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VASQUEZ & COMPANY LLP

Quarterly

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

Message from our Managing Partner Dear Vasquez and Company Team Members, WE HAVE REACHED A MILESTONE! I am pleased to announce that our firm now employs more than 100 team members. This milestone is a a result of our collective efforts. My congratulations and thanks to all of you. In this edition of the newsletter, you will get to know some of the people who have been part of the Firm’s growth and success and meet some of the new employees who will assist us in becoming a larger Firm and in achieving greater success. Additionally, we continue with our artist spotlight, provide professional development guidance, and keep you informed with relevant news and company events. Again, my thanks. Enjoy! Gilbert R. Vasquez

C e le b r a t i n g

Employees

Los Angeles Manila

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

Roger Martinez Audit Practice Partner-in-Charge & Quality Control Leader

Roger is the audit practice partner in charge of the Firm’s audit practice and quality control program. He joined the Firm in 2012. His expertise includes financial and compliance audits, such as internal control reviews, single audits performed in accordance with the Uniform Guidance, program-specific audits, and financial statement reviews, as well as forecasts and projections for some of California's largest and most complex governmental or regulated entities. He was a former partner at KPMG where he managed public-sector accounts, and taught classes though the Utilities Institute. His classes were part of the firm’s professional development and covered accounting and auditing, as well as reporting issues. Roger has served on the boards of directors for LINC Housing Corporation and International Trade Education Programs, Inc. He also served on the advisory boards of the Los Angeles County Medical Association and The Salvation Army. Roger earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Linda Narciso Nonprofit Practice Leader

Linda oversees all aspects of the Firm’s assurance, accounting and consulting services for nonprofit clients. Her expertise includes financial and compliance audits; single audits (Uniform Guidance), including those involving U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development compliance; internal control and financial statement reviews; and compilations, forecasts and projections.

In the next issue, we will feature two of our partners and four of our managers, so you’ll get to know them personally and professionally, and learn about them.

Before joining the Firm in 2001, Linda was an audit manager at PwC where she oversaw audits for clients in the service, publishing, pharmaceutical and financing industries. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy from De La Salle University in Manila, the Philippines. Linda loves to travel and she considers her sister as her favorite travel buddy as she takes care of everything – flights, itinerary, where to eat, foreign currencies, etc. She just needs to show up at her sister’s place with her passport on hand. 1

Cid Conde Los Angeles

Cid has over 20 years of public and private accounting and consulting experience. He specializes in the audits of cities and other local government units, private companies and special attestation engagements. Prior to joining the Firm in 2006, Cid worked as an internal audit manager and financial controller in Philippine-based private companies. He also briefly worked as an Accounting Manager in one of the cities in the LA County. Cid earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, Philippines. He used to love playing chess and was, in fact, a varsity chess player in the University.

Lyn Labastilla Los Angeles

Lyn joined Vasquez in 2011 and she specializes in financial and compliance audits of government agencies and nonprofit organizations. She was an Audit Manager with PwC Manila, Audit Senior at BDO USA LLP, and Audit Supervisor at McGladrey (now RSM US LLP). She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy from Polytechnic University of the Philippines. At home, she plays the role of mom and teacher to her only son, Makoy. Hiking and hanging out in local parks are Lyn’s way of destressing from her busy work life. She loves travelling and hopes to visit Japan (family dream vacation), her younger sister in Germany, and more of the United States. Lyn is a member and the Treasurer of the National Executive Board of Directors of the International Society of Filipinos in Finance and Accounting (ISFFA), a professional organization she co-founded in 2006. Through ISFFA, she mentors emerging professionals in the field of accounting.

Francis Roque Manila

Francis joined Vasquez in 2019 after starting his public accounting career with SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. where he spent five years. During that time, he worked with real estate clients covering commercial leasing, investment holdings, and retail. As an audit manager, he oversees financial statement audit reviews and financial due diligence focusing on quality of earnings analysis. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy from University of Santo Tomas where he was a gold loyalty awardee. Francis loves to play basketball but the pandemic made him love other hobbies like binge-watching movies and TV series. Fun fact: Francis was a choir member when he was in grade school but lost his singing voice while growing up. 2

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

N E W H I R E S

Paula Alfonso Audit Supervisor

Andrea Bote Audit Supervisor

Bethany Pedro Audit Senior

Crishiah Lapuz Audit Senior

Theresa Litao Audit Senior

Jonalie Lepon Audit Senior

May Yap Audit Senior

Robert Vilalluz Audit Senior

Anshul Verma Audit Staff

Melody Flores Audit Staff

Kaiser Ruado Accounting Team Lead

Jana Narral Junior Accountant

Pia Bitoin Junior Accountant

Ara Magnaye Junior Accountant

EJ Santiago Junior Accountant

Alyanna Cruz Junior Accountant

Marylle Lavandero

Erin Manila

Junior Accountant

Marketing Assistant

Manila Personnel 3

Venus Sarmiento

Paul Gonzaga

Mary Tanglao

Director

Audit Manager

Caitlin Manila

Lorie Jalotjot

Quennie Mendoza

Audit Supervisor

Audit Senior

Cassandra Bae Executive Assistant & Marketing Supervisor

Scyla Gacis Talent Management Officer

P R O M O T I O N S

Manila Personnel

Your promotion is a huge milestone in your well-chosen career, and we are very proud of your achievements and accomplishments.

Congratulations everyone!

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

The Firm would like to recognize the following employees that have reached milestone anniversaries.

Thank you everyone for your hard work and dedication!

Arlene

Lynn Boster

Pingul

Tax Partner

Audit

Audit Manager

6 Years

Supervisor

3 Years

11 Years

Cheng

Lyn Labastilla

Eva Aquije

Roger

Soc Mendiola

Portugal

Senior Audit

Martinez

Accounting

Manager

Audit Partner

Supervisor

Manager

10 Years

9 Years

6 Years

15 Years

Donald Nino

Carmen

Paul

Marketing

Vallarta

Gonzaga

Manager

Audit Supervisor

Audit Manager

8 Years

4 Years

16 Years

Venus

Lorielyn

Faye

Sarmiento

Jalotjot

Villanueva

Director

Audit

Audit Senior

3 Years

Supervisor

2 Years

1 Year

Shweta

Michelle

Yvette Sibal

Caitlin

Cassandra Bae

Mehrotra

Castillo

Senior Audit

Manila

Executive Asst

Audit

Director

Admin Asst

Audit

5 Years

3 Years

Supervisor

5 Years

Arvee

Emart Ulit

Flores

Audit Senior

1 Year

& Marketing Supervisor

2 Years

1 Year

A N N I V E R S A R Y

Manila Personnel

3 Years

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

How to Protect Yourself and Others Wear a mask.

Stay 6 feet away from others.

Get vaccinated.

Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

Wash your hands often.

Cover coughs and sneezes.

Clean and disinfect. Source: www.cdc.gov

GETTING ‘BACK TO NORMAL’ Continue to protect yourself and your loved ones by still practicing everyday preventative actions.

Employees Featured Artist

Paul Gonzaga A Testimony -- Vi Et Animo* March 2013 Bring the sun back to the sky Rushing through the morning time Eat, study and sleep for a while A life I used to have -- a lie Kindling all night with open books in front and beside Ignoring the knocks of opportunities, the others I abide Not a moment's wasted, even the free time and the travel Gone are these days in this life I now marvel Box, outside of it, there you must think, is what they said. And that I believed before, but I can say, "not anymore." Rose through what they considered conventional Removed the box, and there I made decisions Inside the room I learn from books, outside of it, I face the future East to West, North to South, I mingle with different cultures Ruled out the fear of having an internal strife. So, now I deserve to have a documentary, "A Year in the Life." No one promised a life free of storms But one must learn to dance against norms Failures are roadmaps to success, and No time to think of what has been A word of reminder: PHILIPPIANS 3:14 From conquering challenges to breaking limits From challenging the conventional to Banyuhay To challenges conquered and limits broken To beyond the conventional and new beginnings: "bagong buhay" *vi et animo = with heart and soul

___ I wrote this during a poetry competition in a summit of NCR JPIA (an organization of accounting students in the National Capital Region) in 2013. This was one of the validations I got with poetry writing. I don’t really follow the rhyming at the end of every line, but I prefer an acrostic one. That means the first letter of each line forms a word. That gives me the structure that I need, and I just go from there.

Fall to the unknown, fall to an endless hole June 30, 2012 Strangers, friends, best friends, lovers; A cycle of life. Strangers at first, No words created, a sentence absurd. Let there be contact, From then strangers turned friends. From friends either to go nowhere but friends Or be closer and be more. From friends be of the best, Or the butterflies know no rest. Best friends or lovers, What are we? Can’t ask you ‘cause words are You’ll leave without the count of three. Forever position will be unspoken. Unseen bond, but never broken. Always will be together, Always will fall to the unknown fever. ___ This came from unrequited emotions of a teenage poet ☺

My adoration for poetry started at a really young age. I remember in 5th grade I would call my best friend, as if in compulsion, and just read a couple of pieces that I found. From then comes the birth of notebooks with scribbles of passages, one-liners on top of textbooks, until it became a three-stanza poem – at the back of an exam paper. Don’t you miss doing it just for the satisfaction of doing it? It came as a quiet realization that we lose that fascination as we age. We dread doing it ourselves because of the fear of not being at par with others, until we end up not starting anything at all. If we are not hindered by selfdoubt or wanting validation, we can move beyond point zero. Get a pen, a paper, a brush. You do you. Do it for yourself. When was the last time you did it anyway? In the recent years, I was more into prose than poetry. I let myself get attracted by the natural flow of it. No structure that will intimidate you to follow. No limiting line breaks that will put a pause when you still want to go a mile more. See what I just did? That’s prose. Nothing extraordinary or mind-baffling. Because the sooner we accept that we are mundane, the better we get at not being one.

ARTIST CORNER

Our Firm is composed of not just smart and hardworking employees, but of talented individuals as well. Every issue, we will feature one artist from the Firm’s pool of talented team members. 8

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

Continuing Professional Education JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

The Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential denotes proven expertise in fraud prevention, detection and deterrence. CFEs around the world help protect the global economy by uncovering fraud and implementing processes to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place. The Firm recognizes that the path to becoming a CFE requires time and attention that’s why the Firm encourages and supports team members who aspire to be one. Please reach out to Eden Marfori if you have questions on the Firm’s policies related to taking and passing the CFE exam.

Please note that RSM uses CDT. For a complete list of courses, log in to your RSM MyLearning . All audit staff must complete 80 hours of CPE every two-year period, with a minimum of 20 hours in each year of that period. Of these 80 hours, at least 24 hours should be Yellow Book CPE.

How to Become a Certified Fraud Examiner (California)

 Source: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners 9

Professional Development

Join the Association of Certified Fraud Examiner (ACFE)

Step

• ACFE membership provides resources and tools to help detect and deter fraud. • Members have access to the world’s largest network of anti-fraud professionals and access to world-class professional development.

Prepare for the CFE Exam

Step

• Study with the CFE Exam Prep Course OR • Attend the CFE Exam Review Course OR • Study on your own using the Fraud Examiners Manual

Apply for the CFE Exam

Step

• Part 1 – Complete the online application form and submit payment. • Part 2 – Submit supporting documentation to the Certification Portal.

Pass the CFE Exam

Step

• Before earning the CFE Credential, it is required to pass the CFE Exam. The CFE Exam tests your knowledge of Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes, Law, Investigation and Fraud Prevention and Deterrence. • The CFE Exam results will be received within 3 to 5 business days. The results will be sent by email.

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

Birthdays

Shweta Mehrotra

Bethany Pedro

Jay De Guzman

Jonathan Agot

Venus Sarmiento

Lei Alzaga

Paul Gonzaga

Robert Villaluz

Linda Narciso

Carmelita Klingbeil

Donald Nino

Nicole Macias

Paula Alfonso

Pamela Tolentino

Rebecca Laygo

Karl Ibe

Krizia Aguilar

Jana Narral

Hardy Biton

Kim Kabigting

Marylle Lavandero

Lynn Boster

Carmen Vallarta

May Yap

Manila Personnel

Holidays JULY 5 - Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States, on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free and independent states.

JULY 20 - Eid Al Adha is the latter of the two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year (the other being Eid al-Fitr). It honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God's command. Animals are sacrificed ritually. One third of their meat is consumed by the family offering the sacrifice, while the rest is distributed to the poor and needy.

AUGUST 21 - Ninoy Aquino Day is a national non-working holiday in the Philippines, commemorating the assassination of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. He was the husband of Corazon Aquino, who was later became Philippine President. His assassination led to the downfall of Ferdinand Marcos on February 25, 1986, through the People Power Revolution.

AUGUST 30 - National Heroes Day is a day to honor the bravery of all Filipino heroes who struggled for the nation's freedom, including those who vanished into anonymity.

SEPTEMBER 6 - Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. Manila Holiday

Source: www.wikipedia.org

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

Glendale, California – Main

San Diego, California

Fresno, California

Phoenix, Arizona

Irvine, California

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sacramento, California

Manila, Philippines

OFFICE LOCATIONS

We are in 8 different locations, and we serve our clients from our headquarters based in Glendale, CA.

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Firm Profile Featured industry for this issue:

Healthcare

Since its inception in 1969, the Firm has focused on serving nonprofit healthcare organizations. Our experience includes high profile international and national nonprofit organizations such as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical treatment globally, and AltaMed Health Services Corporation, the largest FQHC in the nation.

The Firm serves some of the largest, nonprofit healthcare organizations including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and FQHC Look-Alike (FQHC LAL) organizations. We assist our clients by aligning with their goals and understanding their business to provide the best information and service available to run operations efficiently.

Our clients value our expertise and attention. Through our engagement team, we provide our clients with in-depth information on managed care, Medicare Advantage plans and third-party reimbursement programs, pharmacy operations, inventory management and billings, health clinic functions, federal award audits and compliance, nonprofit tax matters and specialized accounting and financial reporting requirements.

Professional services to nonprofit healthcare entities have been and continue to be a key focus area for our firm. Vasquez currently serves over twenty (20) nonprofit healthcare organizations and100 taxexempt organizations.

Click here to know more.

WHO DO WE SERVE? Know more about our Firm and the clients that we serve.

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

Firm Profile Los Angeles

Manila Gender

34%

22%

Men Women

66%

78%

CPA

53%

47%

61%

Ethnicity 5%

Asian 25%

68%

Non-CPA

39%

Hispanic/Latino White Black

100%

Diversity Stats Our Firm is a proud minority Firm composed of diversified employees. This diversity and variation shape our identity and provide more strength, balance and insight from varying perspectives and experiences.

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

Retirement Insights Plan for your Retirement Nest Egg Understanding your sources of retirement savings and income is important regardless of your age.

Our Firm, through Mutual of America, has an Employee Benefit Program (401k) for our Los Angeles employees. Please reach out to Eden Marfori for the details. If you have questions about saving for retirement, please contact our local Mutual of America representative or call 800.468.3785. For more retirement insights, visit www.mutualofamerica.com.

Insights and Resources Make Healthy Nutrition Habits Turn small nutrition goals into healthy habits! A habit is a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition. It’s an action associated with a cue that’s associated with a performance. Once you form a habit, you do the action without thinking. And if you don’t do it, you likely will realize that something isn’t quite right. These same principles can be linked to changing healthy eating behaviors. So, use these tips to make a new “healthy eating habit.” 1. Set a small goal. You might think, “I’ll eat an apple every day.” 2. Plan a simple action you can do daily. You might think, “Every time I work out, I’ll eat an apple afterwards.” 3. Choose a time and place to perform the action. You might think, “I’ll go to the gym every afternoon.” 4. Do the action during the designated time. The cue is “working out,” and the action that follows is “eating an apple.” 5. Write it down. Sometimes it helps to keep a written record while you’re working on a new goal. Doing so can help you track progress and celebrate successes. It’s commonly thought that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. However, recent evidence suggests it takes 66 days to 10 weeks before the habit’s yours for good. Remember: It gets easier each day that you do it. Before long, you won’t be thinking about it at all. The more you tie your actions to cues and make the actions automatic, the easier it will be to include the habit into your daily life. Take the time to make one new eating habit, which will give you confidence to make other healthy changes! Source: LifeCare, Inc. through ADP

HEALTH & WELLNESS To read more articles on health and wellness, log in to your ADP Total Source, click on My Company – Discount Programs – Work-Life.

Jul – Sep 2021 Issue 5

Hooray! Our NEW WEBSITE is finally here!

Insights and Resources

Read the Article

Accounting Christine Ross She was the 1st female CPA in the US, in 1899.Her clients included wealthy women and persons working in the business and fashion industries.

Mary T. Washington In 1943, she became the first black female to become a CPA and the 13th black CPA in the country. 20

We would like to thank our wonderful Vasquez team members for your efforts and for continuously contributing to the Firm’s success. Working together enables us to achieve all our goals! Contact us at hr@vasquezcpa.com

We are proud to announce that we now have 100+ employees (LA and Manila office combined).

Quarterly Vasquez & Company LLP

Vasquez BPO, Inc.