In this episode of The Concierge CPA, your host Jackie Meyer talks with Zane Stevens, Founding partner of Protea Financial. Zane shares his accounting journey with his wife and the story of his move to the United States from South Africa. Throughout his career, accounting and bookkeeping are Zane’ top priorities. However, after being exposed to the wine industry for so long, he became interested in starting a business that could provide better funding for the industry. It was then that Protea Financial was created. The mission is simple: to provide high quality and more affordable accounting services in the wine industry.As an accountant, businessman and innovator, Zane puts more emphasis on the importance of delivering accurate and consistent financial data in every transactional accounting. He points out that failure to provide the right information will affect all forecasting and strategic analysis. Their business focuses on these 3 main points: consistency, timeliness and accuracy. Operationally, the company offers their employees the ability to schedule their own working hours. They believe employees can become more productive when they work their preferred hours, are able to find a routine that works best for them, stick to it, and be more consistent.While there can be multiple projects going on at once, Zane says they often struggle to find a balance between doing too much and too little. One of the core values ​​of their company is not only to ensure that jobs are done on time, but also that employees have time to develop their skills. Zane says they provide weekly training to their employees and encourage them to pursue continuing education. Ultimately, they want their employees to feel valued and supported without feeling overwhelmed. One piece of advice Zane has for all accountants? Never forget that what they do matters.Key points from the Episode:What Makes High Quality Accounting Work?The role of an account manager for each project and their qualificationsTips to help accountants become better at what they doAbout Zane StevensZane Stevens is a director of Protea Financial. Prior to joining Protea, he was Chief Financial Officer at Syntell and its subsidiaries in Cape Town, South Africa. Syntell is a premier company with over $38 million in revenue that provides cutting-edge technology services for road safety, traffic management and revenue collection.Prior to joining Syntell, Zane was a supervisor at KPMG in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, South Africa, where he led financial and IT audit and advisory engagements.Working with a wide range of clients, ranging from owner-managed entities to large multinational publicly traded corporations, Zane has gained extensive experience in various industries including automotive; public sector; food, beverages and consumer products; detail; health and agriculture.Zane is registered as a Chartered Accountant (South Africa) with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. He received an honors degree in accounting from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, where he also completed his undergraduate degree in accounting. About Protea FinancialProtea provides services to take over the burdens and responsibilities of finding, managing, and training an accountant or bookkeeper for businesses and free up proprietors’ time, so they can focus on building their businesses.With a management team and account managers based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Protea provides business owners and managers with financial information and insight for making

In this episode of The Concierge CPA, your host Jackie Meyer talks with Jordan Raynor, CPA, Author of Redeeming Your Time: 7 Biblical Principles for Being Purposeful, Present, and Wildly Productive, Podcaster and Senior Tax Manager at Frankel Zacharia.Jordan encourages people from all walks of life to see work not as meaningless (a means to an end) or a way to prove to the world that you are special, unique and “better” than anyone else. Jordan says we need to see work through its primary purpose: to reflect the character of a creative working God. He believes that fundamentally, work is about serving and bringing joy to the world and to others as well. He shares why he believes Jesus is the solution to time management and the importance of finding meaningful connections with Him, being the Author of time.Jordan's take on stress is a broken deal with self and others. Stress that causes distraction has a negative impact on our intelligence, James says. That’s why it is necessary to have a space of calm and peace at all times – a time of solitude to simply think and be creative. On the work side, Jordan stresses the importance of focusing on one important thing at a time. If you want to embrace productivity, he advises eliminating haste from our lives by budgeting our time well. He puts it simply, "we can always make more money, but we can't make more minutes."Although Jordan enjoys a busy life, he decided to leave it all behind for the sake of his wife, kids and the people he gets to serve through his work. He refined his busy life in a way that is rather life-giving than soul-sucking. According to him, all good work, whether legal or ethical, that contributes to human flourishing is the work of God in the human world. He said that life becomes ineffective if it never leaves a trace in this world. When asked about the Kingdom's purpose of accountants, Jordan believes that they are amazing storytellers who are called upon to bring order to the chaos of this world.Key Points from the Episode:Key biblical principles for redeeming your timeThe meaning of lifeThe commitment tracking systemThe difference between hurriness and busynessStrategies for staying grounded at workAdvice to inspire accountants in their workThe Kingdom purpose of accountantsPersonal and professional successAbout Jordan RaynorJordan Raynor helps Christians respond to the radical biblical truth that their work matters for eternity. He does this through his bestselling books (The Creator in You, Redeeming Your Time, Master of One and Called to Create), his podcast (Mere Christians) and his weekly devotional (The Word Before Work) - content that has served...

In this episode of The Concierge CPA, your host Jackie Meyer talks with Corrin Woodard, CPA and Managing Director at Anne Arundel Accounting and Taxes, Inc.&nbsp;Corrin began her journey 15 years ago watching her father build their accounting firm from scratch. She shares how she started as a bookkeeper and the many opportunities that have opened up for her over the years before she joined her father’s firm in 2021. She shares her passion for tax planning as well as the many past and present challenges she faces. Corrin also acknowledges how difficult it has been for her to hire and retain employees. However, it paved the way for her to start coaching sessions with people who want to learn bookkeeping and tax preparation, while leading a rewarding career.In addition to teaching students about their boundaries and limits, Corrin also provides a simulated tax return exercise that will make her students proficient and impactful. Although the journey in their industry is difficult and chaotic, she advises to pick yourself up, move on, and find people who can be vulnerable with you.Corrin is passionate about helping people. Her life’s mission:&nbsp; to coach and train the next generation for her role. She believes her mission is to mentor and coach people on how to do their taxes and to inspire the entire CPA and influencer community. She understands the challenges of business, so if there's one thing she's learned the most, Corrin said it would be to never be afraid to ask for help when needed.Key points from the Episode:Services offered by Anne Arundel Accounting and Taxes Inc.Simulated Tax Return Exercise CourseThe difficulties of hiring new employees and the life lessons Corrin learned from itStrategies to bring value to customersThe purpose of life&nbsp;About Corrin WoodardCorrin Woodard is Managing Director of Anne Arundel Accounting and Taxes Inc. in Severna Park, Maryland. She is an experienced CPA who is proficient in tax preparation, bookkeeping, financial reporting, business and risk management, and business planning.About Anne Arundel Accounting and TaxesAnne Arundel Accounting and Taxes or AAATAX is a full-service licensed medical accounting firm. All of their CPAs hold valid MD State CPA certificates. They have been serving the accounting needs of Severna Park, MD and surrounding areas for years and offer a wide range of services for business owners, executives, and independent professionals.Anne Arundel Comptabilité et Fiscalité provides exceptional service to her clients due to her dedication to the three underlying principles of professionalism, responsiveness and quality. They are approachable, experienced and friendly.&nbsp;Links Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out Anne Arundel Accounting and Taxes’ website at https://www.aaaccountingandtaxes.com/Check out Corrin Woodard on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/corrin-woodard/Check out Anne Arundel Accounting and Taxes on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aa-accounting-taxes/Check out Corrin Woodard on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/corrinrenee1/Check out Corrin Woodard on Facebook at <a...

In this episode of The Concierge CPA, your host Jackie Meyer talks with fellow CPA, Business Coach, Author, Keynote Speaker, &amp; Trainer for Entrepreneurs, Tatiana Tsoir.Tatiana shares her different take on the industry, working as a business coach, CPA and author. She understands the exhaustion and struggles of every CPA, but urges to make the journey even more fun. As an author, she realized the importance of continuing education around the industry. According to Tatiana, the more you learn, the more you can support and add value to your customers.Tatiana also shares her expertise in accounting, systems building and business management. Although she agrees that using software is a big help, she insists on not relying too much on these tools, as skills are still the main determinant of your success. She believes breakthroughs can happen in business if you know your job really well and understand its fundamentals, as well as broaden your horizons and learn other things from other industries to see how people do things differently in different spaces.Tatiana's greatest learning in life, she shared, was taught to her by one of her best clients. She saw how the person never gave up developing a plan of action instead of living in fear, confusion or anxiety in the midst of a crisis. She believes that happiness and health are just a choice and that the meaning of life is neither to win nor to lose, but to play well.Key points from the Episode:Tatiana’s biggest challenges and how she overcame themTips for starting a businessUnderstanding Theory in PracticeHow to stay healthy and happy in the industryThe meaning of life according to TatianaAbout Tatiana TsoirTatiana Tsoir is a visionary author, speaker and accountant. For the past 16 years she has worked with entrepreneurs and business owners to help them manage their money, numbers and taxes and become the boss of their bottom line.Tatiana is now committed to sharing her expertise with a wider audience to empower those who are overwhelmed with running a business so they can earn money doing what they love.In her book Dream Bold, Start Smart: Be Your Own Boss and Make Money Doing What You Love, Tatiana provides her audience with simple, practical steps to take ownership of her numbers and have confidence in their business decisions as they start and grow their business. In this book, Tatiana takes the anxiety out of owning a business.&nbsp;Tatiana is the host of the popular Talk to Tatiana podcast and conducts virtual training on top digital platforms.Links Mentioned in this Episode:Want to learn more? Check out Tatiana Tsoir’s website at https://www.tatianatsoir.com/Check out Tatiana Tsoir on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/tatiana-tsoir/Check out Tatiana Tsoir on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tatianatsoir.author/Check out Tatiana Tsoir on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tatianatsoir/Check out Tatiana Tsoir on Twitter at <a...

In this episode of The Concierge CPA, your host Jackie Meyer chats with Dennis Duban, a fellow CPA, President and Owner of Los Angeles-based DLD Accountancy, LLP.Dennis is a graduate of a prestigious accounting school, and winner of the John F. Forbes Gold Medal and the Elijah Watt Sells Award. He continuously shares his failures and successes in the industry as he enjoys a fulfilling career. His genuine love for helping people achieve their dreams has helped him build his accounting firm in such a unique and valuable way.&nbsp; This has earned him the trust and loyalty of many people and organizations over the years. When asked how he has done it, his response is to simply “add fun in what you do.”&nbsp;Dennis provided advice on how to better build your wealth portfolio and recommendations on how to start your own business. He stresses the importance of learning and understanding everything you need to know before diving into it. When it comes to building the perfect team in the perfect environment, well, it doesn’t exist.&nbsp;What he's observed over the years is that employees thrive better when given more direction, encouragement and understanding. According to Dennis, the more you understand them, the better their chances of success. He also strongly believes in giving people opportunities and making them feel valued, safe and happy.Really, Dennis can do things exceptionally well. If there is one big lesson from his career that he would like to share with all CPAs, accounting firms and influencers, he says to always strive to be different from everyone else and to continually improve your technical abilities. On the business side, Dennis emphasizes the importance of maintaining relationships with clients, ensuring they are well taken care of.Key Points from the Episode:Tips for staying happy and healthy in the industryBig lessons in Dennis Duban's careerTips for doing things exceptionally wellThe biggest challenge Dennis Duban faced and how he overcame itTips for starting a business for the first timeAbout Dennis DubanDennis Duban, CPA, currently serves as President and Owner of Los Angeles-based DLD Accountancy, LLP. In this role, Dennis Duban secures new business, maintains relationships with existing clients and manages all personnel functions for the firm's 20 CPAs and business managers. At DLD Accountancy LLP, Dennis Duban strives to provide each client with personalized service and the highest level of professionalism. Services provided at the firm include income tax planning and tax preparation, business management, and staff keeping abreast of all government tax laws and regulations.&nbsp;Able to prepare taxes in all 50 states and Canada, Dennis Duban, CPA, can also prepare business license taxes, city income taxes, sales taxes, general excise taxes, franchise taxes and payroll tax returns for all kinds of businesses and limited partnerships. Dennis Duban and the firm's other CPAs also provide audit and review services should the client require assistance in this area.Dennis Duban attended the University of Southern California, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting summa cum laude. After graduating, he taught at the university's Marshall School of Business, where he trained students in accounting. When he took the CPA exam, Dennis Duban achieved the highest score, an achievement for which he was recognized in the form of a John F. Forbes Gold Medal and the Elijah Watt Sells Award.About DLD AccountancyThe mission of DLD Accountancy, LLP is to provide exceptional service and meaningful advice...