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Law, engineering, consulting and other professional service firms face a common challenge: How to balance client service needs and talent management with profitability and business development. In addition, they need to have a tax-efficient entity structure, a fair compensation program and a plan for thriving well into the future.
Because YHB, too, is a professional service firm, we thoroughly understand your needs, as well as the challenges you must deal with. Since we have worked with a large number of professional service firm clients over the years, we also know how to meet those needs and challenges and help firms like yours — as well as their members — increase their success.
As a result, we have built a reputation for responsive and quality service that makes clients feel comfortable working with us. Our goal is to have our team become part of your team, so you receive objective advice that helps you make better decisions and enriches your future.
YHB offers a full range of tax, accounting, and advisory services for professional service firms, including:
Contact us when it’s time to move forward.
Matt joined YHB in 2008 after graduating from Radford University. At YHB, he has focused his efforts on providing assurance and consulting services to private companies in the construction and real estate industries. Through his active participation in industry trade associations and continuous industry specific training and education, Matt has obtained a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of these industries.
As someone who has been actively involved in both the audit and attestation as well as tax services, Matt has a strong understanding of accounting issues that are unique to the industries he serves. He is familiar with their unique accounting and reporting needs, as well as industry benchmarks and best practices. Matt excels at analyzing financial statements and key performance indicators, and advising clients about ways to improve their accounting procedures and internal controls.
To further his commitment to the construction industry, Matt became a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals (CCIFPs) in 2018. The Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP®) designation is the only accounting certification for construction financial professionals accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) under ISO 17024:2012.
Open communication with management throughout the year helps Matt establish a healthy, trusting relationship with the client. Frequent communication helps identify the client’s concerns and allows Matt to focus on areas that will add value to the client and address those concerns. His goal is to have a no surprise engagement that is characterized by a high degree of interaction with the client, which facilitates quick response to any issues as well as effective and efficient completion of every engagement.
Matt is on the Executive Committee with CICPAC (Construction Industry CPAs/Consultants Association) and an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Associated General Contractors (AGC), the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), National Association of Homebuilders, and Construction Financial Management Association. In addition to his active participation, he is also the current Treasurer for the Top of Virginia Homebuilders Association.
Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting and finance, from Radford University
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“Matt responds quickly and concisely whenever I email him. He never lets the ball drop.” – Anonymous
Scott has been with Yount Hyde Barbour since entering the accounting profession in 1988. He has a B.S. degree in agricultural economics (emphasis in accounting) from Virginia Tech. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, as well as a volunteer for the Frederick County Fair Association.
He has extensive experience in providing accounting, tax, and business consulting services to closely held companies, corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies in the area. Over the years, he has worked with businesses of all sizes in a variety of industries, especially manufacturing, franchising, wholesale/distribution, retailing and agribusiness, as well as with the individuals and families who own and operate them.
As someone who grew up on a farm and was involved in his family’s business, Scott understands the challenges and needs of closely held businesses and what it takes to meet them. He specializes in helping businesses and their owners save tax, minimize risk, and operate more efficiently by using financial statements and projections as decision-making tools. He is especially skilled in advising YHB clients about financial controls and helping them negotiate favorable terms with banks and suppliers.
Scott has a hands-on approach to client service that’s based on taking time to develop an understanding of key concerns facing the client. Then, he works with the client to arrive at a plan of action he or she is comfortable with. In advising clients, he focuses on helping them understand how their money is being spent, so they can spend it more efficiently.
Scott enjoys traveling and spending time with his family, as well as helping out on his parents’ farm.
Since beginning his career at Yount Hyde Barbour in 1991, Kevin has been focused on helping construction companies, developers and real estate firms maximize their financial success. He has a bachelor’s degree in business and economics from Randolph-Macon College.
Kevin is a member of numerous community organizations such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Associated Builders and Contractors, the National Association of Homebuilders. He is an executive committee member of the Construction Financial Management Association (Central Virginia Chapter) an Associate Representative of the AGC Virginia State Board of Directors and the Treasurer of the AGC Valley District.
Kevin is highly experienced in delivering a broad range of accounting and business advisory services, including tax planning and filing, audits, succession planning, and profit improvement consulting. And through his active participation in various construction trade associations, he has developed a keen understanding of industry trends and issues.
Kevin excels in advising construction businesses and their owners on ways to minimize taxes and achieve their objectives. Because of his extensive network of community contacts, he is especially effective at facilitating relationships with bankers, bonding agents, sureties, and other professionals who can provide the credit and services contractors and developers need to succeed. He also is skilled at conducting operational reviews and helping YHB clients choose business structures and accounting methods that lift their bottom lines.
As Kevin sees it, the key to effective client service is developing a good relationship with a business’s owners and managers. So, whatever the purpose of an engagement, he begins by sitting down with you to discuss your needs and objectives and learn how you operate. By listening carefully, he is better able to identify issues to address and changes to make so that you not only achieve your objectives, but also maximize your success.
An avid golfer, Kevin enjoys spending time on the greens, or with his wife , daughter and son.
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“Kevin Branner is my CPA. He has been phenomenal assisting me with growing a business and then selling that business. Also has helped tremendously with an ongoing audit. I’m blessed to have Kevin in my corner.” – Cris A.
Brian is a 2000 graduate from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He joined the firm shortly after graduating and is now a tax principal in the Leesburg office. As a native of western Loudoun, Brian is familiar with the diverse people, places, and ideas that make Loudoun County unique.
He is experienced in providing income and business consulting to highly successful individuals in numerous professions. Brian is also involved with the family wealth planning team where he focuses on estate planning, taxation, estate, and trust administration.
With over 21 years of public accounting experience, Brian brings his unique relational style to providing real solutions to clients. In addition to individuals, his practice spans a variety of industries and includes tax and business consulting services to closely held companies, corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies.
To stay on top of national and local changes or trends Brian is an active member with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA). He also serves as the Treasurer on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.
Working with clients in such a close role is not one that Brian takes lightly. While the importance of being technically sound is always a priority, it is not lost on Brian the reason we do what we do – people. Brian’s goal is to develop a lasting relationship with each client that moves beyond compliance to providing real solutions that deliver peace of mind.
Brian is readily accessible to provide advisory services on technical questions and simple ones. He regularly meets with bankers, attorneys, real estate agents and various other service providers to assure his clients always have access to the experts they need.
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“I highly recommend YHB. I am confident in the way they handle our business and personal taxes, working to help us benefit as much as possible, while remaining within the confines of the tax laws. They also really stay on top of the ever-changing tax landscape, so I know we are getting the best tax advice. I most value the relationship we have with Brian Kling, our CPA. He quickly responds to our questions and concerns, not just at tax time.” -Tammy S.
Lisa joined the firm in January of 2016, bringing over 20 years of experience in public accounting and payroll. Lisa’s areas of focus include tax and financial accounting. She prepares reviews, compiles financial statements, and files individual and business tax returns.
Lisa received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Baltimore and also has an associate’s degree in accounting from CCBC. Lisa is a CPA, a QuickBooks™ ProAdvisor, and a member of the Maryland Association of CPAs.
In her spare time, Lisa loves to read, listen to live music, go to the beach, and root for the Ravens and Orioles.
Jim began his career at YHB in 1989 with a B.S. degree in accounting from James Madison University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Leesburg Daybreak Rotary Club. He is an Advisory Board Member of the Loudoun County Salvation Army, and Treasurer of the Loudoun Small Business Development Center. He also serves as a Board Member of the James Madison University School of Accounting Guiding Executive (SAGE).
He is experienced in providing income and estate planning services, business consulting, and estate and trust administration services to successful individuals in many professions, especially engineering, law, technology and real estate. He also provides strategic guidance and planning for clients involved in stock option transactions and wealth transfer. At YHB, Jim is the principal in charge of our IT systems, serves on the firm’s Retirement Plan Committee and is heavily involved in training staff. He primarily works out of our Leesburg office.
As an advisor to many prosperous families, Jim specializes in helping clients integrate tax planning with investment decision-making to achieve their financial objectives. He is particularly proficient in trust and estate administration and taxation, and in developing tax-saving asset protection and wealth transfer plans. In addition to advising clients about the financial aspects of estate planning and administration, Jim provides empathetic support for dealing with the family issues involved.
In serving clients, Jim above all looks for different ways to provide value. To this end, he takes a team approach characterized by a high level of communication and responsiveness, so if he personally is not available to answer questions or help with an issue, another member of our firm will be. Also, he employs ProfitCents software to analyze a client’s financial situation and identify areas where there are issues or opportunities for improvement. He then advises clients about steps they can take to more fully achieve their objectives.
Jim enjoys gardening, hiking and being outdoors with his wife and two daughters, as well as serving as a Youth Ministries volunteer at his church.
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“Jim has been proactive in helping me avert problems.” – Bruce G.
Amy completed her Bachelor’s of business administration degree in accounting at Midwestern State University in 2000 and the earned her CPA designation in 2005. She is a member of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Amy has been performing tax and accounting services for more than 20 years. Prior to joining YHB in 2021, she was a member of the Wilhelm & Associates team as a Tax and Accounting manager for 14 years providing services to individuals and small businesses.
She specializes in accounting, payroll and income tax services focusing on small business in addition to individual tax preparation and planning. She is also knowledgeable in multi-state income tax and the cost and accounting requirements for government contractors. She has expertise in both QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks desktop and with various integrating applications.
Strong client relationships begin with communication and trust. She intricately listens to her clients’ goals, concerns, and obstacles in planning a path forward. Amy enjoys building long-term relationships with her clients as they achieve their goals.
Amy’s husband is an Air Force Pilot; they have 3 energetic, growing boys! Outside of the office, she enjoys outdoor activities, hiking, camping and watching her boy’s sporting events. In the community, she is involved with her church, Scouts BSA, and volunteers with various non-profit organizations. In her spare time, she enjoys scrapbooking.
Nick joined YHB in 2020 with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Nick is a graduate of Carthage College with a BS in Accounting and Business, the University of Connecticut with an MA in Accounting, Case Western Reserve University with a JD, and Georgetown University with an LLM in taxation. Nick has also worked with the Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue Agent and an Attorney with the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility.
Nick’s expertise includes helping high wealth individual and large business entities with complex tax compliance, along with specializing in international, non-for-profit tax issues, and tax ethics issues. He has used his tax expertise not only to serve his clients, but also his peers. He has authored publications for the AICPA’s Journal of Accountancy, AICPA’s Tax Advisor, NATP’s Tax Pro Journal, and CCH’s Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure and co-authored a textbook, Tax Preparer Penalties and Circular 230 Enforcement, published by Thomas Reuters. He has also lectured nationally on topics such as ethics, complex tax transactions, and IRS practice and procedure.
Andy graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in May 1999 from James Madison University. He has worked in public accounting his entire career at firms serving the Washington DC and Richmond metropolitan areas. His experience includes working with closely held businesses and organizations in a variety of industries including real estate and construction, transportation, nonprofit, and manufacturing. His experiences in these industries include working with businesses of all sizes in both the assurance and tax fields. He also has an in-depth understanding auditing employee benefit plans.
Andy has presented on topics including Computer Assisted Audit Techniques for the annual “Virginia Society of CPA’s Audit and Accounting Conference” and been a guest speaker for several construction industry associations presenting on topics including understanding construction contractor financial statements and fraud issues for construction contractors.
Andy has been honored in Virginia Business as a Super CPA in the Young CPAs category. He currently serves on the Executive Committee and is Treasurer of the nonprofit organization Rebuilding Together Richmond. He is a member of both the Associated Builders and Contractors Virginia Chapter and the Associated General Contractors of Virginia and currently is on the membership committee and young leader’s council for these organizations.
Scott earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in Crop and Soil Science from Oregon State University. Scott is an active member of the AICPA and the MACPA. He serves as a Treasurer for the DC and MD chapters of the NAIOP. Scott is licensed as a certified public accountant (CPA) in the State of Maryland.
Scott has over 20 years of experience providing accounting and tax advisory to individuals, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. He has worked with a broad range of industries, including government contracting, real-estate and construction, pharmaceutical and biotech, and technology. Being well-versed in both accounting and tax matters, Scott analyzes the big picture for his clients and provides actionable advice to help them achieve their financial goals.
Scott is from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. In 2007, he and his family moved from Oregon to Maryland. They now reside in Ellicott City with their ten children, including three of whom were adopted from Uganda. Scott grew-up on a grass seed farm and is a huge Oregon State Beavers fan. He enjoys spending time with his family, following sports, and is involved in his church, working with their youth.
Christen is a Principal based in our Winchester office. She received her Bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance in 2006 and her Master of Science in Accounting in 2007 from the University of Virginia. After graduating she spent time as an Analyst at Accenture then as a Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers in McLean, VA.
Christen joined YHB in 2011 working across the Firm providing tax and advisory services to clients. After several years of working at YHB Christine returned to the University of Virginia to successfully receive her Masters of Business Administration in 2017.
Christen provides a sounding board for business owners ideas and suggests ways to address challenges and help you take care of daily operations and plan for the future of your business.
Her specialized understanding of a wide variety of industries enables Christen to deliver exceptionally effective service and advice. Her community of professional contacts allows her to quickly connect you with the other resources you may need to achieve your objectives.
Whether you need a bookkeeper for your startup, a part-time CFO for your growing business, or a replacement for someone who’s left, Christen is ready help you exceed expectations.
University of Virginia
Kelly graduated from Penn State University in 1999 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. She became a licensed CPA in 2000 and later went on to get her Master’s in Taxation from Robert Morris University in 2006. She has worked in public accounting for over 20 years providing tax and advisory services. In addition to individuals, her practice spans a variety of industries and includes tax and business consulting services to closely held companies, corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies.
Kelly is an active member of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce and a member of both the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). She is also actively involved with St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Ashburn, Virginia, and her children’s schools.
Cheryl originally joined the firm in 1990. She returned to the firm in 2004 after 10 years as national finance director at Dominos Pizza. She is a senior accountant, involved in both the accounting and audit and tax departments.
She is a certified public accountant in the state of Maryland and a member of the Maryland Association of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. Cheryl earned her bachelor of science degree in computer science and her associate of arts degree in accounting from Towson University.
Cheryl is a manager, involved in both the accounting and audit and tax departments. Her principal areas of concentration include analyzing and streamlining accounting processes, financial statement and tax preparation and planning, and QuickBooks™ expertise.
During her time as finance director for Dominos, Cheryl gained a wealth of experience from a small business owner perspective from dealing with the individual franchises and franchise owners. This experience helped Cheryl understand the nuances of running a small business and has allowed her to become a better business advisor for her clients. She is able to advise clients not just on accounting needs, but also on personnel issues, procedures and organization, and growth strategy.
Cheryl volunteers at Garrison Forest School and Boys Latin School, where her children attend.
Michael is Principal in our Rockville office who possesses an impressive educational background and over three decades of experience in the field. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from St. Joseph’s University, which has equipped him with a solid foundation in financial principles. Additionally, Michael has an education certificate from the College for Financial Planning, further enhancing his expertise.
He became a certified public accountant (CPA) in 1992 and a certified financial planner (CFP®) in 1997. He is an investment advisor representative, an accredited investment fiduciary, an accredited domestic partnership advisor (ADPA) and a certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA™). He also is a licensed life, and health insurance agent. Michael is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA), and the Financial Planning Association.
Specializing in accounting and tax compliance, Michael has cultivated extensive experience across a diverse range of industries. He has worked closely with real estate management and development firms, professional service businesses, retailing, franchises, hi-tech industries, investment companies, start-ups, not-for-profit organizations, and medical practices.
In addition to his exceptional accounting and tax compliance skills, Michael provides valuable guidance to his clients in various financial areas. He assists them with income tax planning, investment management, and retirement planning, ensuring their long-term financial success. By leveraging his extensive knowledge and insights, Michael helps his clients make informed decisions that align with their financial goals.
Dan is a Northern Virginia native and a 1987 graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He also earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from George Mason University in 1989 and a Masters of Science in Taxation degree from Georgetown University in 1993. Dan has practiced public accounting for over 26 years and joined the Leesburg office of YHB in August 2002. He has considerable experience in tax compliance, research and planning for various business entities, including those engaged in commercial and residential real estate activities
Since beginning his accounting career at YHB in 1998, Alex has provided tax planning, compliance, business consulting, business valuation and litigation support services to closely held businesses, high net worth / high net income individuals, and other clients in a variety of industries and professions. He has a B.S. in accounting as well as an M.S. in accountancy (concentration in taxation), both from Virginia Tech.
Alex is involved in several organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, and is licensed as a CPA in Virginia and West Virginia.
His experience includes assisting business owners with succession planning, analyzing financing structures, and negotiating business sales and other transactions. At YHB, he helps guide the firm’s Business Valuation and Litigation Support Team, in addition to providing clients with comprehensive tax and consulting services.
Alex excels in helping clients leverage opportunities to save tax while staying within IRS guidelines. He is skilled in providing international tax services, representing clients before tax authorities, and serving as an expert witness for clients engaged in the litigation process. As a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and a CPA Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), Alex also provides valuation services for gift and estate tax reporting, estate planning, due diligence in relation to buying and selling a business, marital dissolutions, and owner disputes.
In serving clients, Alex strives to deliver five-star service characterized by responsiveness, timeliness, thoroughness, accuracy and proactive communication. He also thoughtfully monitors business trends, changes in tax laws and developments in the economy to see how they may affect the clients he serves, so he can proactively help them take appropriate steps to reduce their tax liability and better achieve their financial objectives and goals.
Christine earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Radford University in 1992. With over 11 years of experience in public accounting, she has established herself as a leading expert in preparing corporate and individual tax returns, including 1099s. Her comprehensive skill set extends to payroll management, bookkeeping support, and she has her QuickBooks™ ProAdvisor certification.
