Clarus Partners’ SALT team takes the burden of
understanding the nearly 10,000 tax jurisdictions in the U.S.
off our clients. We offer our clients a full-service solution by
assisting in the management of the entire process in
addition to providing tax consulting, tax compliance, and
tax planning.
Income Franchise Tax
Systems of corporate state and local taxation vary widely from state to state; one thing they have in common:
complexity. As states continue to tinker with their systems of taxation, that complexity grows every year. Our
knowledgeable team of experts stays abreast of changes and manages this complexity so our clients don’t have
to.
Sales and Use Tax
Sales and use taxes are among the largest recurring transactional tax expense items for companies. As a major
source of revenue for many states, these taxes are aggressively enforced by state agencies. At Clarus Partners,
we offer a comprehensive approach that not only focuses on providing high-value tax saving solutions, but also
offers sales and use tax compliance.
Property Tax
Our team of highly skilled professionals are uniquely qualified to ensure that our clients’ reporting is accurate and
compliant. We offer a variety of options to our clients, from assisting with process improvement to full-service
outsourcing.
Credits and Incentives
Clarus Partners works closely with small- to medium-sized businesses to capture tax credits and incentives that are
available to them. Often these businesses are not aware of opportunities at the federal, state, and/or local level
to lower tax liability or obtain funds based on their business operations and plans. We track new and changing
incentives to make sure our clients are leveraging all opportunities.
Often incentives are based on:
Our state and local tax (SALT) services include:
o
AUDIT MANAGEMENT
o
NEXUS STUDIES
o
TRANSACTIONAL PLANNING
o
VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURES
o
STATE AND LOCAL TAX COMPLIANCE
o
REFUND REVIEWS
o
INCENTIVE NEGOTIATION
Certified Public Accountants + Business Partners
1233 Dublin Road Columbus, Ohio 43215 T 614-545-9100 F 614-545-5461 www.claruspartners.com
The Clarus Experience
We recognize your company’s desire to receive both efficient and value-added tax services. We understand your needs
and the goals you would like to achieve from both a tax and overall business standpoint. It is our intent to provide you
with superior service. In order to achieve your objectives and ours, Clarus will keep an ongoing stream of communication
with you and your team.
The following tenets describe the Clarus philosophy regarding a successful partnership:
Dedicated to Your Future
Clarus is dedicated to the current and future success of your company. With this in mind, you will receive significant partner
involvement. The experience and competence of our on-site team is
second to none. The team included in this proposal will make the process
clear-cut while providing insightful, creative, and prompt solutions.
Prompt Transition
Clarus has the experience and know-how to make the transition efficient
and complete. We are confident that our team of professionals will ask the
right questions in a timely and skillful manner.
Clarus Understands Your Needs and Wants
Our partnership will provide you with both efficient and value-added tax
services. It is our team of knowledgeable and seasoned professionals who
guide Clarus’s overall attitude toward client service – valuable, responsive,
and timely. We will work closely with your company by succinctly
communicating the status of the engagement, questions that arise, and
knowledge we possess.
“The professionals at Clarus
are thorough and prompt
with everything they
undertake on our behalf. It
gives me tremendous peace
of mind.”
Steven Cohen, President
Framework to Realize Your Goals
The framework outlined below provides a general overview of the process by which we operate to offer the highest quality
tax programs.
•
Open and regular communication – Your Clarus team of professionals is committed to open and regular
communication. We will outlined a timeline to address critical aspects of the engagement. We believe constant
contact ensures a more efficient and successful outcome.
•
High level engagement team – We bring a team of sophisticated, experienced, and knowledgeable
professionals. The Clarus team will be actively involved in the day-to-day matters.
•
Solid understanding of audit procedures and standards – Our seasoned team of professionals has a solid
understanding of the procedures and standards required for a review. Your on-site team makes a significant
difference and elevates the Clarus experience to a level unmatched by others.
•
Efficient documentation of work – From our many years of experience, Clarus has a refined work paper practice
that ensures methodical, transparent, and well-organized documentation.
•
Precise quality control – Our quality control systems include a review of all work products by Clarus leadership.
Communication of the Engagement
High quality communication is an important feature of the Clarus process. Underpinning our approach is a commitment
to no surprises, with early advice on any potential issues. The amount of time we spend on-site and the interactive
exchanges with your company will help build a stronger working relationship, bring fresher perspectives, and provide early
identification of emerging issues.
Certified Public Accountants + Business Partners
1233 Dublin Road Columbus, Ohio 43215 T 614-545-9100 F 614-545-5461 www.claruspartners.com
Having a senior-level team is what will make your experience with Clarus different. Your Clarus team has the extensive
experience and authority to make and communicate accounting decisions on behalf of our firm. This senior level team
will provide a rapid response to accounting issues that arise during the engagement, making your experience more
efficient, accurate, and less costly.
About Clarus Partners
Clarus Partners, founded in 2007, is more than an accounting firm. We are business advisors who focus on the overall fiscal
health and well-being of our clients. No matter what the assignment, we will always look out for the overall strength and
viability of your company to create competitive advantages throughout its lifecycle.
•
The Business Life Cycle – Accounting needs grow and change dramatically throughout the life of a company.
As your business advisors, Clarus will suggest services that empower your company to stay ahead of the curve
and take advantage of every opportunity – at every stage of development.
Clarus brings to the relationship practical fiscal guidance, broad capabilities, a command of complex, multifaceted
business processes, the depth of expertise to navigate critical business challenges, and the personal attention of our senior
management team. Our mission statement and core values will drive your Clarus experience.
•
Mission Statement – Clarus will deliver world class financial, accounting, and tax services to its clients by investing
in people; maintaining a diverse talent base that will allow us to serve the needs of businesses and their owners
throughout the business life cycle; and delivering a fresh perspective by cultivating relationships with our clients.
Our experience and knowledge is most valuable when we know and understand the people we serve.
•
Core Values
♦
Perspective – We pride ourselves on providing our clients with a fresh perspective. We take a creative,
yet pragmatic approach in helping our clients succeed and prosper.
♦
Relationships – We value the relationships we have with each other, our clients, and the community we
serve.
♦
Integrity – We are a reliable organization that will always do what we say and act in a trustworthy
manner.
♦
Fun – We enjoy being with each other and our clients and we look for opportunities to have fun together.
Certified Public Accountants + Business Partners
1233 Dublin Road Columbus, Ohio 43215 T 614-545-9100 F 614-545-5461 www.claruspartners.com
Meet the Clarus Team
Jeff Mallory, Partner
Jeff has over 20 years of state and local tax experience and specializes in sales
and use tax. Over his career, Jeff has held various local, regional and national
leadership positions with KPMG, Deloitte, and Duff & Phelps.
Through his various experiences, Jeff has assisted clients with sales and use tax
matters in multiple jurisdictions. He has managed clients with sales and use tax
refund recovery projects, sales and use tax audits, voluntary disclosure
negotiations, sales and use tax software implementations, and sales and use
tax planning.
Jeff also has significant experience helping clients with sales and use tax
compliance needs. While serving in one of his national leadership roles, Jeff
established a national sales and use tax compliance center.
Brent Johnson, Partner
Brent’s experience in public accounting, coupled with managing a Corporate
Tax Department, allows him to deliver effective tax compliance, insightful and
practical analysis of tax planning, all while keeping an eye on the impact
these functions have on a corporation’s overall financial performance.Since
beginning his career in tax at Deloitte in 1991, where he collaborated on the
reengineering of the firm’s compliance services, he has specialized in
corporate tax compliance, planning, and financial reporting. In 1999, Brent
became the head of the Tax Department at Safelite Group, now Belron U.S. In
2005, he started Johnson & Company, CPAs, which he subsequently merged
with Clarus Partners in 2007
Certified Public Accountants + Business Partners
1233 Dublin Road Columbus, Ohio 43215 T 614-545-9100 F 614-545-5461 www.claruspartners.com
Monika Diehl, Tax Director
Monika began her career with Deloitte in 1998 working as an external
auditor. In 2001 she started in Internal Audit at Safelite Auto Glass and then
transitioned to the Tax Department in 2003. Monika came to Clarus Partners in
2011 where she has remained focused on Corporate Tax.
Monika’s corporate experience includes managing federal tax compliance
including reporting for U.S. businesses with foreign ownership or
subsidiaries. Additionally, she has managed tax filings in all 50 states, including
audits, and consideration of related issues. Monika has also worked with
business teams to help consider regulatory obligations and set clear and
workable paths for meeting those requirements.
Jeff Stonerock, Tax Director
As a Director in the State and Local tax group, Jeff brings over 22 years of tax
planning, incentives, audit defense, refund claims and tax compliance
experience. Jeff’s primary responsibilities include: tax planning, refund claims
and audit defense in State and local tax.
Jeff previously worked at Honda for 17 years providing tax planning, incentives
and audit defense in the Federal income, State income, sales tax, property tax
and various miscellaneous taxes in both the US and Canada. Prior to this
experience, Jeff has worked in the tax groups of various companies.
Jeff has saved more than a billion dollars in taxes through his unique and
creative solutions in incentives, planning and refund claims at these various
company’s over the past 20 years.
Certified Public Accountants + Business Partners
1233 Dublin Road Columbus, Ohio 43215 T 614-545-9100 F 614-545-5461 www.claruspartners.com