Our People
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Partners
- Douglas Smith - Managing Partner
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Managing Partner
R. Douglas Smith, CPA
R. Douglas Smith is the Co-Founding Partner of Smith Mandel & Associates, LLP. Doug graduated from the State University of New York in Albany with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in 1976. Doug has over 30 years of work experience, which was mostly acquired in 1981 when he moved to Los Angeles, California to join a prestigious national CPA firm. In 1985, he became a partner in charge of the firm’s Honolulu office.
In 1989, Doug joined Cohn Handler & Co, where he was a partner who specialized in apparel related companies in financial and management aspect of accounting. Doug is licensed to practice in California and Hawaii.
Doug’s practice focus includes financial statement reporting, assurance services, internal control evaluation, succession planning, forecasts and projections of financial models, business capitalization, restructuring, and financing alternatives, and business mergers and acquisition planning and structure. He has extensive expertise with private middle market companies, as well as tax planning and compliance. Doug serves a wide variety of clients in apparel manufacturing and distribution, service, and other industries.
Professional Associations:- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 1981
- California Society for Certified Public Accountants, 1982
- Fashion Industries Group – Chairman 1988 - 1992
- Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants, 1987
- BDO Seidman Alliance, 1990
Community Affiliations:- City of Hope - Apparel Industries Group - Board of Directors, 1983 to present
- Cedars Sunai Medical Center - Fashion Industries Guild – Board of Directors, 1990 to present
- Textile Professional Club – President, 2003
- The California Fashion Association
- East Valley YMCA – Board of Directors
- Steven Mandel
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Partner
Steven J. Mandel, CPA, MBA
Steven J. Mandel is the Partner and Co-Founder of Smith Mandel & Associates, LLP. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from The California State University, Northridge in 1984, and completed his MBA in Taxation in 1999.
Steve is a respected and a well-known Tax CPA. He has assisted businesses of all sizes with interpreting of their financial records. He has made life stress-free for his clients by using the most effective method of bookkeeping available.
Steve has over 20 years work experience in accounting, auditing and tax areas of construction, distribution, insurance, manufacturing and general business. He is also experience in tax planning in corporate, individual, partnership, fiduciary and estate tax planning work. He is also highly experienced in other areas of financial forecasting, bond issues, conventional financing, pension and profit sharing plans and business planning.
Steve is a highly accomplished business consultant, providing services such as: Business Asset Valuation for corporate control transactions, relative business asset performance analysis for investment and capital budgeting decisions.
Professional Associations:- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 1990
- California Society for Certified Public Accountants, 1989
- BDO Seidman Alliance, 1990
Community Affiliations:- City of Hope
- Women in Fashion
- The Bronchick Foundation
- Rampage Soccer Club
- Norman Ko
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Partner
Norman Ko, CPA, MBA
Norman has been with the firm since the foundation of Smith Mandel & Associates, LLP in 1997. He provides audit and assurance services to privately held clients in various industries, including manufacturing, imports/wholesales, construction, entertainment, technology, service, finance and mortgage, nonprofit organizations and real estate. He also assists SEC/public held clients in audit preparations, and provides financial and management advisory, as well as tax planning, for business and individuals.
Norman also has an extensive experience in numerous specialized areas, including due diligence, agreed-upon procedures, mergers and acquisitions, and business reorganization. He is currently responsible for the quality control of audit and assurance department.
Professional and Civic Associations:- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 2002
- California Society for Certified Public Accountants, 2002
- The Professionals Club
Education:- Master of Business Administration, University of San Francisco
- Bachelor of Science, Combined Honors in Computer Science and Mathematics, York University, Toronto, Canada
Languages:- English
- Chinese: Mandarin, Cantonese and Taiwanese
Hobbies:- Basketball
- Golf
- Travel
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CPAs
- Jurate Gulbinas, CPA, MBA, MST
- Mija Lee, CPA, MBA
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Mija Lee, CPA, MBA
She’s been with SMA since September of 2003.
Specializes in:
Audits and assurance services as well as tax return preparations and personal financial statements to privately held clients in various industries, including manufacturing, wholesale, construction, entertainment, mortgage and nonprofit organizations. She is in charge of designing and updating the program that the firm uses to prepare financial statements and training staffs for the program. - Joseph Foster, CPA, MST
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Joseph Foster, CPA, MST
Joe@SmithMandelCPA.com
He’s been with SMA since January of 2005.
Specializes in:
Handling a broad range of issues dealing with tax examinations with Federal & State Agencies, Tax Notices, Individual, Corporate and Partnership tax preparation. While also actively participating in the preparation of Compilation, Reviewed and Audited financial statements.
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Professional Staff
- Arman Ghazaryan
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Arman Ghazaryan
Arman@SmithMandelCPA.com
He’s been with SMA since January of 2008.Specializes in:
Preparing financial statements for corporate clients, Partnerships, and Limited Liability Companies; preparing tax returns for individual clients, companies, and non-profit organizations; also, assisting clients in dealing with notices sent by various tax agencies. - Faye Clark
- Ivan Oliva
- Joe Zhao
- Ken Tang
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Ken Tang
Ken@SmithMandelCPA.com
He’s been with SMA since January of 2007.
Specializes in:
Assisting in reviewing and auditing financial statements, including trial balances and adjustments, as well as preparing individual, partnership
and corporation income tax return. - Michael Evans
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Michael Evans
Michael@SmithMandelCPA.com
He’s been with SMA since January of 2006.
Specializes in:
Preparing financial statements for corporate clients, Partnerships, and Limited Liability Companies; preparing tax returns for individual clients, companies, and non-profit organizations; also, assisting clients in dealing with notices sent by various tax agencies.
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Bookkeeping Staff
- Daniela Gallego - Bookkeeping Director
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Daniela Gallego
Bookkeeping Director
Daniela@SmithMandelCPA.com
She’s been with SMA since September of 1997.
Specializes in:
Assisting & training the QuickBooks programs, as well as maintaining clients books. - Barbara Sobel
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Barbara Sobel
Barbara@SmithMandelCPA.com
She’s been with SMA since January of 1998.
Specializes in:
Bookkeeping services on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, posting daily activities in client books to finalize their year end books. Prepare speciality tax filing such as: sales tax, payroll tax, business licenses and business property tax returns. - Reemo Nasoordeen
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Reemo Nasoordeen
Reemo@SmithMandelCPA.com
He’s been with SMA since January of 2006.
Specializes in:
Bookkeeping, QuickBooks, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable and bank reconciliations.
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Administrative Staff
- Leticia “Letty” Verde - Office Manager
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Leticia “Letty” Verde
Office Manager
Leticia@SmithMandelCPA.com
She’s been with SMA since September of 2004.
Specializes in:
Assisting the Partners in a variety of personal in-house matters, Event Coorinator, process new Articles of Incorporation, Corp Books (mintues & by-laws), client billing, and assembling income tax returns. - Jacqueline “Maxi” Zarro
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Jacqueline “Maxi” Zarro
Max@SmithMandelCPA.com
She’s been with SMA since September of 1998.
Specializes in:
Firm Greeter processor of Tax return, mail, correspondence, or assist bookkeeping with data input and bank reconciliations. - Sandra Arevalo
