John Monahan has built a career on creating enterprising solutions to complex tax problems in both the private business and public accounting sectors. Now he brings those critical skills to clients as TaxOps newest Director. John says he is joining TaxOps because of its client-oriented, results only business model and fixed-fee client contracts, which he says are “refreshing. “I plan to work closely with clients as a full-service advisor, diagnosing their pain-points and needs and coming up with solutions that provide value for the client,” he says.

This diagnostic approach is invaluable to business leaders that are wary of unpleasant surprises. “John’s experience running large tax functions from the inside as well as his public accounting experience, gives him the canny ability to identify tax problems and design tax solutions that put businesses on better footing, ” Brian Amann, founder of TaxOps, says.

John honed his troubleshooting skills over a 23-year career as a tax specialist in private business and public accounting sectors. Most recently, he was a Tax Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers providing advice to corporate taxpayers on how to build a best-in-class tax function around people, process, technology, and tax troubleshooting. Integrating tax provision software and improving workflow are two key areas he says can generate cost savings in corporate tax functions.

Prior to PwC, John spent ten years in the private sector building, automating, and making large tax functions more efficient. In these roles, he participated in quality and risk management efforts in the preparation and review of federal and state tax returns and ASC-740 domestic and foreign income tax provisions.

In addition to tax efficiency work, John has developed deep technical knowledge with ASC-740, income tax compliance, and international tax matters. He has a Master of Taxation at Bentley College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver. John graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Colorado.

To reach John, please call 720-227-0060 or e-mail him at jmonahan@taxops.com.

TaxOps welcomes Chris Stroh to the team. With Chris’ legal, tax, and business background, he will be providing tax minimization solutions for a growing list of clients, particularly in research and development (R&D) credits.

Chris is currently on an engagement with a Fortune 400 client. In his role with the client, Chris will be largely managing R&D studies – reviewing contracts, conducting the interview process, and calculating credits.

Chris’ on-site presence elevates the relationship, allowing him to work directly with client counterparts to manage the R&D project closely and focus resources where they provide the most value. Already, Chris says he sees a difference in the level of value in the TaxOps approach. “We bring a deeper bench to the R&D process than is generally afforded to companies by Big Four competitors,” he says.

Prior to joining TaxOps, Chris provided international tax consulting services for Ernst & Young LLP and institutional fixed income broker services for a number of firms, including D.A. Davidson & Co., and Wedbush Morgan. Chris is a graduate of the University of Denver where he earned his Master of Laws in Taxation in the graduate tax program, Juris Doctor from the Sturm College of Law, and Masters in Business Administration from the Daniels College of Business.

TaxOps is also pleased to welcome Jacqueline Coronado to the Lakewood office, where Jackie is providing administrative support and tax processing services for the Lakewood and Englewood offices. She comes to TaxOps from Grant Thornton LLP, where she provided administrative support to senior-level partners and team members. Prior to Grant Thornton, Jackie held a similar role with Ernst & Young LLP, where she worked with several of TaxOps current directors and managers. “I feel I already know the TaxOps people and the job,” she says. “So I can concentrate on making improvements that matter.”

Chris Becze has joined TaxOps as the Director of Strategic Relationships. To this new role, Chris brings an extensive legal, taxation, and business development skill set. He plans to use his background and experience to assist corporations and professionals in meeting their tax planning, operations, and tax minimization needs. He is based out of the firm’s Lakewood office.

“Chris brings an energy and deep understanding of our industry and business that will increase our capacity to communicate effectively with our current and prospective clients,” said Brian Amann, managing director of TaxOps.

Chris served in the U.S. Navy for four years prior to completing his professional education. In 2004, Chris joined KPMG to oversee business relationships for multi-national clients. At KPMG, he advised clients on various international and domestic transactions, including due diligence for cross-border corporate acquisitions and entity restructurings. After four years at KPMG, Chris joined LandAmerica Financial Group to develop the commercial and residential real property exchange market in Colorado. In 2009, Chris took a position with Kforce, a national professional staffing company, to lead business development efforts for strategic level consultants.

He comes to TaxOps with the same goal – to lead business development efforts, this time on behalf of corporate clients. Chris says he is looking forward to working closely with existing clients and strategic partners to strengthen relationships and ensure that TaxOps solutions are being delivered with the highest level of client satisfaction.

What drew Chris to TaxOps is the relationship-driven approach that keeps partners and staff open minded to client needs. “We do not walk into initial client meetings with a boilerplate plan,” he says. “We have to listen to our clients, learn what is needed, and leverage what is there to build a solution that is right for the client,” he says. He also appreciates the fixed fee model that he believes gives TaxOps advisors the ability to work closely with and be more attentive to client needs. “It is nice that clients are not afraid to call us up and ask us questions without worrying about what it will cost them,” he says.

Chris also comes to TaxOps as an educator, having presented tax classes for the Colorado Bar Association and numerous other organizations. He is an active member of the Colorado Bar Association and Denver Bar Association. He graduated from Colorado State University in 2000 with a B.A. in Political Science and received his Juris Doctorate and Master’s of Law in Taxation from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

To reach Chris, please call 720-227-0059 or e-mail him at cbecze@taxops.com

TaxOps has added three client relationship specialists with broad tax and business experience to the team – Alex Leugers, Meredith Theiss, and Ramona Gross. Collectively, these seasoned professionals bring a client-focused relationship strategy based on trust that will lead to greater value.

Alex comes to TaxOps from the KPMG tax department where he worked primarily with natural resources, telecommunications, real estate, manufacturing, construction, and R&D companies. Prior to KPMG, Alex held various accounting, financial analyst, and operations jobs with a manufacturing company and a motorcycle dealership that gave him an insider’s view of business at work. He looks forward to building relationships with clients at TaxOps. “I enjoy being somebody that my clients can trust and feel comfortable talking with,” he says. He holds a B.S. in Decision and Information Sciences from the University of Florida in Gainesville, and an M.S. in Accounting, Concentration in Taxation from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Meredith joins TaxOps with five years of experience in public accounting with KPMG in Denver, where building client relationships was her priority, despite the pressure for “chargeable” time.  Meredith’s tax work with clients in the broadcasting, telecommunications, entertainment, oil and gas, private equity, real estate and restaurant industries has given her exposure to a wide variety of corporate settings and business issues. With the move to TaxOps, Meredith is looking forward to having the flexibility to focus on client needs without the pressure of service fee distractions. “I want to understand what the client’s expectations are first to make sure TaxOps delivers that – and more,” she says. Meredith has a B.S. in Accounting from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a Masters of Taxation from the University of Denver.

Ramona spent several years as a senior tax associate with RSM McGladrey preparing returns, researching tax issues, working with SEC clients, and assisting with SOX testing. Beyond accounting, Ramona has worked as an event coordinator and customer service representative, where she executed time-sensitive tasks and functions around a collective goal. “Through my prior work, I understand how a business is run by the books,” she says. “This will help me plan to complete a variety of tasks with corporate clients in the most effective way possible,” she says. She received a B.S. in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting from California State University in Fullerton.

To connect with these and other tax strategy and planning professionals, contact Chris Becze at 720.227.0059.

It is with pleasure that we announce that Rebecca Godkin has joined TaxOps, LLC as a Director. Rebecca’s primary area of emphasis is accounting for income taxes, in accordance with both U.S. GAAP and IFRS. She has extensive experience preparing and reviewing income tax provisions and is intimately familiar with the income tax provision complexities associated with uncertain tax positions, business combinations, share-based compensation, foreign subsidiaries and affiliates, foreign currency transactions and translations, intraperiod and interperiod tax allocations, detailed tax planning strategies and the evaluation of valuation allowances. Rebecca has worked with some of the largest publicly-held companies in the world as well as local privately-held enterprises. Rebecca has developed and delivered training, nationally and locally, for both FAS 109 and IAS 12. Rebecca’s income tax provision expertise is built upon a strong foundation of technical tax compliance, including tax accounting for natural resources.  See Rebecca’s full bio at www.taxops.com/team

Please join us in welcoming Rebecca to the TaxOps team!

Let’s face it, no one likes moving, especially if it’s only a couple of blocks away. There’s planning, organizing, packing, and all the things you hope you don’t forget in between. Despite that, in order to facilitate our continued growth, we are moving our offices effective July 1, 2009. Our new address is:

215 Union Blvd., Suite 325
Lakewood, CO 80228

All other contact information remains the same.

Here are a couple of pictures of the new location. Drop in if you’re nearby!

We want to officially welcome everyone to our TaxOps Blog. This new addition to our website is meant to provide you access to the tax experts here at TaxOps. Our blogs will communicate the latest in fresh tax ideas, relevant articles and professional dialog regarding tax issues, possible solutions, new ideas and how they can affect your business.

Whether you’re an existing client or someone stopping by for a short cyber-visit, we’re happy to have you! We sincerely hope that you will find our blog both informative and useful.

And as if gaining updated tax knowledge from us wasn’t incentive enough, just for signing up to our blog we will enter you to win an Apple iPhone. Winner will be selected randomly from all new bloggers that sign up between now and September 30, 2009. Refer us to your network today!