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Denise Barron
CA, Senior Consultant
Denise has numerous years of professional experience as a chartered accountant, primarily in public accounting. While her most recent role was in finance in a private school, her focus and expertise is in audit, including internal audit for a major Canadian bank. Denise’s experience covers a wide array of industries, including banking, financial services, insurance, investment management and not-for-profit organizations. This experience provides her with the ability to quickly understand her clients’ business and control environments, allowing her to conduct effective and efficient sales tax reviews for them. Denise articled with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Toronto, Canada.
Denise Barron
CA, Senior Consultant
Denise has numerous years of professional experience as a chartered accountant, primarily in public accounting. While her most recent role was in finance in a private school, her focus and expertise is in audit, including internal audit for a major Canadian bank. Denise’s experience covers a wide array of industries, including banking, financial services, insurance, investment management and not-for-profit organizations. This experience provides her with the ability to quickly understand her clients’ business and control environments, allowing her to conduct effective and efficient sales tax reviews for them. Denise articled with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Toronto, Canada.
Mara Belgrave
CA, Senior Consultant
Mara has over seven years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. During this time, she has held senior finance roles in the high tech, travel, manufacturing and insurance industries. With her experience in systems implementation, mergers and acquisitions and Sarbanes Oxley compliance, she is able to quickly assess her clients situations in order to conduct sales tax reviews in the most efficient and effective manner. Mara’s strong analytical and organization skills are further enhanced by her interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with senior management. Mara obtained her CA designation with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Waterloo, Canada. She also obtained her CPA designation in 1999.
Michael Browne
CA, Senior Consultant
Michael has several years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. During this time, he has held senior roles in finance and accounting in the computer software and retail industries and has taught at the post secondary level. His strong analytical and communication skills, along with his diverse audit and industry experience, enable him to interact in an efficient and effective manner with his clients ensuring sales tax reviews that successfully meet the needs of his clients. Michael obtained his CA designation with Grant Thornton International in Toronto, Canada and has successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Doug Copeland
CMA, Senior Consultant
Doug brings over fifteen years of professional experience to Definitive. During this time, he has held senior financial and taxation support positions with Canadian subsidiaries of large U.S. multinational organizations. Doug’s responsibilities in these organizations have allowed him to gain direct experience in the manufacturing, finance, logistics, and service sectors. This diverse experience, along with Doug’s strong technical, organizational and interpersonal skills, allows him to quickly assess new recovery opportunities and potential process improvement initiatives for his clients.
Robert (Bob) Cotton
CA, Senior Director, Consulting
Bob has thirty years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. During the past twelve years, Bob has practiced as a sales tax consultant providing services to a diverse group of large multinational organizations, including financial institutions. His broad range of experience, legislative expertise and strong computer skills enable him to maximize his clients’ sales tax recoveries in an efficient and effective manner. Prior to this time, Bob was Vice-President, Finance of two separate Canadian companies with diverse interests in the retail, manufacturing, hospitality and investment sectors. He is a former senior manager with Deloitte & Touche in Toronto, Canada and has also successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Jim Danaher
Senior Consultant
Jim has in excess of fourteen years experience as a sales tax consultant. Prior to joining Definitive, Jim was a principal at Danaher & Associates Inc., where his responsibilities included large file management in a varied range of industries. Jim has performed sales tax reviews for numerous Canadian and U.S. multinational organizations. He has developed a broad technical base that enables him to conduct detailed sales tax reviews in a thorough and non disruptive manner. Jim has successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Mark Fitzmaurice
CMA, Senior Consultant
Mark is a former Divisional Controller with many years of experience in the corrugating, printing and steel fabrication industries. During the last nine years, Mark has conducted numerous sales tax reviews for many large multi-national companies in various sectors, including retail, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, transportation, municipal and financial institutions. Mark’s strong analytical and organization skills, as well as an eye for detail, enable him to conduct effective and efficient tax reviews for his clients. Mark has completed the CICA in-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Shawn Garrett
CA, Senior Consultant
Shawn is a former controller with several years experience in the steel manufacturing, promotional advertising and marketing and brewing industries. During this time, Shawn has developed strong analytical and IT skills, enabling him to conduct his reviews in an efficient, non-disruptive and thorough manner. Shawn articled with Ernst & Young in Mississauga, Canada where he performed assurance, accounting and taxation services for clients in various industries, including manufacturing, financial services, health care, real estate and transportation. Shawn has also successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Agnieszka Guellard
MBA, CMA, Consultant
Agnieszka obtained her professional experience working in various accounting and finance roles for over ten years. She came to Definitive from a boutique executive search firm, where she held the Chief Financial Officer position. Prior to that, she worked for an international tour operator as a Controller and was responsible for its European division. She also held progressive accounting positions in pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies. Agnieszka has earned her Masters of Business Administration degree at Schulich School of Business.
David Hurme
CA, Senior Consultant
David has over eleven years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. During this time, he has held senior financial and operational roles with both private and public corporations in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, nuclear energy and agriculture. Most recently, David was finance manager of the Canadian subsidiary of a world leader in the agri-business industry. With strong experience in Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, process re-engineering, and a variety of ERP systems, he is able to assist with his clients’ process improvement initiatives while also maximizing their sales tax recoveries in an efficient and effective manner. David obtained his CA designation with Glenn, Graydon, Wright in Oakville, Canada and has successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Brian Litvin
CA, Senior Consultant
Brian has nearly twenty years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. During this time, he has both been a partner in public practice and held various senior financial roles in the manufacturing, distribution and retail industries. His experience in system analysis and implementation, combined with strong analytical skills and keen business acumen, enable him to conduct effective and efficient sales tax reviews for clients in many industry sectors. Brian obtained his South African CA designation in 1987, and his Canadian CA designation in 1996.
Chester Lupinski
CA, Senior Director, Consulting
Chester has over twenty years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. Of that time, he has spent the last seventeen years focusing exclusively in the area of commodity taxation. His broad industry experience includes the financial service, real estate, manufacturing, and retail sectors. Prior to joining Definitive, Chester was a sole practitioner who provided sales tax recovery and consulting services to his clients, including other chartered accountants in public practice. Chester has completed numerous commodity tax courses. He has prepared educational materials and presented tax seminars to client staff and industry groups. His strong technical tax knowledge, coupled with diverse financial audit and business experience, enable him to provide Definitive clients with valuable management and process improvement advice, while maximizing sales tax recoveries. Chester articled with Deloitte & Touche in Toronto, Canada.
Rob McGregor
CA, Senior Consultant
Rob has over twenty years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. During this time, he has gained significant business and financial management experience in both entrepreneurial and multi-national corporations. He has held senior financial, executive and consulting roles in a wide range of industries, including automotive, distribution, and high technology. This familiarity with unique and complex business environments, along with strong analytical and interpersonal skills, enables Rob to conduct efficient, high quality and thorough sales tax reviews for a varied client base. Rob obtained his CA designation with Deloitte & Touche in Toronto, Canada.
Preben Mikkelsen
CGA, Senior Consultants
Preben brings over thirty years of financial and operational experience as Controller and Vice-President of Finance for multi plant facilities in Canada. Experience in System Implementation and Operational Excellence gives Preben the tools to conduct effective and efficient sales tax reviews. Seven years of industry experience, strong interpersonal skills and keen business acumen have provided Preben with the tools to understand our clients’ needs in order to deliver effective results in a wide variety in industries. Preben has completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Clifford Miller
CA, Senior Consultant
Clifford has over fifteen years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. During this time, he has held senior roles in finance, accounting and taxation in the pharmaceutical, telecommunication and wholesale travel industries. Clifford was most recently Manager, Business Partner Support and Taxation of a large multi-national pharmaceutical company where he provided financial advisory services to senior management and was responsible for all facets of income and commodity tax. With his strong accounting, taxation and business knowledge and extensive experience with ERP systems, Clifford is able to conduct effective and efficient sales tax reviews for his clients. He obtained his CA designation in South Africa and is currently a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Clifford has completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Mary Jane Paterson
CA, Consultant
Mary Jane has over twenty years of diverse professional experience as a senior financial executive with numerous large public companies. During this time, she has also consulted in various industries, including telecommunications, retail and real estate development. Her background in systems implementation and forensic-style reviews, together with extensive organizational and strong interpersonal skills, enable Mary Jane to successfully provide premium client service to large, complex organizations. She articled with KPMG in Toronto and Mississauga, Canada.
JoAnne Paty
CMA, Senior Consultant
JoAnne has over twenty years of diverse experience as a professional accountant. During the past six years, JoAnne has practiced as a sales tax consultant and has conducted numerous sales tax reviews for many large multi-national companies in various sectors, including retail, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, transportation and financial institutions. Prior to this, JoAnne was a Controller/Corporate Controller for a large multi-national retailer and for several medium sized companies in the manufacturing, transportation and distribution industries. Strong analytical and interpersonal skills, combined with her diverse experience and knowledge of sales tax legislation, has enabled JoAnne to provide premium client service to large complex organizations in an efficient and effective manner. JoAnne has also successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Alex Pond
CA, MBA, Senior Consultant
Alex has extensive experience conducting computer-based sales tax reviews in multinational and regional organizations. Highly computer literate and experienced in developing and utilizing accounting systems, Alex can quickly establish a custom approach to each review to maximize the recovery in an efficient manner. Alex is a former CFO with over ten years of business experience in the service, retail and manufacturing sectors. He articled with KPMG in Toronto, Canada and received his MBA designation from the Ivey School of Business. He has also successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Pierre Robinet
CA, Senior Consultant
Pierre has in excess of ten years experience as a sales tax consultant. During this time, he has performed sales tax reviews for numerous Canadian and US multinational organizations. Pierre has developed a broad technical and technological knowledge base that enables him to conduct detailed sales tax reviews in a thorough and non-disruptive manner. He is a former Director of Taxation for a large Canadian co-operative where he was directly responsible for the implementation of the GST compliance system. Pierre articled with Ernst & Young in Windsor, Canada and has also successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Sandeep Sareen
CA, Senior Consultant
Sandeep has over eleven years of experience providing professional services to clients in a variety of industries, including the telecommunications, high tech and health care sectors. More recently, Sandeep held the position of Tax Manager with a large Canadian pharmaceutical company. Prior to that, he was a Tax Manager with Deloitte & Touche in Montreal, Canada. With his background, experience and strong organizational and interpersonal skills, Sandeep has developed an ability to identify and deal with issues in a timely, effective and efficient manner. In so doing, he is always able to meet and exceed his clients’ expectations. He articled with Deloitte & Touche in Montreal, Canada and has also successfully completed both the CICA In-Depth Income Tax Course and the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Paul Shwetz
CA, Senior Consultant
Paul has over fifteen years of professional experience as a chartered accountant, providing accounting, treasury and taxation services to large multinational organizations. During this time, he has held senior finance positions in the real estate, service and manufacturing sectors. Paul’s diversified experience has allowed him to quickly adapt to complex business environments and recommend and implement solutions effectively. Paul has worked in Germany as the Director of Finance for the European division of a Canadian automotive parts manufacturer. He also worked in Mexico implementing financial and management reporting systems for the same organization. Paul articled with Ernst & Young in London, Canada and has also successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Brent Stackhouse
CA, Senior Consultant
Brent has over twenty years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. During this time, he has held senior positions in both public practice and industry. Most recently, he was financial controller for a national distributor of graphic arts equipment and supplies to the printing industry. Brent prides himself in providing excellent and timely client service. His strong organizational and analytical skills lead to both efficient and effective sales tax reviews. For over ten years, Brent has been teaching accounting courses to professional accounting students at the community college level. Brent articled with KPMG in Calgary, Canada and has successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Val Steffan
CA, Senior Consultant
Val has close to thirty years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. For the past thirteen years he has practiced as a sales tax consultant providing advice and guidance to a wide range of organizations. Val’s insight into sales tax issues and systems has resulted in very positive results for many clients. Previously, Val held the position of Vice-President Finance with corporations in the broadcasting and manufacturing sectors. He articled with Ernst & Young in Toronto and has successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Wayne Striker
CA, Senior Consultant
Wayne has more than twenty years of professional experience as a senior financial executive in the service, retail and health care sectors. During this time, his financial responsibilities focused significantly on information systems, resulting in extensive participation and management of several large financial system implementations. Wayne has conducted sales tax reviews for large organizations in many industries, including food products, manufacturing, retail and the service sector. With his knowledge of information systems, Wayne is able to effectively identify opportunities for his clients with maximum efficiency. He articled with Arthur Andersen in Toronto, Canada. Wayne has also successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
Wayne Willis
CA, Senior Consultant
Wayne has over twenty years of professional experience as a chartered accountant. During this time, he has gained significant business and financial management experience in both entrepreneurial and global multi-national corporations. He has held senior executive roles in a range of businesses, including the telecommunications, distribution, manufacturing and high technology industries. This familiarity with unique and complex business environments, along with strong IT, analytical and interpersonal skills, enables Wayne to conduct efficient, high quality and thorough reviews for a wide client base. Wayne obtained his CA designation with Deloitte & Touche in Toronto, Canada. He has also successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Income Tax course.
Bonnie Yashinsky
CA, Senior Consultant
Bonnie has over 15 years of diverse business experience, ranging from attestation to finance to MIS, gained from working at large Canadian corporations. This broad experience base enables Bonnie to interact effectively with a company’s financial processing systems, where she is able to provide premium client service in a concise and efficient manner. Bonnie articled with Ruby, Stein & Wagner in Montreal, Canada and subsequently moved into Levy Pilotte’s tax department in Montreal where she was exposed to a variety of clients and their tax issues. Since moving to Toronto, Canada in 1991, Bonnie has held various financial roles in the broadcasting, mutual fund and banking industries. Bonnie has also successfully completed the CICA In-Depth Commodity Tax Course.
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