and manufacturing industries, she has served as both a Controller and Division CFO in prior roles. Her most recent role was as a Principal at Gray CPA Consulting, PC, which provided CaseWare software training and support to government, industry, and CPA firms.

Great Clients for Anita … Businesses that want to collaborate on innovative business solutions and key financial strategies. “I enjoy serving others and always take the time to get to know my clients, both professionally and personally.”

LSL candidate tip … Anita ran her own company for fourteen years. She has been on “both sides of the fence” – in the corporate world and running a small business.

Personal …  Outside of work, Anita loves spending time with her family, which includes her husband, three children, and three dogs. She says, “I am an avid reader and enjoy traveling with my book and wine clubs as often as possible.”

Professional and Civic Involvement:

AICPA

Texas Society of CPAs (TSCPA)

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)

Education:

B.S. in Accounting, University of South Alabama

M.S. in Accounting, Texas A & M University

There is something to be said for longevity, and Frank has not stopped learning and teaching since he joined LSL CPAs as a staff auditor in 1994. He attributes his tenure to the variety of clients and fun culture of the firm.

Given that he now works mainly with municipalities and government entities, that’s saying a lot. But he enjoys the organization required to perform these audits while simultaneously mentoring audit team members to perform at their best. Frank also works with clients on financial reporting and accounting throughout the year.

To further demonstrate his flexibility, Frank recalls one client that was scheduled for an audit later than usual due to a system conversion. When the client wanted LSL to perform the audit at the usual time, Frank and the audit team mobilized to perform the audit in just one week. Frank wants to deliver that same reliability on every project…preferably with a nice balance between effort and rest.

Great Clients for Frank… are municipalities and local governmental entities.
LSL candidate tip… Ask him about touring the south of France.
Personal… enjoys hiking, biking and backpacking.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Member and Technical Reviewer, Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Education:

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

“I originally became interested in becoming a CPA because my grandfather, aunt, and cousin are all CPAs,” Cheryl says. “But now I realize that being a CPA is perfect for me because I love to help people and build relationships with my clients and my team members.”

Cheryl has been at LSL CPAs since 2015 and her everyday goal is to help her clients, whether that is by savings them money in taxes, answering questions regarding their business, being an advocate for them with the IRS/FTB and other government agencies. She thrives on fixing the tough issues, answering the difficult questions, and explaining things to her clients in a way that they can understand.,

As Tax Manager, she handles a variety of tax-related services, including business tax preparation, plus quarterly & annual tax planning with her clients. She is always there to answer client questions (like why they might owe more from one year to the next) and walk them through complicated tax situations.

She’s consulted with a variety of small businesses and their owners in resolving tax issues with the IRS and the FTB. She also works with her clients’ bookkeepers to answer questions and solve bookkeeping issues like categorizing transactions, booking missed journal entries, etc. to ensure the company’s books and accounts remain organized.

Great Clients for Cheryl …   Manufacturers, real estate investors, nonprofits, and small business owners – anyone wanting to grow and get better!

LSL Candidate Tip … Cheryl is a team player and enjoys collaborating with her colleagues to tackle new challenges.

Personal … On days when she is not at work, Cheryl likes to take long family bike rides with her husband and two daughters, 6 and 3. They hike and explore the California beaches on weekends when her daughters aren’t playing soccer.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm Member of PrimeGlobal

Education:

BS in Business Administration, emphasis in Accounting, Cal Poly Pomona
CPA, July 2018

Jocelyn’s passion for municipalities shines through in the relationships she has built with clients and professionals in the industry. In addition to her Bachelor of Arts in Accounting at Cal State Fullerton, her dual degree with Information System and Decision Sciences gives her the ability to adapt quickly to the ever-evolving auditing technology. Jocelyn’s positivity radiates when talking with clients whether it is about their project or discussing plans for the weekend.

She started her career at LSL in the Tax Department working on tax returns and bookkeeping projects but has since transitioned into working exclusively with governments and municipalities. Her passion for municipalities can be attested to the relationships she has built with clients and professionals in the industry.

Jocelyn just recently relocated to the Sacramento area and is looking forward to exploring the natural beauties Northern California has to offer through hikes and camping trips. Since moving, Jocelyn wants to get to know her community more and get involved.

Great clients for you …those who are excited about the changes in technology and how they can better their organization
LSL candidate tip …mention your favorite foodie restaurants or mention your participation in community service events
Personal … new resident of Northern California and loving the scenery of Sacramento

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm Member, Prime Global
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)

Education:

BS in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton in Accounting
BS in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton in Information Systems and Decision Sciences

Wesley loves fixing things. Whether it is troubleshooting and repairing cars, computers, or accounting problems, Wesley can work through almost any complicated issue. Attention to detail, focus, and dedication to the task come naturally to him. Being called a “numbers person” from an early age, and having an interest in both politics and business, Wesley seemed almost destined to be a CPA.

Wesley is a lifelong Southern California resident, and immediately after graduating from UC Irvine started working in the tax industry. Over the 9 years since obtaining his BA, he has helped his clients complete their Individual, business, and nonprofit organization tax returns, while at the same time earning his CPA designation. He has provided tax, business, and regulatory accounting guidance principally to real estate investors, construction firms, and manufacturing companies.

Regarding his specializing in the tax manager area, Wesley says, “CPAs are expected to keep up with the constantly changing tax regulations, and this is something that makes my job rewarding and exciting. The best feeling is seeing a client benefit from the advice that I offer them.”

Great Clients for Wesley… Anyone needing dependable, up-to-the-minute recommendations on their tax situation would be an excellent client for Wesley. (Wait. That’s everyone, and that’s okay!)
LSL candidate tip... “Tax management is not solely about taxes,” Wesley says. “Good tax advice can help business owners and managers make the best business and financial decisions.”
Personal... Wesley likes to go hiking on Orange County’s many beautiful hiking trails. As a California native, he’s a loyal Lakers and Dodgers fan. Oh, and that troubleshooting thing we mentioned? “Fixing things is a personal hobby. Bring your broken vacuum cleaner to your tax appointment, and I might just fix it while I do your tax return,” Wesley says. “I’m not kidding.”

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal

Education:

BA in Business Economics from UC Irvine

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

Brian is an accountant of the future! Serving industries like Real Estate, Private Equity, and Online e-commerce, he is constantly keeping up with the ever-changing, complex tax laws. Clients can count on him to guide them through these complexities in order to minimize their tax obligations.

Brian is committed to providing quality work with exceptional client service. His overall goal is to earn and keep the respect as a trusted advisor for clients, project after project.

With a Masters in Taxation, he currently works with various Partnerships, Corporations and High Net Worth Individuals. Being in the accounting industry for 15+ years has given Brian the knowledge and know-how ease a client’s stress so that they can focus on other aspects of their business.

Great clients for you …. Clients that share our firm’s core values such as Integrity, Respect, Accountability and Innovation.
LSL candidate tip …. Talk about sports and the real LA professional sports teams (Dodgers, Lakers and Kings)
Personal …. Love playing sports and spending time with my family and friends.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm Member, Prime Global
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)

Education:

BS in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles
MS in Taxation from Golden Gate University

Lani Buitrago’s superpower is Tax Services. She has worked in accounting for over 25 years with a career spanning both public accounting firms (Deloitte and Anthony & Associates)  and private industry. In private accounting, she held positions as a Corporate Controller overseeing the Accounting Departments of three divisions. She also worked as the Vice President/Director of Finance in a publicly traded Aerospace company. 

Lani says, “I love being an accountant. It fits my personality and personal values. I thrive on finding solutions to problems and knowing that I have served my client in the best way I know how.” She worked at a bank early on while in college, and the manager suggested she consider becoming a CPA. Lani received her CPA in March 2007.

She performs tax planning, tax returns preparation and review, and tax research as needed for compliance or questions regarding the tax implications to her client’s personal or financial goals. She created a job cost accounting for a small S-Corp that allowed them to become eligible for the completed contract method of accounting for tax purposes, permitting them to defer income on work not yet completed.

To complete the tax cycle, Lani is comfortable acting as the liaison for clients being audited by the IRS, FTB, and Property and Sales Tax agencies, often saving them several thousand dollars in tax penalties and interest.

Great Clients for Lani… Lani provides accounting and tax services with knowledge from diverse industries, including construction, marketing and design, manufacturing, and real estate.

LSL Candidate Tip … In her capacity as an outsourced CFO for a small closely-held C-Corporation, she trained her staff to produce on-time financial statements that allowed the owner to grow the business ten-fold in revenue and acquire two sister companies within eight years.

Personal … Lani enjoys spin classes, dogs, and all kinds of music. She loves dance and watching theatre and plays, of which her favorite is Phantom of the Opera. She says, “I like self-help books because I believe I can always improve.”

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal

Member of the AICPA for Professional Involvement

Education:

Bachelor’s in Business Management from Pepperdine University

Master’s in Business Taxation from University of Southern California (USC)

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

When asked what she does for a career, Olivia says, “I manage the human resources (HR) services for one of the best regional CPA Firms in Orange County.”

Olivia got her start in HR accidentally. Originally hired as an Office Manager at a start-up food manufacturing company, she was “thrown in” to help start the company’s HR department. She was a natural and joined LSL in March 2015.

As the Firm Administrator, Olivia provides professional HR guidance and coordinates the implementation of people-related services. She also develops policies and programs related to talent attraction and retention. Acting as the #1 fan of LSL, she drives the company culture and leads the corporate social responsibility initiative.

From making sure only the most qualified candidates come through the door to babysitting (in a pinch), Olivia is available to make life easier for the LSL team. She enjoys helping and building trust in others.

Great Clients for Olivia…those who appreciate the LSL culture and understand that she is there to help.
LSL candidate tip… If you’re lucky enough to join LSL, you’ll be working with some of the best people in the accounting business.
Personal… Olivia is married with two wonderful children. She loves the SoCal lifestyle and being outdoors. She also scrapbooks and bakes.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA)

Education:

B.A. degree, UCLA

Chris has over 15 years of experience in public accounting. He joined the LSL team in 2002.

Chris has a broad range of industry experience including manufacturing, real estate, and service companies. His areas of expertise include complex audit, review, and financial reporting issues and ERISA employee benefit plan audits.

Chris manages the majority of the firms’ review and audit engagements.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Member, California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Member, Western Pension & Benefits Association

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Chapman University

Daria Weiss has a unique combination of talents. She has both accounting and technology backgrounds rolled into one! She says, “Combining accounting and technology makes working with LSL a perfect fit for me!”

At the beginning of her career, she worked as an auditor at Ernst & Young in Minneapolis, MN. She then moved up to the National level in Cleveland, OH. Of that part of her career, she says, “Although I liked the problem-solving part of accounting, I realized I enjoyed technology a lot more.” Daria spent the last twelve years working at CaseWare International, most recently as the Head of Product for the U.S. market.

As a Senior Manager in the Technology Consulting team at LSL, Daria works with clients on technology training, consulting, and implementation engagements. Her focus is on CaseWare International’s suite of products, including Working Papers and USGAAP Financials, and RPA (Robotic Process Automation) technologies, such as UiPath.

Great Clients for Daria … Daria’s superpower is connecting the dots. When she worked at CaseWare International, she was asked to help land a large U.S. Government contract. Of her role as the Product Manager for that project, she says, “I listened to the pain points the customer was experiencing. Through my product knowledge, I was able to identify solutions that would solve their problems within the product if adopted by the customer.”

LSL Candidate Tip … In today’s business world, it is exciting to find someone who knows accounting and technology. Daria works with clients to understand their requirements (pain points) as they embrace digital transformation in the accounting realm. Each company has unique needs. “I may play a project management role for clients who choose to incorporate applications on their own but need guidance in staying on track.” For other companies, Daria works with LSL’s teams to facilitate the implementation when clients choose to outsource all their accounting needs to LSL.

Personal … Daria loves to travel; her favorite place is the Scottish Highlands. She enjoys being outdoors. And summers will find her hiking and kayaking at her lake place. She prefers reading to watching television unless it’s sports. She is a huge fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (part of the Canadian Football League–U.S. equivalent to the NFL) and the Winnipeg Jets (in the NHL).

Education:

Bachelor of Arts in Accounting – University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, and Diplomas in Business Administration and Hotel & Restaurant Administration from Red River College in Winnipeg, MB Canada.  

Losing a loved one is one of the hardest experiences in life, and Laurie wants to be there for the surviving spouse or family members.

Overseeing trust and estate administration at LSL CPAs, Laurie has a soft touch when translating complex tax considerations into simple steps for her clients. She has worked in every aspect of public accounting as well as several years in private industry before rejoining Vilmure, Peeler & Boucher, which merged with LSL in 2013. Currently, her work includes court accountings and all related estate tax returns. As part of the firm’s tax and small business section, Laurie has assisted clients involved with the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program and has successfully represented clients in federal, state and county tax disputes.

As a senior manager, Laurie assists leadership at LSL with firm administration and planning. She is also actively involved in the firm’s “Doing What Counts!” program, which engages team members in a variety of charity and philanthropic activities throughout the year — from 5K fundraisers to donating blood.

Great Clients for Laurie… need an empathetic advisor for challenging trust and estate issues.
LSL candidate tip… Enjoy everything you do.
Personal… Proud mom to two Eagle Scouts, a gardener and explorer.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm member, PrimeGlobal
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
Member, National Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma

Education:

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

Being a CPA means constantly encountering new opportunities. Where some people might see a problem, Mark sees an opportunity get to the root of the issue and come up with a creative solution or process that will optimize his client’s results. Mark’s goal at the end of every project is a happy client who has the tools and information they need to take on their next challenge.

Mark relies on his broad background in public accounting and private industry to help him meet this goal. He has performed a variety of tax compliance and planning projects, including estate planning, for clients that have ranged from individuals with a small rental real estate portfolio, to businesses with sales of several hundred million dollars. In addition, Mark has structured business entities, created and installed accounting and information systems, obtained financing, and managed the attest process, both as auditor and client. In his over 30 years as a CPA, Mark has gained experience and expertise in diverse industries including real estate development, construction, property management, manufacturing, healthcare, and automotive dealership accounting.

Great clients for Mark… wish to add additional perspective or expertise to their team. Perhaps it’s time to tackle that stubbornly persistent problem.
LSL candidate tip… Mark is proud of his two Eagle Scouts and Mark was an Assistant Scoutmaster for many years. Share one of your own adventure stories with him.
Personal… Mark is happily married to his high school sweetheart, Laurie, who still puts up with his “all things tech” obsession.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

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

Education:

Juris Doctor/Master of Real Estate Development, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Concentration in Accounting, Minors in Mathematics and Computer Science, California State University, Fullerton, California

Mark is also a member of our Automotive Accounting Team