Parallel CPA is a forward-thinking accounting firm dedicated to environmental sustainability and excellent customer service. We specialize in tax, accounting and business management for individuals and small businesses. Our firm is almost entirely paperless, helping guide the accounting industry in an environmentally-conscious direction. We conduct business using highly secure email and online signature programs. Our deliverables are provided electronically by Sync, Dropbox or via a USB drive, greatly decreasing the paper we produce and the paper you need to carry around. Parallel is bullfrogpowered® with 100% green electricity. Our office policies are geared to significantly reduce landfill waste. We are excited to provide you and your business with highly professional accounting services while decreasing your carbon footprint.
Mark is the Founder of Parallel CPA (previously Jess & Clark, CPA). He loves tax, accounting and budgeting - he's been told that, although these are things he should not readily admit at non-office parties, they are perfectly acceptable within the office (and at office parties). Mark graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Victoria in 2001 and completed his CGA designation in 2010. Mark has had the pleasure of working both in public practice and in various senior financial roles in industry (CFO, Controller) – which gives him great insight on a variety of business situations.
Fun Fact:
Mark loves construction! His current top-build is a 10 x 10 tree house (7 feet up, with a wrap around deck, solar panel and cedar shingle roof) located in his backyard - constructed with Ali and his kids.
Ali is the Manager of our Bookkeeping and Payroll division. She oversees all bookkeeping and payroll accounts, is our client onboarding specialist, cloud-based solutions architect, trainer, and client manager. Since 2016, Ali owned and operated her own cloud-based bookkeeping company, Niche Accounting, which merged with Jess & Clark, CPA in late 2020. Ali has detailed knowledge regarding cloud-based accounting and business management software, and is constantly researching and staying ahead of the curve on automating accounting processes.
Fun Fact:
Ali started one of the last remaining locally owned and operated pet stores, Paws on Cook, in 2010. She successfully ran it for its first four years before selling to the current owners. Ali is an animal lover to her core.
Crystal is a part of our accounting team and brings a variety of experience from across industries and roles. She specializes in personal and corporate tax preparation and planning, management accounting, and business planning. She has successfully passed the Common Final Exam (CFE) and is currently in the final stages of the Chartered Professional Accountant designation program.
Fun Fact:
Crystal is a jigsaw puzzle aficionado, and it is not unusual for her to complete 1,000 piece puzzles in one sitting.
Sharon is an Accounting Technician and spreadsheet enthusiast. She comes from a varied professional background including newspaper advertising/production and owning a medical/retail business with her husband. Sharon is the queen of office decorations, helping to plan and decorate for birthdays and end of tax season parties.
Fun Fact:
Sharon spearheaded a project to fill Mark’s office with 1200 balloons to celebrate his birthday.
Mackenzie is one of our Accounting Technicians and Payroll Administrators. Mackenzie started at Parallel CPA in 2018 as an Administrative Assistant and has continued to grow her skills within the office. Mackenzie graduated from Camosun with an Associate of Arts Degree in General Arts with Honours in 2021. Along with her valued office skills, she is also our Office Gardener ensuring all our office plants and living green wall are happy, thriving, and well taken care of.
Fun Fact:
Mackenzie has been paddling outrigger canoe, a Polynesian watercraft, locally and internationally for over a decade. The highlight of her paddling career was competing in Tahiti at the 2018 IVF World Sprint Championships.
Serena is one of our Senior Accounting Technicians. Serena is excited about the future of accounting and leverages her knowledge of technology, automation, and cloud software to help ensure that clients have the easiest experience possible. Serena graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Victoria before completing a post degree diploma in accounting at Camosun College. She recently passed the CPA Common Final Exam in September 2021 and is in the process of completing the practical experience component of her CPA designation.
Fun Fact:
Serena spent 10 years working at various jobs in the music industry before pivoting to a career in accounting and even ran her own non-profit organization that helped foster and grow the Victoria local music scene.
Cady is our Office Manager as well as the friendly face at our front desk. She manages all things administrative, assists and supports Mark and Ali, and plans a variety of office parties and celebrations. She graduated with her Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Entrepreneurship from the University of Victoria in 2017 and is in the process of a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University.
Fun Fact:
Cady loves to bake and in 2018 decided she would try to make 100 pies. So far, she has made 43/100 including blueberry, lemon meringue, and a savoury favourite – tourtière!
Laura is one of our Accounting Technicians with over 6 years of experience in cloud-based bookkeeping. She started working for Ali in 2017 and is her longest standing side kick. Laura excels in creating and maintaining relationships with clients and their team members and working closely with them to ensure accurate bookkeeping. Her specialty is in utilizing third party applications for expense capture automation.
Fun Fact:
Laura has a passion for mountain biking, with popular trails located literally in her backyard, bordering her beautiful property. Also, she has been wearing birkenstocks (not the same pair, and not while she’s mountain biking), since 1994.
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