Gallagher and Flintoff & Klein Announce Merger New Firm Named Gallagher, Flintoff & Klein – Will Serve Wide Array Of Clients, Becomes One Of Lansing Area’s Largest Local
Lansing, Michigan (PRWEB) January 14, 2015 -- Lansing-based Gallagher and Associates CPAs, PLC and Okemos based Flintoff & Klein are beginning 2015 on a growth path, officially announcing their merger and the formation of a new accounting firm named Gallagher, Flintoff, and Klein.
Terms of the merger — which was effective January 1 — were not disclosed. All employees affected by the change will be retained.
“By merging two of the best and well regarded accounting firms in mid-Michigan into a new accounting firm, we believe we will be able to offer a broader range of services and expand the depth of our accounting and tax personnel,” said Michelle Gallagher, of Gallagher, Flintoff, and Klein. “We are two highly compatible firms that possess well-trained and skilled professional staff. We share the same core values and a common client service philosophy of producing a high-quality product for our clients with an emphasis on honesty, professionalism and integrity as the basis for the combined firm’s continued success.”
Gallagher said the formation of this new firm would be very beneficial to both of the firms, staff, and clients alike. “Through this merger, we become a one-stop shop for all of our clients’ accounting, tax, business valuation, and investment needs,” said Michael Flintoff from the Okemos office of Gallagher, Flintoff and Klein. “We’re excited about the prospect of our collective work going forward in 2015, and are eager to begin integrating our services to our new combined roster of clients.”
Although the formation of a new firm represents change, many aspects of its work with clients will not be affected:
• Fee structures for existing clients remain the same.
• Clients will continue to work seamlessly with the same Gallagher and Associates and Flintoff & Klein personnel.
• 2014 tax-season services will be provided at both firm locations. The current location of Gallagher and Associates in Lansing (by the Eastwood Town Center) will ultimately become the main office for the new firm, converting the office in Okemos to a satellite location.
Michelle F. Gallagher, CPA/ABV/CFF, a 24-year seasoned practitioner will add her business valuation and forensic accounting expertise to the new firm’s array of services. Michael S. Flintoff, CPA, JD, LLM and Kenneth J. Klein, CPA started their firm in 1986 and each have more than 30 years of experience working with individuals and owners of closely held businesses. Each brings their vast tax and accounting experience and expertise to the new firm.
In addition to traditional accounting and tax services, the new firm through its affiliates will include services offered by Gallagher Valuation & Forensics and Northbrook Investment Management.
• Gallagher Valuation & Forensics provides specialty services in the areas of business valuation and forensic accounting. As a widely recognized expert in this area, services will include valuing closely held businesses for sales and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, gift and estate taxes, divorce, contract disputes, condemnation, and shareholder disputes as well as forensic accounting investigations in conjunction with a number of dispute resolution types.
• Northbrook Investment Management is an independent, fee-only Registered Investment Advisory firm that provides investment management, investment planning and retirement planning services to individuals, families and institutions that is unique to their financial situation. Northbrook Investment Management headed by Klein, has extensive experience in providing investment services to clients.
About Michelle Gallagher:
Michelle F. Gallagher, CPA/ABV/CFF is a certified public accountant (CPA), accredited in business valuation (ABV), certified in financial forensics (CFF), and a candidate member with the American Society of Appraisers. Her extensive years of experience include professional services in the areas of accounting, tax, business valuation, forensic accounting, litigation support, determination of damages, pension valuation, mediation, divorce consulting, and business advisory services. Gallagher’s experience includes services as a trusted consultant, expert witness, mediator, and court-appointed expert.
Michelle Gallagher is Chair of the AICPA ABV Credential Committee and co-chair of the AICPA ABV Exam Task Force. She has been on the Planning Committee for past AICPA-AAML Family Law Conferences as well as past AICPA Forensic and Valuation Conferences. In 2008, she received the AICPA FLS Volunteer of the Year Award. In addition to her service at the National level, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA), is the immediate past-Chair of the MICPA Business Valuation/Litigation Support Task Force, and Co-Chaired the 2006 MICPA Divorce Issues Conference.
In 2012, Michelle Gallagher received the MICPA Women to Watch Award. She has spoken nationally at AICPA, ABA and AAML conferences, as well as regionally and locally to a variety of business and professional groups on various business valuation and litigation related topics.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Michigan State University.
About Michael S. Flintoff:
Michael S. Flintoff, CPA, JD, LLM (Taxation) is a certified public accountant and licensed attorney with over 30 years of tax experience.
Flintoff has extensive tax experience representing individuals and owners of closely held businesses. Flintoff provides clients with his creative thinking in developing tax efficient business structuring, including choice of entity selection, and sales and purchases of businesses and professional practices.
He is recognized as an expert on the sale of personal goodwill having been a panel presenter at American Bar Association Tax Section meetings.
Most recently, Flintoff was principally involved in the structuring and drafting of the accounting and tax provisions for the operating agreement for the merger of 4 specialty medical practices in Lansing, Michigan into one integrated medical group.
Michael S. Flintoff was also lead counsel in the case of Magen v. Michigan Department of Treasury decided by the Michigan Court of Appeals overruling the Michigan Department of Treasury’s position that a rollover of a Michigan public sourced pension into an IRA does not lose its state income tax exemption.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Business from Michigan State University, a law degree from the University of Detroit, and master’s in law degree in taxation from Wayne State University.
About Kenneth J. Klein:
Kenneth J. Klein, CPA is a certified public accountant with over 30 years of experience. After graduating from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting, Klein began his public accounting career with Plante & Moran, PLLC in 1974 in their Southfield Michigan office.
After spending 5 years in public accounting with Plante & Moran, Klein moved to Lansing becoming controller of University Oldsmobile. In 1980, he joined Dart Energy in Mason, Michigan as its chief financial officer.
In 1986, he became one of the co-founders of Flintoff & Klein, PC. Relying on his oil and gas industry experience, Klein was able to develop Flintoff & Klein’s extensive oil and gas tax practice. He also used his auto dealership expertise to serve one of the Lansing area’s premier automobile dealerships.
Kenneth J. Klein honed his investment management skills by preparing business valuations for a variety of businesses, including valuing closely held stock to be acquired by Employee Stock Ownership Plans. As Dart Energy’s chief financial officer, Klein was actively involved in the valuation of Dart family holdings.
In 2002, he was the driving force in starting Flintoff & Klein’s affiliate, Northbrook Investment Management, LLC, an independent, fee-only Registered Investment Advisory firm that provides a broad range of investment management services.
Since the inception of Northbrook Investment Management, assets under management have grown to over $65 million.
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TJ Bucholz, Vanguard Public Affairs, http://www.vanguard-pa.com, +1 517-367-6403, [email protected]
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