Backgrounder
Haskell & White LLP is one of the largest independently owned accounting, auditing and tax-consulting firms in southern California, specializing in serving public and private middle-market companies.
The Firm combines the extensive services, knowledge, experience and reach of national and international accounting firms with the personal attention, responsiveness and value of a regional organization. Through its membership in The Leading Edge Alliance, Haskell & White offers the resources of a global group of accounting and consulting companies, enabling the Firm to address the needs of its clients across the country and around the world. In addition, many of the Firm's partners and manager honed their accounting skills and experience at the "Big Four" and other national firms.
Haskell & White focuses on client service within a broad range of industries, with specialties in real estate, manufacturing, distribution, technology and retail.
"Haskell & White is ideally suited to the business environment in Southern California, specifically in our ability to serve entrepreneurs as well as publicly traded companies," says Wayne R. Pinnell, who took over as Haskell & White's managing partner in July 2004 after more than nine years at the Firm.
Establishing itself as a trustworthy resource and consultant for its clients is at the foundation of the Firm's business philosophy, Pinnell adds.
"We call this the 'Value of Experience'," says Pinnell. "Our professionals strive to be viewed as business advisors, not just auditors or accountants. We believe it is necessary to thoroughly understand our clients' businesses to better serve in our capacity as auditors and tax/business advisors"
Haskell & White was formed in 1988 when a predecessor firm, with four offices in California, separated into independent operating entities. The Newport Beach office became Haskell & White. The Firm has since experienced steady growth, expanding to more than 70 professionals to serve clients throughout Orange County, as well as in San Diego, Riverside and Los Angeles counties.
Overall, Haskell & White offers clients fewer barriers to crucial interaction and consultation with Firm management than larger firms, says Pinnell.
"This is what truly sets us apart from other firms — effective and timely client access to senior people who have extensive experience and expertise," he adds. "We strive to understand our client's businesses above all."
The Firm also provides a unique value proposition for its clients — highly experienced professionals performing complex and specialized tax, audit and accounting services at significantly more affordable rates than the "Big Four" accounting firms.
Company Expertise
Haskell & White provides solid expertise and services to its clients in the following areas:
- Tax Consulting and Planning
- Audit and Business Advisory Services
- SEC Advisory Services
- Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance
- Mergers & Acquisitions
Tax Consulting and Planning
Income tax consulting and planning, as well as the preparation of tax returns, are the cornerstone of Haskell & White's tax practice. The Firm has a long tradition in planning and consulting for the real estate industry, including structuring transactions, partnership matters and tax efficient dispositions of property. In the corporate group, the Firm focuses on mergers and acquisitions assistance; federal, multi-state and international tax planning; and financial accounting for income taxes. As with the real estate group, the corporate tax group handles complicated tax compliance for many of its clients. The Firm also has extensive experience in handling matters before the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities.
Audit and Business Advisory Services
Haskell & White provides financial statement audit, review and compilation services to middle-market companies, not-for-profit institutions, and employee benefit plans. The Firm also provides audit services to middle-market public companies and assists them with their unique regulatory (see "SEC Advisory Services").
SEC Advisory Services
Haskell & White is registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the regulatory body formed as a result of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act to oversee firms that audit public companies. The Firm provides audit and compliance services to public companies operating in a variety of industries. These services include the required annual audits of financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting, interim reviews, and advice for compliance with the form and content rules for the related periodic filings with the SEC. The Firm also advises companies on registration statement disclosure requirements, including those for Initial Public Offerings and follow-on registrations.
In addition, Haskell & White provides consulting services to non-audit client public companies. The Firm assists its public company clients with compliance with the internal control requirements of Section 404 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as consulting on a variety of complex accounting and disclosure matters. These matters include, but are not limited to: compliance with SEC rules and regulations, and various stock exchanges for Initial Public Offerings and required periodic reporting; disclosure contained in ManagementŐs Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; and accounting and consulting practices related to stock-based compensation, revenue recognition, intangible assets and other complex areas.
Haskell & White's involvement with public companies, venture capital firms, equity funds and investment bankers sets it apart from a typical firm of its size.
Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance
Haskell & White excels at solving complex financial problems for clients who tend to be overlooked or underserved by the larger firms, particularly in the wake of the regulations of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Firm's professionals are experienced in performing Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 implementation and compliance work, as well as assisting in other compliant aspects of the Act.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Haskell & White's corporate group has decades of experience in assisting clients in structuring acquisitions, dispositions and combinations of business enterprises. The Firm's experts assist with due diligence, structuring, document review, and post-transaction compliance for all manner of transactions involving corporations, LLC's, partnerships and other businesses. Working with both buyers and sellers, the Firm has assisted in a variety of transactions over the last several years with deal sizes varying from about $5 million to almost $200 million.
Company Future
"We believe we are entering one of the strongest periods of our Firm's history," says Pinnell. "We plan to continue to build the stature of our Firm in Southern California and beyond while maintaining our tradition and vision of integrity and ethical business practices. The increasing service demands of public companies, in particular, have created significant opportunities for the growth of our Firm."
Community Service
Haskell & White has received numerous awards through the years for its volunteer work. Most notably, the Orange County arts community honored the Firm in 2005 with a Distinguished Achievement Award at the 24th Annual "Business in the Arts Awards" event. It was the fifth straight year Haskell & White was recognized for its contributions to the OC arts community.
Haskell & White donates approximately 400 to 500 hours each year of professional services, specifically tax and audit expertise, to the arts in Orange County, as well as cash contributions to underwrite events at Laguna Playhouse, South Coast Repertory and Irvine Barclay Theater.
Additionally, the Firm's personnel, particularly its partners and managers, volunteer their time to several community and professional organizations, and serve on the boards of a number of such entities as well.
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