Archives: News & Press

MGO (Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP) is pleased to announce that four of the firm’s directors have been promoted to partner. Penny Chan, Christine Choi, Craig Harner, and Daniel Marcus assumed their new leadership positions, effective July 1, 2023.

“Penny, Christine, Craig, and Daniel are all exceptional leaders who are dedicated to our high growth and high-performance culture, while delivering a unique approach to client and employee experience,” said Kevin O’Connell, CEO and Managing Partner of MGO.

Penny Chan is a leader in the firm’s Business Advisory Services (BAS) practice. Instrumental in the growth of the service line, she has extensive experience advising clients with their tax, audit, accounting, and financial advisory needs both in the U.S. and abroad, primarily in manufacturing, construction, and technology sectors.

Christine Choi is a leader dedicated to delivering bespoke service plans to some of the firm’s most complex Business Management clients. Christine leverages her tax and financial planning expertise to serve entertainers, artists, writers, and real estate developers. She has advised individual and corporate clients at all stages of their development including entity formation, residency planning, and has also successfully represented clients in federal, state and city audits

With more than 15 years of experience in the State and Local Government practice at MGO, Craig Harner provides assurance and advisory services to the State of California, cities, counties, and other special purpose governments. He is an expert in serving large public pension plans and has built upon his passion for applying data analytics to create and lead firmwide training on the subject.

Daniel Marcus specializes in serving high-net-worth clients with tailored tax solutions in the firm’s Business Management practice. He has more than 21 years of experience in multistate and international tax issues. Hyper-focused on his clients’ financial and overall well-being, he looks for new ways to more holistically advise his clients on business, tax and financial planning matters.

About MGO 
MGO is a global team of financial service professionals serving the full scope of needs shaping our clients’ business and personal goals. Our team members stand ready to help our clients grow through assurance, tax, advisory, outsourcing, and private client services.  

With human care at the core of everything we do, we provide outstanding service experiences, delivered with sophisticated digital tools that work effortlessly for our clients.  

Our global platform serves clients in over 100 countries and in 40 different languages. From offices throughout the US, India, and Asia, we engage our clients in real-time when and where they need us the most.   

We are honored to work alongside innovators in culture-defining industries. Whether serving a pre-revenue startup, industry leader, high-net-worth individual, or trusted government agency, we provide holistic financial guidance to shape long-term success.

MGO LLP is excited to announce that Cesar Reynoso, CPA, has been appointed as the leader of the firm’s Public Company Practice. This new role recognizes Reynoso’s outstanding performance, commitment to client service, and extensive experience in the public company sector, which is MGO’s fastest growing practice.  

Reynoso will expand the firm’s Public Company Practice, helping clients meet their reporting obligations while providing strategic guidance and advice to help them navigate complex business challenges and opportunities. He will oversee a team of talented professionals who offer clients a wide range of services, including financial statement audits, integrated audits, IPO (initial public offerings) services, Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) compliance, and more.  

“We are thrilled to have Cesar lead our Public Company Practice,” said Kevin O’Connell, MGO’s Chief Executive Officer. “With his strong technical knowledge, empowering leadership, and client service skills, Cesar is the ideal choice to take on this important role. I have no doubt that our Public Company Practice will continue to thrive under his leadership and deliver exceptional value to our clients.”  

Reynoso has served a diverse range of clients across multiple industries. He has extensive experience in audit and assurance, financial reporting, internal controls, and has provided valuable insights to clients on a wide range of complex accounting and financial issues.  

“I am honored to take on this new role to lead such a talented and dedicated team,” Reynoso added. “Our Public Company Practice has a long history of excellence, and I look forward to building on that legacy by providing innovative solutions and exceptional client service.”  

MGO’s public company practice is vital to the continued growth of the firm’s overall assurance practice, the firm’s largest service line. 

“Given the dramatic growth in our public company practice, which includes an increase in accelerated filers and the complexity of our clients, we have now identified a leader to guide MGO to our next phase of growth,” said Jerome Vermeulen, MGO’s National Assurance Practice Leader. “Our clients find tremendous value in Cesar’s ability to support their businesses through the complexities of public reporting requirements and the IPO journey.” 

About MGO 

MGO is a global team of financial service professionals serving the full scope of needs shaping our clients’ business and personal goals. Our team members stand ready to help our clients grow through assurance, tax, advisory, outsourcing, and private client services. 

With human care at the core of everything we do, we provide outstanding service experiences, delivered with sophisticated digital tools that work effortlessly for our clients. 

Our platform serves clients across the globe and in nearly 40 different languages. From offices throughout the U.S., India, and Asia, we engage our clients in real-time when and where they need us the most.  

We are honored to work alongside innovators in culture-defining industries. Whether serving a pre-revenue startup, industry leader, high-net-worth individual, or trusted government agency, we provide holistic financial guidance to shape long-term success. 

LOS ANGELES — March 1st, 2023 — MGO (Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP), a top-100 CPA firm and one of the fastest growing business advisory and accounting firms in the country, announced that it has combined with Silicon Valley-based Young, Craig & Company (YCC). YCC’s team of more than 20 members will join MGO along with three YCC partners.  

Founded in 1977, YCC is a top-tier tax and CPA firm that specializes in providing high-quality tax preparation and advisory services to individuals and businesses. Their experienced team delivers customized solutions and tailored advice to each client based on their unique needs and circumstances.  

“Young, Craig & Company is known for their commitment to client service and helping them navigate challenging tax and accounting issues,” said Kevin O’Connell, CEO and managing partner of MGO. “Together, we will continue to expand into Silicon Valley, a business and technology hub where MGO has strategically grown its presence over the last several years.” 

With this combination, YCC’s existing clients will gain access to a comprehensive suite of business and financial solutions, including assurance and advisory services, and specialty offerings like R&D tax credits, international tax, transaction advisory, and cyber and information security.  

Marc Leardini, who joins MGO as the office managing partner of the Mountain View office, comments, “Joining with MGO amplifies our ability to provide innovative new ways to help our clients thrive in the face of an increasingly complex business environment. This move also will create a lot of opportunity for our team members, to grow and develop as part of a larger firm, gaining access to robust professional development opportunities.” 

By joining MGO, YCC team members gain access to new opportunities for professional development and advancement. Former YCC team members will continue to operate from Mountain View as the newest MGO office. 

Mark Basinski, Managing Director at Whitman Transition Advisors, advised both firms on the transaction and said, “MGO continues to grow its footprint in the Bay Area, becoming one of the major service providers for high growth tech companies. The talent at Young, Craig and Company will bolster their existing team and help grow their capacity.” 

For more information about MGO, visit here. 

About MGO 

MGO is a global team of financial service professionals serving the full scope of needs shaping our clients’ business and personal goals. Our team members stand ready to help our clients grow through assurance, tax, advisory, outsourcing, and private client services. 

With human care at the core of everything we do, we provide outstanding service experiences, delivered with sophisticated digital tools that work effortlessly for our clients. 

Our platform serves clients across the globe and in nearly 40 different languages. From offices throughout the U.S., India, and Asia, we engage our clients in real-time when and where they need us the most.  

We are honored to work alongside innovators in culture-defining industries. Whether serving a pre-revenue startup, industry leader, high-net-worth individual, or trusted government agency, we provide holistic financial guidance to shape long-term success. 

Los Angeles, July 6th, 2022 – MGO (Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP) is pleased to announce that three of the firm’s directors have been promoted to partner. Wendy Heiss, Robert Trevisan, and Lucia Valenzuela assumed their new leadership positions, effective July 1st, 2022.

“Each one of these talented new partners is incredibly dedicated to MGO and our clients,” said Kevin O’Connell, CEO and Managing Partner of MGO. “They each embody MGO’s commitment to client service and reflect the vision, experience, and industry fluency that are key to the future success of the firm.”

Based out of Boise, Idaho, Wendy Heiss has more than 15 years of experience in audit and assurance serving public and privately held companies from pre-revenue to large-accelerated filers in the US and Canadian markets. She regularly serves a variety of industries including biotech, cannabis, real estate, manufacturing, wholesale and distribution, and employee benefit sectors. Wendy is a member of MGO’s Quality Control team, leading the design and implementation of Quality Management Standards.

Robert Trevisan is based out of MGO’s Century City office and is a leader in the firm’s assurance practice and is a member of the firm’s Quality Control team. He assists clients with complex technical issues including debt, equity, investments, stock-based compensation, business combinations, and internal control over financial reporting. He also advises clients on SEC accounting and reporting matters, including IPO and reverse merger filings. He has more than 30 years of experience providing auditing, accounting, and consulting services to private and public sectors.

Lucia Valenzuela is an attorney who leads MGO’s national specialty tax credits practice. She has helped her clients claim and defend more than $200 million in credit claims against the IRS and state taxing authorities. Lucia has extensive experience in a variety of industries, including software and technology, cannabis, manufacturing, cosmetics, agriculture, and life sciences. She has been quoted in several national tax publications including Bloomberg and Accounting Today.

About MGO LLP
One of the fastest growing professional services firms in the country, MGO combines deep industry experience with well-established accounting and advisory solutions to deliver tangible results. Our clients range from global technology and life science leaders to public companies and innovative start-ups – from the largest government entities in the country, to the biggest names in entertainment.

MGO is ranked as one of the top CPA firms in the nation by Accounting Today and Inside Public Accounting, and the firm was awarded the ‘Best of Accounting’ designation in Client Satisfaction by the independent research firm.

Los Angeles – May 19th, 2022 – MGO LLP is pleased to announce that John Apuzzo and Michael Mansour have joined MGO as tax partners.

Apuzzo will lead the firm’s International Tax Practice and leverage 25 years of public accounting and tax experience. With years of experience advising in both inbound and outbound tax matters, tax compliance, transfer pricing, and tax provisions, he is uniquely positioned to tackle the complex international business environment clients are facing today. He has helped entities of all types and sizes, including publicly traded global companies, fast-growth start-ups, investment funds and private equity groups, and high-net-worth individuals.

Mansour joins the firms tax practice with considerable experience in corporate compliance and tax provisions with a specific focus on the cannabis and technology industries. Clients in these industries will benefit from his deep understanding of various tax credit opportunities, accounting methods, and tax planning strategies to increase cash flow.

“Both John and Michael have significant expertise in complex and highly-specialized areas of tax compliance and consulting,” said Kevin O’Connell, CEO and Managing Partner of MGO. “Our clients are sophisticated and will benefit from the guidance of professionals who can help them navigate the tax environment, both internationally and here in the United States.”

Prior to joining MGO, John worked both abroad and in the U.S. for several top 10 accounting firms, where he helped clients with cross-border taxation strategies, entering foreign jurisdictions, and tax restructuring. Michael’s background includes time at regional and top 20 national accounting firms, where he helped his clients adapt in dynamic and evolving industries to achieve tax efficiency and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

About MGO LLP
One of the fastest growing professional services firms in the country, MGO combines deep industry experience with well-established accounting and advisory solutions to deliver tangible results. Our clients range from global technology and life science leaders to public companies and innovative startups – from the largest government entities in the country, to the biggest names in entertainment.

MGO is ranked as one of the top CPA firms in the nation by Accounting Today and Inside Public Accounting, and the firm was awarded the ‘Best of Accounting’ designation in Client Satisfaction by the independent research firm.

LOS ANGELES — April 2, 2022 — MGO (Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP), a top-100 CPA firm and one of the fastest growing business advisory and accounting firms in the country, announced that it has combined with Bay Area-based Eckhoff & Company CPAs and Advisors (Eckhoff). Eckhoff’s team of 20-plus will join MGO and Eckhoff Managing Partner Michele Hassid will join MGO as a tax principal and lead the San Rafael office.

In addition, the Eckhoff Wealth Management practice will join MGO’s wealth management affiliate, MGO Private Wealth. Bruce Frankel, Managing Partner of Eckhoff Wealth Management, will add his extensive financial planning experience and impressive list of high-net-worth clients to MGO Private Wealth.

“With complementary service lines and a likeminded commitment to providing team members with an amazing team member experience, we’re proud to welcome Eckhoff and its team members to MGO,” said Danielle Berg, President & Chief Experience Officer at MGO. “California is a vital market for MGO’s growth and the addition of Eckhoff expands our talent and resources in the Bay Area. MGO will continue to grow through strategic combinations with leading firms across key markets in the United States.”

Allan D. Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised both firms on the merger commented, “MGO is viewed by their peers nationally as having great leadership and a really cool culture – a melting pot for ambitious talent that wants to grow professionally. They are one of the country’s fastest growing and most admired firms. Eckhoff was one of San Francisco’s most prestigious and sought after firms. They were continuously approached for a merger by other regional and national firms but loved the culture and depth of resources that MGO brought to the table.”

Founded in 1955, Eckhoff provides comprehensive tax and accounting solutions to individuals and businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The wealth management business started in 2017 with the joining of Bruce Frankel.
Eckhoff’s integrity, honesty, and team-based approach puts their clients’ needs front and center. This client-first service approach, and an impressive client roster of real estate entities and high-net-worth individuals, made Eckhoff an ideal fit to join the MGO team.

“MGO quickly proved itself a likeminded partner that shares our values, our culture, and our commitment to providing world-class financial solutions,” said Michele Hassid, Eckhoff Managing Partner. “We expect a seamless transition for our clients — they will continue to receive the dedication they expect from us now with a broader range of services to successfully manage their financial future.”

With this combination, Eckhoff’s existing clients will gain access to a comprehensive suite of business and financial solutions, including assurance and advisory services, and specialty offerings like R&D tax credits, international tax, transaction advisory, and cyber and information security.

“We are excited to leverage MGO’s expansive suite of services and capabilities for our wealth management clients,” said Bruce Frankel, Eckhoff Wealth Management Managing Partner. “Our practice has always been about offering our clients more value through integrated services. With MGO, our power to provide our clients with specialty tax and advisory services increases exponentially.”

By joining MGO, Eckhoff team members gain access to new opportunities for professional development and advancement. Former Eckhoff team members will continue to operate from the Bay Area as the newest MGO office.

About MGO LLP
One of the fastest growing professional services firms in the country, MGO combines deep industry experience with well-established accounting and advisory solutions to deliver tangible results. Our clients range from global technology and life science leaders to public companies and innovative startups – from the largest government entities in the country, to the biggest names in entertainment.

MGO is ranked as one of the top CPA firms in the nation by Accounting Today and Inside Public Accounting, and the firm was awarded the ‘Best of Accounting’ designation in Client Satisfaction by the independent research firm.

MGO (Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP) is pleased to announce that three of the firm’s directors have been promoted to partner. Angel Naval, Barbara Webb, and Benjamin Lau assumed their new leadership positions effective January 1, 2022.

“We are excited to welcome these three professionals to our partnership. In just the past six months, MGO has promoted six new partners to bolster our incredible growth, illustrating our commitment to developing and growing talented people from within the firm,” said Kevin O’Connell, MGO’s CEO and managing partner. “These three professionals are all committed to the firm’s core values and have demonstrated this through the dedication and innovation they bring every day.”

Based out of Los Angeles, Angel Naval has more than 14 years of combined audit, advisory, and accounting services experience for both SEC-registered and privately held companies in a diverse array of industries. She serves businesses focused on cannabis, financial services, technology, media and entertainment, nonprofit, retail, and manufacturing. She oversees MGO’s financial accounting and advisory services West Coast practice and has been instrumental in refining its internal processes. She was recently recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the Minorities of Influence in the CPA category and is currently building MGO’s brand awareness among Filipino decision-makers in both private and public practices.

Barbara Webb co-founded MGO Chicago’s office in 2019 and continues to lead the firm’s expansion in the Midwest. She brings more than 13 years of experience as a tax advisor to clients in all phases of their enterprises. She serves the health technology, life sciences, medical manufacturing, private equity, cannabis, SaaS, and construction industries with tax planning and provides advisory services specific to the cannabis industry. She is the national cannabis tax practice leader and speaks at webinars and conferences, including the National Cannabis Industry Association.

Benjamin Lau is based out of the San Francisco Bay area and serves as a leader in the firm’s state and local government practice. He focuses on creating efficiencies in general-purpose financial statement audits to generate client financial statements with minimal trial balance entries. This methodology is now utilized in municipalities of various sizes and complexities. He has more than 18 years of experience providing auditing, accounting, and consulting services to the private and public sectors. While his primary focus is on state and local governments, he is also an active pioneer in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space and has helped to build the infrastructure of the MGO cryptocurrency services practice.

About MGO
As one of the fastest growing professional services firms in the country, MGO combines deep industry experience with well-established advisory and accounting solutions that deliver results. MGO clients range from global technology and life science leaders to public companies and innovative startup – from the largest government entities in the country, to the biggest names in sports and entertainment. MGO is ranked as one of the top CPA firms in the nation by Accounting Today and Inside Public Accounting.