Over Twenty Five Years of Client Service and Community Involvement
Sweeney Conrad offers an array of professional services for your business and personal financial needs. We focus on serving middle-market closely-held and family-owned businesses, their owners, and high net worth individuals. Our depth of experience allows us to perform a wide range of valuable services for corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, non-profit organizations, estates, trusts and individuals. Our professionals are committed to providing you the expertise you need and the personalized, responsive service you expect.
While the list below is by no means all-inclusive, please feel free to inquire about a service if you do not see it listed. If it is not a service we provide, we would be more than happy to refer you to a qualified professional. |
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| High Net Worth Individuals |
We know your time is valuable. We can assist you with managing your finances so you can do what you do best, whether it’s managing your business or traveling while enjoying your financial independence. Managing your financial matters usually requires constant attention. We help our individual clients manage their estates, and handle related details while they focus on their financial goals. We can help you reach and exceed your financial goals and help you make decisions that are right for you. Some of our High Net Worth Individual services include:
 Strategic Planning – We work with you to define your financial goals and advise you on how to meet these goals while keeping tax implications in mind. Additionally, we help you with planning and budgeting for your cash flow needs.
Personal Financial Statement – We accumulate your information into financial statement format. If needed, we will help with the organization and input of this data. We evaluate the information and provide you with any necessary recommendations.
Administrative Services – We maintain your financial records in an accounting software package. We offer functions such as bill paying and check writing, maintenance, and record keeping. We’ll even reconcile your bank statements if needed.
Investment Performance Reporting – Based on investment information you provide, we will supply you with an overview of your investments and monitor the performance as well as make any necessary recommendations.
Estate Planning – One of the most important parts of wealth care management is making sure you have a plan in place that will ensure your control over transferring your estate to your family while minimizing the impact of taxes. We assist many individuals with their estate planning.
Professional Resources - We have experience working with many different professionals, such as investment advisors, attorneys, bankers, and insurance specialists, to help you implement your financial goals.
Retirement Planning - Successful implementation and periodic review of your financial plan will ensure financial independence during your working years and through your retirement years. |
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| Estate Planning |
Effective estate planning facilitates the orderly transfer of assets to your beneficiaries, provides security for your surviving spouse, and can reduce or eliminate the tax due on the transfer of your business and other assets. For business owners, providing for business continuity and succession of ownership is essential. We can guide you through the complex process of getting your financial affairs in order.
Estate planning can be an overwhelming and challenging process. At Sweeney Conrad, we have the knowledge, planning tools, and necessary strategies available to assist you in defining and implementing your plan. We understand that each plan is unique to the individual involved. Our specialists have the expertise and experience needed to provide direction and assist you in making the best possible decisions, keeping your goals in mind. We will not only provide you financial advice, but we’ll give you an objective view on what can be an emotional subject matter.
Our goal is to provide the right tools and estate planning strategies to preserve your assets and protect your estate from having to pay transfer taxes. While advising you, we will also work with your team of experts such as your attorney, brokers, life insurance agents, trust officer, and other advisors. Your estate plan should be reviewed often, as major decisions and changes in your life can have an effect on your plan. It’s important to revise your plan when these changes occur. Some of our estate planning services include:
Federal Estate and Income Tax Planning
Business and Wealth Succession Planning
Elder Care Issue Solutions
Risk Management
Charitable Intention Planning
Preservation of Family Wealth
Planning for Retirement |
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| Business Consulting |
To ensure that our clients are completely well served, we offer many services beyond the traditional compliance services. We play the role of business advisors when consulting with our clients. Our goal is to be a “sounding board” for you when faced with any significant decision in your business. Sweeney Conrad is large enough to provide a wealth of resources necessary for your business in today’s economy. Conversely, we are small enough to develop a relationship in which we understand your business goals and can contribute to your success. All aspects of your business – operations, sales, and finance – must be integrated to be truly successful. Therefore, we choose to provide services that span all of these aspects and go beyond simply "number crunching". Some of our service areas include:
Strategic Planning - Consultation, planning retreats, management succession, facilitation, quarterly follow-ups, planning manuals, measurement programs.
Business Presentations - Company profiles, presentation overviews, business plans.
Situation Analysis - Diagnostic reviews, business “checkups”, operational audits.
Business Development - Consultation, resource implementation, coaching, research, controller-related matters, support services.
Educational Offerings - Seminars, round-table discussions, industry reporting, research projects and presentations. |
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| Business Succession Planning |
Effective coordination of the transition of your business to your successors is critical to ensure its continued success once you decide to remove yourself from the company's day to day operations. With a solid background in tax and other financial matters, we are fully qualified to address the complex issues of business continuation and can assist you in developing a strategically sound plan. |
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| Business Entity Selection |
Choosing the form of entity of your business (e.g. "S" corporation, sole proprietor, limited liability company…) is a crucial decision that can have longstanding tax implications, positive or negative. We can assist you in evaluating the pros and cons of each entity type to help you determine the most advantageous form of business for your company. |
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| Law Firm Services |
Law firms and individual attorneys can have distinct needs when it comes to financial planning and issues that revolve around their entities. We advise law firms on many financial, operational, and tax aspects concerning their practice as well as provide assistance to individual attorneys. Some of the services we offer include:
Financial analysis and strategic planning
Assistance with partner disputes and mediation issues
Advice on income allocation issues
Review of partnership and other entity agreements
Litigation support
Strategic tax planning and compliance for individual partners |
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| Real Estate |
Without proper financial planning, being involved in the real estate industry can be risky. Our real estate services group understands the diversity of this industry and can assist you with the proper financial management tools to help you succeed. Having over 20 years of experience in our community, we understand the unique issues affecting the real estate industry in this part of the country. Our clients include real estate owners and developers as well as contractors, subcontractors, and homebuilders.
We understand that it can be difficult to successfully market, manage, and operate your business. Our specialists can provide financial planning and assistance to allow you to focus on the other areas of your business. We continually work to improve our technical expertise in this industry, to provide our clients with the most comprehensive tax, accounting, and advisory services possible. Some of the services we provide are:
Cash flow planning and budgeting
Audit and accounting services
Corporate and personal strategic tax planning
Resources for financial assistance
Analysis of accounting systems
Management advisory services
Ownership succession planning
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| Construction |
Running a construction company is a tough business. Serving your needs is our most important goal. We understand the unique challenges you face and offer the skills and expertise to provide the guidance and advice that is necessary to help ensure your profitability. We want to assist you with your growth and success. The following are a few of the significant areas where we can be especially valuable:
Assisting in cash flow management and budgeting processes
Offering innovative planning strategies, including strategic, tax, business succession, and estate planning
Sharing in-depth knowledge about the latest construction industry trends that impact your company's survival
Increasing your bonding opportunities by identifying and improving problem areas in your financial statement
Assisting in obtaining bank loans and surety bonds
Cost Segregation analysis
Analysis of accounting systems, including job costing systems
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| Cost Segregation |
Without proper financial planning, being involved in the real estate industry can be risky. Our real estate services group understands the diversity of this industry and can assist you with the proper financial management tools to help you succeed. Having over 20 years of experience in our community, we understand the unique issues affecting the real estate industry in this part of the country. Our clients include real estate owners and developers as well as contractors, subcontractors, and homebuilders.
We understand that it can be difficult to successfully market, manage, and operate your business. Our specialists can provide financial planning and assistance to allow you to focus on the other areas of your business. We continually work to improve our technical expertise in this industry, to provide our clients with the most comprehensive tax, accounting, and advisory services possible. Some of the services we provide are:
Cash flow planning and budgeting
Audit and accounting services
Corporate and personal strategic tax planning
Resources for financial assistance
Analysis of accounting systems
Management advisory services
Ownership succession planning
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| Manufacturing and Distribution |
Running a manufacturing/distribution company is a tough business. That is why you need a CPA firm that understands the unique challenges you face and has the skill and expertise to help you improve your profitability. Our thorough knowledge and understanding of the manufacturing and distribution industry helps us provide our clients with the solutions they need. No matter what type of manufacturing or distributing you perform, we want to assist you in your growth and your success. Here are several areas we can help you:
Audit and Accounting Services
Internal Audit Services
Tax Planning and Compliance
Costing Studies
Cash Flow Improvement Assistance
Succession and Estate Planning
Fraud Prevention and Detection
Business Consulting
Buying and Selling a Business |
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| Non-Profits |
Having the appropriate experience and expertise is essential when performing audit, accounting, and tax services for non-profit organizations. We serve a number of non-profit organizations ranging in size from under $100,000 to over $100,000,000 in total assets. Some of the non-profit groups we advise include health and human service organizations, private foundations, labor unions, and art and cultural organizations. This range of experience allows us to be knowledgeable about the specialized accounting and reporting issues facing non-profit organizations.
Our specialists maintain their expertise in this area not only by serving our numerous non-profit clients, but also by obtaining continuing professional education on issues related to these organizations. We also stay knowledgeable by subscribing to and reviewing numerous publications and newsletters that are specifically related to non-profit organizations. This in turn allows our professionals to provide objective knowledgeable advice and helpful solutions to the unique issues facing non-profit organizations.
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| Small Business Accounting |
Small businesses have many of the same requirements as large organizations, but may not have the necessary budget or staff. We can provide your business with a broad range of accounting services on a regular or “as-needed” basis. We understand the value of your time. We will provide quality financial information to you so that you have additional time to successfully manage and market your business. A service package and fee schedule is developed for each client based on your specific needs. Some of our staff are trained as “QuickBooks Professional Advisors” and can advise on software installation and set up, training, and trouble-shooting. Our services include:
Compilation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements
General ledger preparation
Payroll and payroll tax reporting
Washington State sales and “B & O” tax returns
Personal property tax reporting
Preparation of corporate income tax returns
QuickBooks software training and support
Assistance with all local and federal business tax reporting requirements
General business advice |
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| Litigation Support |
Litigation support involves the quantification of economic damages pursuant to existing or pending litigation using accounting and auditing techniques. Our professionals have an understanding of how financial, tax, and business issues relate to specific legal situations. We have the specialized knowledge and expertise to help you with summarizing issues, analyzing, and negotiating various types of legal disputes. We provide professional assistance to attorneys through consulting and serving as an expert witness in a variety of matters. We provide litigation support in many areas including:
Business valuation consultation
Property settlements
Divorce related issues
Contract disputes
Professional malpractice
Buy-sell agreements
Business interruption
Fraud
Tax compliance |
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| Employee Benefit Plans |
We have been auditing employee benefit plans for over 10 years and currently audit over 30 plans on an annual basis. These audits include 401(k) plans, profit sharing and money purchase plans, defined benefit plans, and health and welfare plans. Other related services we offer are preparation of Form 5500 and related attachments, and preparation of Form 1041 for trusts.
One of our founding shareholders is the past chair of the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants Employee Benefits Committee. This experience provides us with extensive knowledge of benefit plan requirements and Department of Labor regulations, as well as a valuable network for obtaining current plan information.
While ensuring the highest standards for our clients, additionally we are voluntary members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center for CPA firms. Our affiliation with the Center demonstrates our commitment to performing employee benefit plan audit quality and adhering to Center membership requirements, including designating a partner responsible for our employee benefit plan audit practice, establishing firm-wide training and quality control programs, performing annual internal inspection procedures, and making the firm’s peer review report findings publicly available. Additional information about the Center can be found at http://www.aicpa.org/ebpaqc/homepage.htm.
Our experience and level of expertise in this area allow us to apply analytical tools that aid in discovering and helping to resolve plan issues. Additionally, we have a network of attorneys, payroll administrators, and employee benefit specialists who communicate often with our staff and help keep us informed of current issues that may affect you. |
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| Expert Witness Services |
Pending or existing litigation can result in the need for a qualified professional to present his/her opinion to support or oppose evidence submitted to the court. Our level of competence allows us the opportunity to function as expert witnesses in such cases. |
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| Audit Services |
You may not choose to have a financial statement audit or review – a bank, investor, contributor, or regulatory agency may make that decision for you. However, when you work with Sweeney Conrad, audits and reviews go smoothly because our personnel are typically more experienced than other firms. We have about a 1 to 1 ratio of partners/managers to seniors/staff. We know that consistency of staffing is important to you. We can provide that consistency because we provide our employees with the training and the authority that leads to long-term careers with us — and we encourage them to think like business owners. Most importantly, we go beyond the financial statements and provide the advice you need related to your financial performance, systems, and day-to-day business decisions. In addition to audits and reviews for closely-held businesses, we provide the following:
Agreed-upon procedures - We work with you to design only those procedures that address the risk we perceive related to specific financial statement elements of control systems.
Financial statement compilation - We accumulate your information into financial statement format. This service offers no assurance as to the information contained in the financial statements.
Benefit plan audits - Most pension and profit sharing plans with over 100 participants are required by the Department of Labor to be audited. We perform this service for numerous companies annually. |
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| Forensic Accounting |
We use accounting and auditing skills to provide an analysis of financial records in conjunction with dispute resolutions, as well as fraud and theft investigation. Our damage measurement methods can determine the extent of financial loss and illegal accounting practices. We have a Certified Fraud Examiner who has specialized training in this area and is experienced in fraud perpetration and investigation techniques. In fraud audits, we can serve as an investigator, hired by a client’s attorney, or serve as an expert witness, hired by a plaintiff attorney. |
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| Financial Statements |
We can assist you in the preparation of your financial statements in accordance with professional standards, but express no opinion or any other form of assurance on the underlying information included in them. The financial statements produced can be a useful tool for management for making financial decisions. |
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| Financial Forecasts & Projections |
Forecasting is a necessity when trying to effectively manage and lead a business to profitability. From simple projections to complex financial modeling, our experienced staff can assist you in achieving your company's financial goals. |
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| Cash Flow & Budgeting Analysis |
| A business can be profitable and still run into trouble due to cash flow issues. We can forecast and evaluate your company's financial condition, estimate financing requirements, and track cash-flow sources and uses. |
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| Tax Services |
We prefer to take a proactive verses reactive approach to tax services. By keeping current on new tax laws and legislation, we are in a position to identify key tax planning opportunities that minimize both your current and future tax liabilities. We believe it is important to serve as your overall business and personal advisor to ensure that tax considerations are viewed from the perspective of the best economic benefit for your business and/or personal situation. We focus on serving middle-market closely-held businesses, their owners, and high net worth individuals. Our depth of experience allows us to perform a wide range of services for corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, non-profit organizations, estates, trusts and individuals. Our tax services include advice and assistance with:
Tax planning and return preparation
Adopting a new business structure or changing your existing structure
Purchasing or selling your business
Incentive compensation plans for key employees
Stock option planning
Real estate investments
Estate planning
Gifting closely-held business stock
Executive fringe benefits
Adopting a retirement plan
Charitable giving
Succession planning
Retirement planning
State and local taxes
Tax authority representation
Divorce and support issues |
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| International Services |
Understanding the risk and opportunities involved in international commerce, often requires the advice of professionals who understand your local, regional, national and international needs and objectives. Perhaps you’re a small local business looking to expand or an already established regional, national, or international company. Either way, Sweeney Conrad has skilled professionals with the knowledge to advise you on complex international business issues. We combine our understanding of international markets, business knowledge, and technical skills when assisting you with international business endeavors. Whether you need an experienced hand to guide you through new international markets or just to provide advice on local tax issues, we can assist you.
Sweeney Conrad provides various international resources and expanded expertise through our memberships in Polaris North America and PKF International. These associations are made up of members who are independent accounting and consulting firms located in major commercial centers around the world. The associations encourage the exchange of professional expertise, information and resources between member firms, their clients, and worldwide business communities. More and more companies are investing in international trade. We can be your local and international guide through the global economy.
We offer a full range of international tax, audit, and consulting services including:
International tax strategies both inbound and outbound
PKF's Worldwide Tax Guide access
Assistance with the establishment of local operations
Financial consulting, feasibility studies, and strategic planning
International contacts through our professional associations
Expanded industry knowledge
Trans-national audits
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| IRS Representation |
During our years of experience dealing with many taxing authorities, we have achieved a level of competence that can ensure our clients they are being properly represented before the various federal and state tax agencies. |
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| Buying & Selling a Business |
Buying or selling a business requires considerable time, effort, and resources. Competent, professional advice can save you valuable time and money in the process. Sweeney Conrad is a recognized leader in this region for providing acquisition, merger, and divestiture services for middle-market companies. We have consulted on the economic and tax aspects of over 150 transactions ranging in size from $500,000 to in excess of $30,000,000. We can help you:
Identify and evaluate purchase or sale targets
Prepare cash flow forecasts, a business plan or a company profile
Estimate the fair market value of the business to determine a reasonable price
Conduct the pre-transaction due diligence review
Obtain financing
Structure the transaction to obtain favorable tax and accounting treatment
Negotiate the deal and terms and conditions of the purchase and sale agreement
Determine the best corporate structure for the new entity
Set up the various operational aspects of the new business |
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| Fraud Prevention & Detection |
We use accounting and auditing skills to provide an analysis of financial records in conjunction with fraud and theft investigation. Our damage measurement methods can determine the extent of financial loss and illegal accounting practices.
Individuals attempting to commit fraud may look for situations where there are no internal controls or may try to overcome internal controls that are in place. Most situations involving fraud are unique and require specialized training to handle. If you suspect fraud may be occurring in your place of business, we can provide investigative and consulting services. Our team of specialists will conduct a confidential, unbiased investigation in what can often be a sensitive situation. We have a Certified Fraud Examiner who has specialized training in this area and is experienced in fraud perpetration and investigation techniques. In fraud audits, we can serve as an investigator, hired by a client’s attorney, or serve as an expert witness, hired by a plaintiff attorney.
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| Divorce Consulting |
Dealing with the financial aspects of a divorce can be overwhelming as well as emotional. Our specialists will help you work through these financial issues while keeping your best interests in mind. We’ll advise you on financial issues and tax implications as a result of the divorce while allowing you time to focus on the other important aspects of your life. Some of the services we provide are:
Cash Flow Planning – Depending on your specific needs, we’ll help you with cash flow planning and budgeting.
Strategic Tax Planning - We’ll advise you on tax implications and work through the property settlement issues.
Assisting Attorneys – We assist attorneys in reviewing and understanding the financial and tax aspects of the various agreements involved. We also work closely with the attorneys on various aspects of divorce litigation. |
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