LOS ANGELES, CA (August 19, 2024) – GHJ, a national advisory and accounting firm, is proud to announce significant enhancements to its Tax Practice leadership team, which marks a strategic step forward in GHJ’s aim to provide even greater value to its clients. This transformation, driven by a combination of new hires and internal promotions, reflects GHJ’s emphasis on succession planning and talent development to serve clients in an ever-evolving tax landscape.
CLIENT-CENTRIC APPROACH
In a time when many smaller firms are merging or being acquired, GHJ remains steadfast in its dedication to independence to ensure that its clients receive personalized and flexible service. By nurturing internal talent and hiring top experts to fill any gaps, GHJ is creating a future-proofed tax department and strengthening its leadership team to enhance the Firm’s ability to develop innovative strategies tailored to client needs with unparalleled service.
“With so much disruption in the accounting profession right now, there is tremendous pressure to grow or be left behind. At GHJ, we are committed to investing in our team because we know that a stronger team directly translates to better service and innovative solutions for our clients,” said GHJ Tax Practice Leader Gina McLeod. “I am immensely proud of our strong bench of leaders, from those who have been with us their entire career to those who have recently joined us. Together, they will lead us forward with the #BeMore mindset that embodies how GHJ serves its clients and its people and ensures that our clients always have the 'Home Team Advantage' when navigating the complexities of tax regulations.”
SUPPORTING A NATIONAL CLIENT BASE
With a growing presence across key market hubs outside of GHJ’s Los Angeles headquarters in Northern California, New York and Denver, GHJ’s enhanced Tax Practice is well-positioned to support the Firm’s expanding national footprint. Each location boasts a strong team of experts dedicated to delivering exceptional service and driving innovation for the Firm’s diverse client base:
- Buffalo: Tax Partner Andrew Pitt (New York Market Hub Leader) and Incoming Managing Director Jim Rizzo
- Denver: Principal Katie Hettinger (Denver Market Hub Leader) and Managing Director Emily Petro
- San Jose: Principal Nisha Golcha and Managing Director Eric Orlando
This strategic expansion enables GHJ to offer more localized expertise and personalized service while also ensuring that clients receive the guidance they need to succeed in an increasingly complex tax environment.
GHJ’s Tax Practice includes experts across a variety of disciplines located across the U.S. who are equipped to guide clients through any challenge. By providing tailored advice and innovative strategies, GHJ delivers Your Home Team Advantage with a team of experts ready to go the distance and help clients achieve their financial goals.
CORPORATE TAX
Based in Northern California, GHJ Principal Nisha Golcha, CPA, leads GHJ’s Corporate Tax Practice in addition to being a member of GHJ’s Media and Advertising Practice leadership team. Nisha is passionate about helping clients scale their businesses and create efficiency through tax planning. Prior to joining GHJ in 2022, Nisha worked for a Big Four firm, where she specialized in federal, state and international tax services as well as tax restructuring for corporations.
GHJ’s Corporate Tax Practice works closely with clients to reduce risk, increase efficiencies, optimize taxes and align strategies. GHJ’s comprehensive tax services are designed to help organizations of all sizes, from multinational corporations to growing businesses, navigate complexities with confidence.
HIGH NET WORTH TAX
GHJ Principal Diana Xuan Gallagher, CPA, leads GHJ’s High Net Worth Practice and works out of GHJ’s Los Angeles headquarters. She specializes in tax, trust, gift, financial and wealth planning for individuals, including entertainers, entrepreneurs, private equity and hedge fund partners as well as their closely held businesses. Diana’s extensive tax experience includes significant tenures at three of the Big Four firms.
GHJ’s High Net Worth Practice supports families and individuals with tax planning and advisory services. The team has deep expertise advising high-net-worth clients and providing tax planning services with respect to both domestic and international tax issues, family office planning, financial planning and estate and gift tax planning.
INTERNATIONAL TAX
Located in Los Angeles, GHJ Partner Polina Chapiro, CPA, continues to lead GHJ’s International Tax Practice. She has more than four decades of varied tax experience, including tenures at a Big Four firm, a private equity firm and a public company.
GHJ Principal Andreas Koller, CPA, is another key leader in the International Tax Practice who is based in Seattle, WA. He has worked in three countries and served multinational companies in both public and corporate accounting. Prior to joining GHJ in 2023, Andreas was the Director of International Tax for Expedia and spent more than a decade at Big Four firms.
GHJ’s International Tax Practice assists international companies entering U.S. markets and U.S.-based companies interested in expanding their footprint globally. The team helps clients navigate the complexities of expanding globally and minimize the effective tax rate on a worldwide basis.
NONPROFIT TAX
GHJ Principal Lizbeth Nevarez, CPA, leads GHJ’s Nonprofit Tax Practice out of GHJ’s Southern California headquarters. She enjoys being a resource to a wide array of nonprofits and helping these clients meet their missions and continue to provide their program services. After joining GHJ post-college graduation, Lizbeth has grown into a seasoned leader in the nonprofit space through her work at GHJ and service on the boards of several nonprofits.
GHJ offers a full range of tax services to tax-exempt entities, including public charities, supporting organizations and private foundations. Additionally, GHJ's specialized experts consult in unrelated business income tax, tax exemption, private foundation excise taxes, entity structure, intermediate sanctions, charitable giving and substantiation, audit representation, independent contractor issues and state and local taxes.
STATE AND LOCAL TAX
GHJ Partner Frances Ellington Gutierrez, DBA, CPA, leads GHJ’s State and Local Tax Practice with a focus on multistate income and franchise tax, indirect tax and credits and incentives. Though Frances primarily operates from GHJ's headquarters, she also spends time working out of North Carolina. She assists clients on state and local tax issues related to tax audit controversy, nexus and reporting requirements, and various state tax planning initiatives.
Los Angeles-based GHJ Managing Director Arun Dubey, EA, is also a key leader in GHJ’s State and Local Tax Practice with a focus on state income and franchise tax, sales tax, property tax and indirect tax. He helps taxpayers identify potential tax-saving opportunities, navigate city business taxes and reduce their tax burden.
GHJ’s State and Local Tax Practice proactively identifies state and local tax planning opportunities that will maximize tax benefits and savings for each client. The team has experience dealing with businesses of all sizes including large publicly traded corporations, small businesses and sole proprietorships.
TRANSACTION ADVISORY SERVICES TAX
GHJ Partner Farshad Yashar, CPA, CFA, leads GHJ’s Transaction Advisory Services Tax Practice and works out of the Firm’s headquarters. He advises buy and sell-side clients with respect to the tax aspects of mergers and acquisition transactions and corporate restructurings and the taxation of executive compensation. Farshad also has substantial experience in the taxation of flow-through entities and has advised major private equity funds, hedge funds and other investment partnerships with respect to proper structuring and tax aspects of operating agreements.
GHJ’s Transaction Advisory Services Tax Practice arms clients with the information needed to effectively close deals. The team continues to support clients after a successful transaction with post-close tax filings and guidance to ensure tax functions are seamlessly transitioned.
GHJ’S COMMITMENT TO FUTURE-PROOFING THROUGH TALENT AND INNOVATION
“GHJ is proud to have created and fostered a team that is equipped to handle what comes next, which underscores our dedication to not only adapting to the evolving landscape but also to building long-term relationships with our clients,” said GHJ Chief Strategy Officer Mari-Anne Kehler. “By focusing on nurturing and advancing our talent, we are positioning ourselves to thrive in a dynamic environment and ensure our clients always have the expertise they need to succeed.”
“Our emphasis on succession planning and talent development is bolstered by our continuing investments in quality and risk control,” Gina added. “Tax is an ever-changing and highly complex area for our clients, and these investments in our team and our processes will pay dividends for many years to come.”
In a rapidly consolidating industry, GHJ’s independence is central to its strategy. By bolstering the team with top experts and fortifying the leadership pipeline, GHJ remains a trusted, innovative partner for clients while preserving the autonomy to stay true to the Firm’s core values and vision. As business advocates, GHJ’s professionals build lasting relationships that position clients for future success. Strengthening its tax leadership and developing succession plans is one of the many ways GHJ lives by its core values – Bright Minds, Brave Hearts and Bold Actions – working creatively, leading with integrity and staying ahead of the competition.
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About GHJ
GHJ is a national advisory and accounting firm with employees in nearly 30 states and clients around the world. Our team of experts meets clients where they are and provides personalized service for nonprofits, food and beverage, entertainment and media and health and wellness companies. Ranked as a Top-100 Firm, 7th Fastest-Growing Firm, Top Regional Leader in the West and Best Firm to Work For by Accounting Today, GHJ is passionate about helping clients and its people #BeMore by focusing on building thriving businesses and creating a better future.
Through its affiliation with HLB International, a global network of independent professional accounting firms and business advisers, GHJ is able to partner with other top firms around the world. GHJ’s audit, tax and advisory teams leverage the HLB network to partner with its clients and give clients access to member firms in over 157 countries across the globe. GHJ has 20 partners and more than 200 staff members, who serve thousands of clients. The Firm is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the AICPA Governmental Audit Quality Center (GAQC), the California Society of CPAs and the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofit).
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