Shemus Rushout's Blog by Shemus Rushout

Hill & Associates: Our Services

musrus — 2014-07-12 07:16:08 UTC

Travel & Event Security

Increasingly, company executives and other employees are required to travel to unfamiliar or potentially hostile locations in order to transact business. In addition, offsite meetings and corporate participation in major events can expose groups of employees to varying degrees of risk. Hill & Associates can assist clients with all aspects of travel and event security, ranging from full hostile environment protective security to executive travel facilitation. This includes major event risk management, event security services, travel risk management, travel risk assessment and protection of individuals and sensitive information at offsite meetings and events.

Risk Management

Today's extended enterprise creates new and unfamiliar risk exposures, which often go ignored or undiscovered until it is too late. Outsourced and 'just in time' business models, security risk assessment and risk management services, which rely heavily on information systems to leverage global networks of suppliers, subcontractors and customers are changing companies' risk profiles beyond recognition. The resulting interdependencies and shared risks cannot be managed by traditional solutions anchored in a single geography or function. In this dynamic business environment, our strategic risk management approach, based on the ISO 31000 standard, balances a global risk perspective with an enterprise-wide view of key business processes and in-depth knowledge of local conditions and circumstances. In addition to designing the processes and systems to address a client's assessed risks, we can provide comprehensive support in programme implementation from our own local resources. We can also provide executive protection services and fraud protection services.

Crisis Management

Companies operating in volatile environments are facing ever increasing expectations from staff, shareholders, regulators, and other stakeholders to have planned for and robustly respond to unexpected events. Companies require well prepared contingency plans to deal with a variety of issues including natural disasters, weather related phenomena, political turmoil, insurgency & terrorism, local activism, local labour unrest and the like. Hill & Associates offers both a deep knowledge of the local environments in which companies are operating as well as a thorough understanding of current best practices being adopted to plan for and manage crises. We also maintain an unparalleled response capability so that should an incident occur, we can provide immediate local assistance. We have time and again proven that we have the commitment and capabilities to provide practical support to our clients throughout any crisis.

Bennett Jones Lawyers and Advisors Group: Construction

musrus — 2014-12-27 02:18:21 UTC

In this world of innovation in construction and procurement, complex construction agreements and financing structures, detailed legislation, and aggressive competition, competent and timely legal support is indispensable for any successful player in the construction industry. Our strong construction contracts team, combined with our litigation and corporate commercial practices and our state of the art technical and document management systems, provides full legal support to the construction industry in this increasingly complex, hybrid area of commercial law and litigation.

Our clients include owners, designers, contractors and lenders in the construction business, in government and the private sector, as well as the businesses that finance and underwrite construction projects of all kinds. This includes construction of resource extraction infrastructure, including power plants, mines, dams, pipelines, highways, water reservoirs and sewage lagoons, commercial, industrial and office buildings, shopping centres and utilities.

Our services fall into the five major categories of venture structuring, contract negotiation, financial risk management, construction challenges and construction claims. Early in project development, we engage in the structuring of joint ventures, partnerships, consortia and corporate vehicles to integrate risk equity, design expertise, construction capability and operational experience. Effective litigation management starts with tight, well-written contracts. In the implementation phase we advise clients on contract preparation, analysis and review of a variety of construction-related agreements, including joint venture, construction, consulting, supply and sub-contract agreements. We also counsel and defend clients on coverage issues, most often in connection with owner-controlled insurance programs, liability policies, builders’ risk policies, errors and omissions and professional liability coverage.

Throughout the construction process, we represent clients in matters involving progress payments, certificates of substantial completion, claims, warranty periods and obligations, holdbacks, lien periods and rights. When disputes arise, we represent clients in connection with liens, construction defects and specific performance issues.

We provide ongoing legal support on operational issues such as employee and labour relations matters involving Workers’ Safety and Insurance Board and employment standards matters, occupational health and safety requirements, employment contracts, severance, collective bargaining and union relations and grievances, as well as tax litigation matters, import permits, environmental damage claims and other claims arising out of ongoing and completed projects.

Shannon & Associates independent accounting and consulting firms: Leadership

musrus — 2015-04-29 08:59:40 UTC

Trusted expertise for long-term success. Our dedicated team of experts are prized for their experience, longevity and financial acumen. Our clients know us as management consultants who understand the financial ramifications of their business decisions. And they trust us as forward-thinking advisors who are dedicated to their long-term success. We realize that our success relies on our ability to help our clients be as profitable as possible. We do this by taking a more personal approach to financial management, immersing ourselves in our clients’ business through trust and honest, strategic and straightforward advice. A broad range of accounting experience Three partners ensure the accounting services expertise offered by Shannon & Associates. Together, we offer a wealth of experience that ranges from manufacturing and distribution to financial institutions; consulting and international tax to accounting and software.

Richard Lackey, CPA, CFA

rlackey@shannon-cpas.com

Is the firm’s managing partner and has been with Shannon & Associates for 25 years. Dick has steadily built a reputation on his ability to recognize client needs and to be innovative in devising solutions. A steady dedication to his work has established him as a trustworthy asset for any client. Along the way, he has become an authority in an astonishing variety of fields, including: Corporate acquisitions Individual and corporate taxes Reorganizations and liquidations Estate and personal financial planning Compensation and retirement plans Business succession and transition planning International taxation of foreign-owned US companies Dick is licensed in Washington as both a CPA and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

Julie Courtney, CPA

jcourtney@shannon-cpas.com

A partner and Director of Accounting & Auditing with Shannon & Associates, Julie’s primary fields of expertise include financial and retirement plan audits–both for privately held business and for nonprofit agencies. However, she is also an authority in the arenas of financial reporting, computerized accounting systems, and the advising of closely held businesses. She has considerable experience in a broad range of industries: Building and construction Manufacturing Nonprofits Wholesale distributors Retail Real estate development Quality and technical review on all audits and full disclosure financial statements Her areas of expertise include: Internal control risk assessment and analysis Financial statement reviews and compilations Employee Benefit Plan Audits As a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor, Julie also provides consultation on initial setup, as well as the review of ongoing activities and the establishment of accounting policies. Julie is a licensed CPA in the state of Washington.

Julia Atwood, SPHR

jatwood@shannon-cpas.com

Julia is a partner and the firm’s administrator. She joined Shannon & Associates in 1991. In her position as the firm administrator, she is responsible for the day to day operations, human resources, recruiting, staffing and scheduling, client relations, internal communication and policy development, business development and new technology implementation and training. Julia also manages the financial software applications department. Her areas of expertise include assisting businesses with selection, implementation, training and customization of ERP systems. She works closely with clients on system implementation and training as well as developing internal procedures around IT and finance, focusing on business process improvement, workflow and controls. Julia is the current president of the Washington Chapter of the Association for Accounting Administration. Julia is a (SPHR) Senior Professional of Human Resources and is a non a non-licensed CPA firm owner. She has a broad range of expertise implementing accounting, manufacturing and distribution software: Accounting software implementation and training Accounting software needs analysis and internal procedures reviews Sage Mas90/Mas200 software certification Dynamics SL (formerly known as Solomon) CONSULTANTS:

Lane Strickland, CPA

lstrickland@shannon-cpas.com

Lane joined Shannon & Associates in 1997. Before joining our team, Lane owned and operated his own accounting firm. His more than 25 years in the public accounting arena have instructed him in the subtleties of the practice; the attention Lane pays to every finest detail has made him a valuable presence at Shannon & Associates. He has gained primary expertise in the areas of: Estates Trusts Individual income tax Partnership and corporation income tax work In 1996, Lane received the AICPA Certificate of Educational Achievement. Lane is licensed CPA in the state of Washington.

Sherri Owzarski, CPA , CEA

sowzarski@shannon-cpas.com

Sherri has acquired significant experience serving clients in a wide range of industries. These include her work with a major bank in the field of corporate banking and cash management, audit management with public accounting firms, and her work as a CEA in governmental and nonprofit accounting and auditing. The breadth in her areas of expertise is extensive: Financial reporting and disclosures Accounting systems and internal controls Government and nonprofit auditing and reporting Employee benefits, including retirement plans Sherri performs peer reviews of other certified public accounting firms. In addition to her credentials as a CEA, she is a licensed CPA in the State of Washington. Shannon & Associates is committed to your success.