North Bay Business Journal

NORTH BAY – At a time when many businesses are experiencing better cash flow after the worst of the recession, North Bay experts in mergers and acquisitions said that owners looking to sell their business could increase the likelihood of a successful acquisition by clearly depicting a number of key metrics related to their business assets and activity.

As investigators continue to aggressively pursue allegations of business embezzlement in Sonoma County, regional fraud experts warn that many North Bay companies and nonprofits still lack the basic internal practices needed to catch and prevent those crimes.

The North Bay office of Burr Pilger Mayer is taking part in the launch of a new “Nonprofit Education Series,” a six-part educational program focusing on financial risks and strategies specific to the nonprofit sector. …

The Internal Revenue Service has released data reflecting electronic tax filing last year, showing a trend towards Web-based filing services while anticipating usage of its Web and mobile offerings in 2013. …

The federal tax treatment of charitable contributions was the subject of a recent report by the staff of the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, outlining the impact of the related deduction and casting a spotlight on an issue that has been closely watched by the nation’s nonprofits. …

A partner at St. Helena’s Brotemarkle, Davis & Company has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, recognizing his history in helping to teach financial literacy to high school students in Napa County, according to an announcement from the firm. …

San Francisco-based Burr Pilger Mayer, Inc., which has a Santa Rosa office, appointed Curtis Burr chief executive officer. …

First District Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin said Pat Gilardi will be her district director. …

Women’s Initiative for Self Employment, an entrepreneurial training and funding nonprofit organization, elected Kim Kaselionis to its national governing board. …

The SMART board of directors unanimously elected Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold as board chairman and Barbara Pahre as vice chairman. …

Dana Estates promoted Cameron Vawter to winemaker for the Rutherford-based cabernet sauvignon producer. …

Michelle Crosbie has joined Burr Pilger Mayer in Santa Rosa, following more than ten years of experience in public accounting that most recently included Santa Rosa-based Dal Poggetto & Co.

SANTA ROSA — After growing his accounting firm — now the North Bay office of Burr Pilger Mayer — into one of the largest and most well-known in the region, Jim Andersen has stepped away from his management role and joined a new firm that will allow him to focus on his practice in forensic accounting, succession planning and other specialized fields.

The accounting leaders featured here were selected from the Oct. 22 Business Journal list of the largest North Bay accounting firms. They are listed alphabetically by last name.

The key to strategic planning in today’s business environment is to initially focus less on the environment and more on you and your business. Go back in time – not 5 years to the “good ol’ days”, but to those gloriously sleepless nights when you were so excited about that idea that you were formulating. Go back to the “you know, I think this could work” moment – to your peaks of professional passion. Force yourself to not ask the question “why am I doing this?” in the negative sense, but ask it in the reinvigorating, inspirational sense.

In a decision that could impact the tax planning and accounting practices of real property owners, developers and tenants, the Internal Revenue Service has issued a new set of regulations that seek to clarify the manner by which the cost of certain building improvements qualify for a federal tax deduction.

While the guidance helps brings clarity to a long-contentious issue that has reached as far as the U.S. Supreme Court, accounting leaders in the North Bay and beyond stress that those involved in property improvements should familiarize themselves with the regulations and anticipate a potential change to the flow of tax deductions to their federal tax bill.

At a time when investors face widely swinging markets and an uncertain legislative outlook, several North Bay wealth advisers maintain that a long-term approach remains the core of a sound wealth management strategy. North Bay Business Journal asked advisers to comment on the current investment climate, the top concerns of clients, current pitfalls and how upcoming economic and legislative events might affect the world of wealth management.

Sales of California fine wine ended 2011 on the upswing, and vintner margins are improving, according to a recent industry survey and new data on California shipments.

NORTH BAY – Companies in the North Bay and beyond are increasingly turning to “the cloud” when upgrading their accounting systems, embracing an Internet-based approach that local accounting professionals said can result in a reduction of IT and other costs associated with storing and processing that information in-house.

SANTA ROSA — Accounting and consulting firm Burr Pilger Mayer, which has an office in Santa Rosa, will no longer merge with a Long Beach-based accountancy, a combination that arguably would have created the largest such company based in California.

The Business Journal’s “Who will take over your business?” event explored the two possibilities through case studies and expert discussion.

In another expansion move by Portugal-based Amorim Group cork distributors in Napa Valley this year, Amorim Cork America purchased 3.36 acres of land between Devlin Road and Highway 29 just north of Napa Valley Gateway Business Park. Pedro Fernandes, general manager, declined to comment on plans for the property. Industry sources point to the property [...]

SANTA ROSA — Accounting and consulting firm Burr Pilger Mayer announced the hiring of Michelle Ausburn to the firm’s Santa Rosa office today. She joins as a senior manager in the Assurance Services Practice Group, a move that will take effect at the start of 2012.

NORTH BAY – Less than 20 percent of executives surveyed in a national poll said that they had selected a successor, despite the urging of business succession experts in the North Bay and beyond that the issue not be taken lightly.

NORTH BAY — While orchestrating a graceful transfer of a company’s assets to its new owner is only one part of a comprehensive succession strategy, business succession experts in the North Bay said that their clients are finding ways to do so smoothly and profitably despite the turmoil of the recession.

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco-based consulting firm Burr Pilger Mayer will merge with Long Beach-Based Windes & McClaughry Accountancy Corporation, creating what the firm calls “the largest California-based accounting and consulting firm,” according to an announcement today.

NORTH BAY – Estate tax and law experts are telling clients that the time to plan is now, while there is some clarity on a long-contentious issue that could easily change again in the not-so-distant future.