John Pless, CPA
Alexandria, VA 22315
abj8ut@r.postjobfree.com
Objective: Seasoned CPA with extensive (29 yrs) Tax experience looking to
contribute in a Tax Manager or similar position
Experience:
07/10-Current, Contract Tax and Auditing Work, Martin & Wall, P.C.,
Washington, DC
.Preparation and review of individual, partnership, and corporate income
tax returns; auditing.
01/09-07/10, Tax Manager, MCP, Inc., Bethesda, MD
Management Advisory and Tax Firm
.Preparation and review of individual, partnership, and corporate income
tax returns; provide tax planning and monthly financial services.
9/07-01/09, Principal, John Pless, CPA, Gainesville, GA
Sole Practitioner Tax and Consulting Practice
.Preparation and review of individual, partnership, and corporate income
tax returns; provide tax planning and consulting services.
6/06-8/07, Tax Analyst, Drake Software, LTD, Franklin, NC
One of the largest tax software companies in the country, with over 24,000
clients and
325 employees.
. Reviewed federal income tax software for compliance with tax code
. Considered subject matter expert on individual and fiduciary taxes
. Initiated and supervised enhancements to tax software
. Answered tax questions from company employees and clients
. Prepared and taught tax classes to company employees
1/06-5/06, Seasonal Senior Tax Accountant, Ross & Moncure, Alexandria, VA
Established in 1943, the firm has national name recognition in areas
relating to the social security tax equalization agreements now in place
with most major countries. Clientele includes internationally known foreign
radio and television news bureaus and their personnel sent to the U.S. on
assignment.
. Prepared and reviewed income tax returns and corporate financial
statements
. Managed the more difficult tax returns, specifically for corporations,
trusts, and individuals with unusual or unique situations
. Responsible for IRS and other governmental correspondence and notices
12/04-12/05, Tax Director/VP, Silvercrest Asset Mgmt. Group, LLC,
Charlottesville, VA
Silvercrest is a registered investment advisor which provides asset
management and family office services to families and select institutional
investors. Silvercrest manages 6.8 billion+ for clientele comprised
primarily of families, as well as endowments, foundations, and other
institutional investors.
. Managed all Charlottesville tax returns, including corporate,
partnership, fiduciary, gift, estate, and high wealth individual tax
returns
. Responsibilities included account analysis of Solomon GL accounts and
analysis of stock and investment transactions
. Provided tax planning and corporate accounting system set-up and advice
for multi-company entity
9/00-11/04, Business Analyst, Drake Software, LTD, Franklin, NC
. Managed computer programmers responsible for producing state income tax
software for 24 corporate and numerous individual states
. Reviewed federal and state income tax software for compliance with tax
regulations
. Partnered with CFO on two software company acquisitions
. Performed account analysis for all nine divisions of the company in
preparation for new internal corporate software system
. Wrote numerous tax articles for the company's national newsletter, Taxing
Subjects
. Chosen to represent company at IRS Quicksilver meetings in Washington, DC
regarding tax software companies' participation in free electronic tax
return filing. Attended numerous IRS and industry meetings in Washington
involving IRS and tax software company electronic filing negotiations
. Taught tax law update to clients at annual company update schools,
averaging approximately 500 attendees
8/87-8/00, Principal, John Pless, CPA, Gainesville, GA, and Asheville, NC
Sole Practitioner Tax and Consulting Practice
.Responsible for all phases of running the firm including review of
corporate and governmental audits, income tax returns, and financial
statement analysis.
. Hired and trained all employees
. In charge of corporate and governmental audits
.Prepared and reviewed corporate, fiduciary, estate, and individual tax
returns and provided consulting services
. Offered management advisory services to corporate clients and upper
income individuals
9/82-7/87, Managing Partner, Forrestall and Pless, CPA, PC, Buford, GA
.Managed the firm and served as human resources manager responsible for
hiring, supervising, and training employees. Reviewed audits, financial
statements, and income tax returns.
. Earned partnership in this firm at 24 years of age
. Lead auditor on several of the firm's audits including corporate and
governmental clients
. Implemented new computer system, time and billing system, and computer
tax preparation software
. During my tenure at the firm, employment tripled and income increased by
an average of 40% per year
4/81-9/82, Staff Accountant, Hendry and Bailey, CPA, PC, Dalton, GA
.Audited financial statements and prepared income tax returns
. Prepared corporate auditing work papers including lead and sub schedules,
general ledger, balance sheet, and income statement analysis
. Conducted extensive account analysis including statistical analysis and
substantive review
Education: BBA, Accounting, University of Georgia, 1981
Affiliations/publications/professional activities:
Member of Mensa International and AICPA. I have pilot-tested numerous CPA
CPE courses for various companies including MicroMash, Western CPE, Gleim
Publications, SmartPros, WiseGuides, JN Productions, CPEThink.com, and
Beacon Hill Financial Educators.
Updated and edited a CCH course on Individual Alternative Minimum Tax I am
currently updating a mini-course on the tax aspects of divorce for CCH. I
have edited and written review and test questions for a 16 hour compilation
and review update course by Ultimate CPE.
Contributed 100 review questions each on the following books for American
Center for Continuing Professional Education (ACCPE):
Anthony, Robert N. Rethinking the Rules of Financial Accounting: Examining
the Rules for Proper Financial Reporting. New York: McGraw-Hill
Professional Publications, 2003.
Dorsey, Pat. The Five Rules for Successful Stock Investing: Morningstar's
Guide to Building Wealth and Winning in the Market. New Jersey: John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., 2004.
Ramos, Michael. How to Comply with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404: Assessing
the Effectiveness of Internal Control. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
2006.
Singleton, Tommie, et al. Fraud Auditing and Forensic Accounting. New
Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2006.
Wrote the following articles for Drake Software's Newsletter, Taxing
Subjects:
"Improved Process for Obtaining EINs", April 2002
"Guidelines for Reporting Potentially Abusive Returns", April 2002
"Mileage Rates for 2002", April 2002
"Practitioner Priority Service", April 2002
"New EIC Rules for 2002", September 2002
"30 States Say "No" to Bonus Depreciation", September 2002
"Tax Law Changes for 2003 Filing Season", September 2002
"Access Real Time Status of E-filed Returns with Drake's Online Database",
December 2002
"Get Ready for Tax Season Early with Drake", December 2002
"Schedule B Filing Change Affects Millions", December 2002
"The Byrd Rule - Why the 2001 Tax Act Sunsets in 2010", December 2002
"Important 2003 Dates to Remember", April 2003
"Expensive January 1 Birthdays: IRS Explains Attainment of Age Issue",
April 2003
"Pushing the Accelerator on Tax Relief: The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief
Reconciliation Act of 2003", October 2003
"When Do Stock Losses Qualify as Theft Losses?", April 2004
"President Bush's Proposed Fiscal 2005 Budget", April 2004
"New Tax Form Proposed for Corporate Returns", April 2004