David S. McLaren, CPA, CGMA, CRFAC, ABGOV
As often happens in the lives of individuals committed to revolutionary change, David McLaren’s life story is one of triumph over tragedy and adversity. When his father left, David and his mother were left alone to struggle through poverty and the terminal illness of his older sister, Lisa. David, even at age 8, became keenly aware of the strength of character both his mother and his older sister demonstrated.
David recalls Lisa as selfless, uncomplaining, good-natured, and quick to come to his defense. He reciprocated by attempting to shield her from the taunts of other children repelled by the side-effects of her cancer treatment. She slipped away when he was 9, but David always acknowledges her influence and has been determined to live a life that honors her memory.
Even though the odds were against him, David was also determined to earn a college degree. Out on his own before he graduated high school, and at one point homeless; David always demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for finances, and at age 14, landed a job at Colony Farms as a manager and accountant. Soon after, he was hired as head accountant for Randolph Press, and, while working this way through college, became an internal auditor for Meola's Dairy.
By the nineties, David was teaching at Bentley College and his talents were also recognized by United Parcel Service where he worked as an accountant. Local accounting firms took notice and before long he was working for Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull and Bitsoli and later Shepherd & Goldstein, CPAs where, for more than a decade, he supervised the junior tax accountants and expanded their Cape Cod office. David also served as controller at Atlantic Construction Services, Inc., and as an accountant at Goulet, Salvidio & Associates, CPAs in Worcester.
David’s keen forensic accounting skills became apparent during his tenure at Qinetiq Trusted Information Management, Inc., a computer forensics firm with offices in the United States and Europe. The firm worked with the Ministry of Defense in the UK, and the Department of Defense and FBI in the USA. He served as QTIM’s director of finance.
After this rich and varied background in domestic and international tax planning (business and personal), David was convinced he wanted to build a different kind of accounting firm. He didn’t want to check boxes and file tax forms; he wanted to use his ever increasing knowledge of tax law and underutilized tactics to save clients more money and help businesses run more efficiently. So in 2005, with just a computer, a tray table, and a milk-box chair, David started his own firm. Over the years, he purposefully constructed his company to use the most up-to-the minute tax strategies and a unique work process that is now meticulously taught to each of the accountants on staff. Only those accountants who want to be the best tax strategists and embrace the firm’s mission to revolutionize tax accounting are eligible to join the team.
David earned a degree in accountancy in 1992 from Bentley College (he graduated cum laude), and is a current member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Board of Forensic Accounting. He also belongs to several networking groups, including the Business Networking International, Corridor 9 Chamber of Commerce, and ProVisors, described as “a community of professionals who serve their clients as trusted advisors and share the highest standards of integrity, performance, and accountability”. David has also been a member of MENSA since 2006.
David has been recognized as a Worcester Business Journal "40 Under Forty" winner. The award celebrates business entrepreneurs and leaders who have achieved remarkable success before their 40th birthdays. He is also a Sterling Who's Who executive winner.
Away from the office, David spends time with his grown daughter, Lisa, his wife Kim, and their two little girls, Sophia and Emma. “Watching Judge Judy, playing with the kids, being with Kim, eating good food, going out to play Airsoft with Lisa--that’s an ideal day off” he says.
Guilty pleasure? Racing his beloved Porsche!
Dave is the featured CPA in The Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants publication. Click here to read more!