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.

James has always loved math and numbers. Combining business and accounting was a great way to use both. He says, “Accounting also provides many opportunities to help widely diverse industries and local governments in a variety of ways.”

James became a CPA in New York State in 2015. He spent three years as Supervisor & Manager in a regional CPA firm and another three years as Director of Finance in a regional municipality in New York State before coming to LSL CPAs.

His experience encompasses financial audits, Single Audits, ACFR, and financial statement preparation, plus GASB implementation consulting, bookkeeping consulting, and other Director of Finance/Controller consulting services.

Great Clients for James… He specializes in Governmental and Not-for-Profit clients but is eager to ensure we meet the needs of every industry. Any clients needing expertise at the state and local government level, including a wide range of NYS Towns, Villages, Cities, Counties, School Districts, and Not-for-Profit Agencies, would benefit by working with James.

LSL Candidate Tip… James thrives on finding new ways to assist efficiencies within client operations and cultivating professional relationships into personal friendships. With his previous firm, he helped a client navigate an extended vacant City Controller position by stepping in and performing the City’s desperately needed CFO duties. His tasks also included ARPA and other grant-filing consulting work.

Personal … He is recently married and lives in the Niagara Falls, NY area, so it’s no surprise that James is a diehard Buffalo Bills and Sabres fan. When not in the office, James is either on a golf course, attending one of his favorite sports teams’ games, or arranging for friends and family to join him at the beach or the lake. On that note, James is a music and sports trivia aficionado, and his favorite bands are The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen. James works remotely out of Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm Member, Prime Global

Education:

BS and MBA, St. John Fisher College  

“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

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

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

Calvin’s obsession with accounting sparked when he began pursuing his own investment ventures. He wanted to learn about financial statements to enhance his skills as an investor, eventually leading him to become a CPA.

As LSL’s Assurance Manager in Government Services, Calvin brings insightful perspectives to tackling our client’s toughest challenges. He loves helping clients recognize patterns and effectively apply analytic procedures, enabling him to assist clients in resolving their unique and complex obstacles.

Prior to LSL, Calvin served in the U.S. Air Force where he learned to solve problems, recognize patterns, and apply analytical procedures to tackle difficult challenges. He experienced firsthand how every component contributes to a mission’s success. With his strong background in problem-solving through difficult challenges, he likewise understands the critical role a CPA plays in achieving an organization’s missions and objectives—he enjoys the feeling of accomplishment when a “mission” is complete.

Great clients for Calvin … Anyone looking for a no-nonsense approach to knocking down obstacles. Calvin brings his meticulous approach to ensuring clean and accurate financial statements and a commitment to high standards of integrity and transparency.

LSL candidate tip … Calvin is known for his passion for learning and becoming the best at what he does. It shows in his strategic mindset applied to analytical procedures to solve the toughest problems.

Personal … Calvin loves the outdoors and embraces the simple pleasures of life, whether it's tending to his garden, grilling mouthwatering BBQ, walking his dog, or playing with his kids. He's a passionate supporter of all Chicago sports, but the White Sox hold a special place in his heart!

Professional and Civic Involvement

Firm member, PrimeGlobal

Education

B.A. degree in English – Illinois State University
Master of Accountancy – Northern Illinois University

Being a CPA runs in Allen James ‘Jayme’ Lambert’s family. His grandfather, the first Allen James Lambert, after whom he is named, was a CPA for 50 years and founded a firm that still bears his name. Although he has passed on, Jayme saw how much his grandfather enjoyed the accounting profession and he wants to spend his career doing the same.

Jayme has stayed on this path ever since, earning a B.S. in Accounting in 2013 and his CPA designation in 2016. Prior to joining LSL in 2022, Jayme was a Senior Accountant and then a Manager at a CPA firm in Alabama.

As a Manager in our Governmental Services department, Jayme oversees municipal, water districts, special districts and not-for-profit audits, as well as provides consulting for our clients.

Great Clients for Jayme… If you’re looking for peace of mind, Jayme’s your guy. He says, “I like providing clients with an extra feeling of confidence in my work by exceeding their expectations whenever possible.”

LSL Candidate Tip… Ask him about playing the guitar – and singing!

Personal … Jayme has three daughters. The family spends a lot of time at theme parks and water parks. Their favorite is Disney World for more extensive trips, but they spend much of their time at the local Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure. He also follows Alabama sports and his favorite team is the Crimson Tide.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

• Firm Member, Prime Global
• Alabama Society of CPAs (ASCPA)
• Government Finance Officers Association of Alabama (GFOAA)

Education:

B.B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration) in Entertainment Industry Management from the University of North Alabama (UNA)

B.S. in Accounting from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

For Louis, learning to fly and accounting have something in common—they both offer exciting challenges. Louis likes finding solutions to a known accounting problem and then seeing how to fix the other glitches that arise from repairing that first thing.

Louis says of his interest in accounting, “Finding the missing link to make Assets = Liabilities + Equities gives me such a thrill and a feeling of accomplishment. I like the idea of balancing an equation. And I feel like I’m doing detective work on behalf of my clients.”

One of his superpowers is helping clients find solutions for implementing completely new systems with new procedures. Frequently he’s seen working with his clients who need to update various processes and procedures to adapt to a new financial system.

Great Clients for Louis … Anyone with more questions than answers will enjoy working with Louis. Even if it’s going through a single module within a larger financial system, that specific part might be the bottleneck, and Louis’s detective nature can find and unstop the stuck system.

LSL candidate tip … Louis has been known to complete several months of bank reconciliations into two months in time for year-end audits. He prides himself on creating prepared documents and other journal entries on the fly for his grateful clients.

Personal …  Louis is currently getting his pilot’s license at the Long Beach Airport. He also loves to travel and experiment with different foods and cultures, including a taste for eating a variety of international cuisines such as Chili momos (a type of dumpling), Colombian empanadas, and poutine. He also enjoys visiting museums, exploring historic sites, and taking tours like the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Firm Member, PrimeGlobal

Education:

BA, Business Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara

Fern loves to start every conversation and meeting with, "How can I help?". Her passion and dedication to improving employee experiences are evident in all she does. She is thoughtful, considerate, and a great listener, and she helps people find solutions to get where they want to go.

As LSL’s Director of People Operations, Fern helps foster direct feedback and promotes effective communication across all departments. She is responsible for the overall employee experience including firmwide benefits, performance reviews, policies & procedures, and wellness. She ensures peace of mind for our team members by offering strategic advice and guidance on their career goals and also handles all HR best practices and critical compliance matters for LSL as a whole.

Fern began her career in Actuarial Science, but while she enjoyed the math-centric field, she realized her true joy came from human connections. Drawn to the challenge of unlocking personal and professional potential, she made the change to benefits administration and eventually to People Operations. Prior to LSL, Fern served as Senior Manager for accounting firms and managed the benefits program for over 2,000 employees at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Personal … Outside of work, you can find Fern enjoying time “down the shore” on the front porch of her house in New Jersey—her “happy place”. As a proud Philly native, she roots for the Eagles, Flyers, and Phillies. She is a foodie extraordinaire and a Food Network enthusiast. Her killer dishes include Dan Dan Noodles, sushi, mouthwatering grilled shrimp, shakshuka, and finger-licking jerk chicken wings!

Professional and Civic Involvement

Firm member, PrimeGlobal 

Education

B.S. degree in Mathematics with a minor in Education – Temple University, Philadelphia

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

Meagan takes pride in being her clients' go-to person for solving challenges and providing reliable knowledge and guidance for their financial and tax needs. Her clients often turn to her because of her ability to develop trust, facilitate open communication, and turn their worries into well-structured plans.

Meagan found that she thrived in the accounting industry and developed a passion for it. Her goal has always been to be a trusted advisor that her clients can count on for financial, tax, and business strategies. She focuses on closely held businesses, high-net-worth individuals, real estate, and service industry businesses.

To Meagan, it's not just about crunching numbers; it's about alleviating stress by being a trusted and reliable source for their business.

Great clients for Meagan … those who have unique tax needs and goals and value building strong relationships.

LSL candidate tips … Meagan sets a high standard of excellence for herself and her team. She leads by example, demonstrating how to "take the weight off her clients' shoulders."

Personal … Outside of work, Meagan enjoys attending her kids' sporting events and going on family camping trips to their favorite spot at Newport Dunes or biking near the beach. When it comes to food, she loves to indulge in a nice Italian dish or some sushi!

Professional and Civic Involvement

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

Education

B.A. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and Finance – California State University, Fullerton

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

Scott was born with a knack for numbers and an analytical mind. That coupled with his passion for working hard and putting in the time for his clients – you might say he found his calling as a CPA.

Scott started his career as an intern and then worked full-time in the industry as Tax Staff while attending CPA classes, earning his CPA in 2021. The tax area made sense to him because of its complexity and because taxes affect everyone: businesses and individuals alike. “I enjoy being a CPA because of the skillsets we must have to be successful at our craft. I like the challenge of working on complex projects, meeting firm deadlines, and serving the public with integrity and honesty.”

Manufacturing, real estate, professional services, and agriculture clients benefit from working with Scott to implement various tax planning strategies for individuals within these and other industries, including reducing or eliminating capital gains tax by selling unrealized loss positions in their investment portfolios to offset capital gains recognized during the year. His enjoyment of detecting patterns often leads to creative solutions—he might even suggest gifting stock or mutual funds to relatives in a lower income tax bracket if it would help.

Great Clients for Scott… Clients who value strategic advice.

LSL Candidate Tip… Ask him about his favorite Breaking Bad episode!

Personal … Scott spends much of his free time with his wife and three kids, and also out on the golf course. He is an avid sports enthusiast from hockey to football to baseball, and never misses a beat to catch his beloved Anaheim Ducks, USC Trojans, LA Rams, and LA Dodgers! His favorite vacation spots are Hawaii and Las Vegas. You can also find him out for Mexican, Italian, or Sushi.

Professional and Civic Involvement:

Member of the AICPA and CalCPA
Firm Member, Prime Global

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Business from Cal Poly Pomona

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

Chad has a way of putting clients at ease and making them feel valued and understood. He takes the time to listen and understand their unique needs and challenges. To him, “My client’s challenges are my challenges, and I love collaborating with them to find solutions.”

As a Senior Assurance Manager, Chad oversees audit engagements and completes technical reviews of financial statements. His passion for numbers and problem-solving fuels his love for accounting, viewing it as a puzzle just waiting to be solved.

Chad started his journey traveling all over the country to serve clients. This helped him learn and gain valuable insights across multiple industries from Manufacturing & Distribution, Non-Profits, and Employee Benefit Plans. He gets the greatest satisfaction from building strong relationships and supporting his clients on their path to success, and he is constantly in pursuit of personal and professional growth.

Great clients for Chad … Chad brings value to clients through his insights across multiple industries, allowing him to expand his knowledge and expertise.

LSL candidate tip … Chad is known for his down-to-earth advisory approach, making the accounting process for his clients more relatable and understandable. “Acting like an advanced accounting professor and using extremely technical language is not the way to go about it!”

Personal … Chad enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two kids, especially in Hawaii, their favorite travel spot. He is a devoted fan of the Angels, and often indulges in his love for coffee, playing the ukulele, watching The Office, or treating himself to delicious burritos.

Professional and Civic Involvement

Firm member, PrimeGlobal 

Education

B.A. degree in Accounting – Vanguard University of Southern California

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

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 kids (all boys), 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

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