QUARTERLY
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Looking forward to more success in 2023!
DEAR VASQUEZ + COMPANY TEAM...
On behalf of our Partners and Directors, thank you for all your outstanding contributions and dedication to the success and growth of our firm, and for consistently meeting the needs of our clients in a timely and professional manner
In 2022, we grew substantially; and we received numerous client testimonials because of your outstanding efforts. Congratulations!
For 2023, we will continue to expand our resources and service capabilities, significantly increase the number of our team members, and provide additional technical training and team-building activities for all team members. This will ensure even greater success with our team of exceptional and capable professionals.
In our Los Angeles office, we have broadened our marketing efforts which has allowed us to grow our revenues as we continue to expand our Manila service offerings to current and future clients I look forward to my first visit to our Advantage Office in Manila to meet many of you in person.
Working as one cohesive team will allow us to continue to achieve remarkable growth and success.
Cheers,
Gilbert R. Vasquez Managing Partner
V A S Q U E Z B Y T H E N U M B E R S
50 Years of Experience, Sound Growth, and National Recognition
A full-service firm established in 1969, with more than 50 years of experience in providing audit, accounting, tax and consulting services
Partners and Directors, with 70% identifying as female
Our team consists of more than 300 professionals, with 75% identifying as female.
Ranked among the top 1% of accounting firms in the U.S. by the AICPA.
The largest minority-controlled accounting firm in the United States, as well as the only one to have global operations
Vasquez Advantage Center in Manila, Philippines. Less than 30 US-based CPA firms have this capability.
Serving clients through 8 offices located in the Western United States and Manila, Philippines
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)
Certified as MBE with the Supplier Clearinghouse for the Utility Supplier Diversity Program of the California Public Utilities Commission.
V A S Q U E Z A D V A N T A G E
C E N T E R
Vasquez Advantage Center can propel your firm to new markets, continuing growth, and greater financial success.
Click here to watch the video
Vasquez Advantage Center is a team of experienced and talented professionals based in Manila, Philippines, who are focused on providing value while working with and assisting US-based auditors, tax advisers, accountants, and consultants.
Many of the RSM Alliance CPA firms are benefiting from outsourcing solutions available from our Vasquez Advantage Center.
To help you learn more about our full suite of offshore outsourcing services, click here
A N N
Vasquez would like to recognize the employees below that have reached milestone anniversaries with the company!
Thank you for your years of service and dedication to the company
Leilani
Melissa
Christine
Angelica Telan
Rebecca Laygo
Jay De Guzman
Danica De Ocampo 2 Years
Hardy Biton 2 Years
Marilin Angeles* Shiyi Kang* Paul Madarang Clydel Carandang
Emherson Corpuz Christine Del Mundo
Julie Ann Eduardo
Christian Jandoc
James Villamejor Cristhel Joy Rulona Rizz Vergara Beatrice Mercado
Vanil Jan Loria Hazelene Ochate Edilyn Monasque Leah Regorgo
Cacey Jean Baui Renaliza Talagtag Mikaella Sambajon
Rosalie Erguiza Renz Magbuhat Jokoz Creo Mark Lloyd Gaviola
MG Cahucom
Joy Moran
Jessa Molina
Maurice Taguinod
Angelika Ignacio Sherlyn Paredes
Jonathan Valentino
Marjorie Casanova
W
E L C O M E !
N E W H I R E S
A U D I T
Ron Cabrera Senior Auditor
*LATeamMembers
A C C O U N T I N G
Erlyn Olan Accounting Manager
Reyzen Tungpalan Accounting Team Lead
Senior Accountant
Reformado Experienced Accountant
France Dela Chica Senior Auditor
Marian Sacriz Senior Auditor
Sharmaine Mamaed Audit Supervisor
Loida Crisostomo Senior Auditor
Nathaniel Zafra Senior Auditor
Yancy Batalla Audit Manager
Carl Ortega Junior Accountant
Biel Quinsayas Junior Accountant
Krisha Monis Junior Accountant
Ariza Rabelas Junior Accountant
Marie Kristine Oane Junior Accountant
Argem Red
Jackilyn
Jake Waggoner* Staff Auditor
A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Mae Cañed nd Compensa nefits Speciali
OOPS! WE GOOFED... We would like to correct Vanessa Japson and Cedric Cruz's job titles from the newsletter's Oct – Dec 2022 issue Vanessa is a Senior Audit Manager and Cedric is an Audit Supervisor.
Maylene San Lorenzo Junior Accountant
Reinalie Morales Junior Accountant
Lady Mae Salvatera Junior Accountant
Jessa Paningbatan Junior Accountant
Eduard Resulta Junior Accountant
Winella Gomez Junior Accountant
Hannah Luna Junior Accountant
Layne Sarmiento Junior Accountant
Irah Salipot Junior Accountant
Felice Jimenez Junior Accountant
Alondra Dasig Junior Accountant
Farah Revilla Junior Accountant
Gleyne Rios Junior Accountant
Ma. Florian Lozada Junior Accountant
James Sia Junior Accountant
Ira Reyes Junior Accountant
ta
Ces Curameng HR Director
Danica Yabu Workforce Analyst
Rose Niel Luteriña Administrative Assistant
J O I N O U R T E A M !
Vasquez+Companyishiring!
Checkouttheseopenworkopportunitiesatourfirm.
Auditor
A U D I T O P E N I N G S
Senior Level Glendale, CA
Accountant
Senior Level
Metro Manila, PH
External Auditor
Senior, Supervisor, and Manager Level
IT Audit Auditor
Senior Level
Please note that only California-based applicants will be considered for Glendale, CA openings; and Philippine-based for the Metro Manila, PH openings.
V A S Q U E Z K A R A O K E N I G H T
Everyone was so excited to sing, dance, and laugh their hearts out during the Vasquez Team's Karaoke Night last September at the Luxy Karaoke Lounge and Bar in Arcadia We discovered that the firm has some talented singers as well! Until our next Karaoke session!
C A S S A N D R A ' S B A B Y S H O W E R
The Vasquez Team showered Cassandra Bae, Marketing Supervisor, with love and support in anticipation of the arrival of her baby girl. The fun-filled baby shower took place in October at the Vasquez + Company office in Glendale. Congratulations, Cassandra! Your Vasquez family is super excited for you!
V A S Q U E Z H A L L O W E E N
It'sthebestnightoftheyear!TheVasquezTeamslayedwithaHollywood twistduringthefirm'sHalloweenPartylastOctober.Bigthankstoeveryone whojoinedthefun,andcongratulationstoourbestHalloweencostume winners!
V A S Q U E Z T H A N K S G I V I N G
Here are some happy faces during the Vasquez Thanksgiving lunch last November! We are extremely thankful this year for each team member's outstanding contributions.
V A S Q U E Z C H R I S T M A S S P I R I T I N L A
It was a festive and fun night with the LA Team as we celebrated our Holiday dinner last December at Fogo de Chão in downtown Los Angeles.
Congratulations to the game and raffle winners who went home with awesome prizes!
V A S Q U E Z A D V A N T A G E C H R I S T M A S P A R T Y
Vasquez Advantage Center celebrated Christmas last December with the theme "Bringin' the Vasquez Life Worldwide" at Sequoia Hotel, Manila Bay.
Here's a glimpse of what went down at the Vasquez Manila Team's first faceto-face firm-wide Christmas party Everyone sleighed all around the world through their group runway performances representing different countries such as France, Japan, Korea, UK, and USA
It was a wonderful time celebrating all the Firm’s achievements, and a great way to end another successful Vasquez year.
5 0 Y E A R S O F A L P F A : H O W L A T I N O C P A S F O U N D S T R E N G T H I N N U M B E R S
The Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), founded by Gilbert R. Vasquez, is a vehicle for social change and a networking forum for Latino students, professionals, and businesses founded by Gilbert R. Vasquez.
Fifty years ago, the founders came together with aspirations to compete for government contracts, encourage other Latinos to pursue accounting careers, and make significant and progressive changes in a field where they had little representation. They did not realize their actions would have such a lasting and powerful influence on the Latino business community.
Click here to learn how it all started
V A S Q U E Z + C O M P A N Y B A B I E S
Welcome to the world sweet angels! And the newest addition to the Wan Family –Nala Wan! Born on August 14
Say hello to the newest member of the Bae Family –Shelby Dakota Bae! Born on October 29
The Vasquez Team members wish you and your entire family lots of joy as you welcome this special blessing into your lives Congratulations!
4 S T E P S T O W A R D S
G O O D M E N T A L H E A L T H
It's essential for you to take care of yourself so that you can do the things that are important to you Your mental health is a critical part of your self-care You will not be healthy if you don't take care of your mind, in addition to taking care of your body
Good mental health offers a feeling of well-being and inner strength. It helps you enjoy life and cope with challenges. You don't automatically have good mental health. Just as you take care of your body by eating right and exercising, you should take steps to improve your mental health
Here are 4 essential ways to care for your mental wellbeing every day:
1. Eat Healthy
The food you eat has a direct effect on your energy level and mood A healthy diet is one that has enough of the essential nutrients; contains appropriate proportions and varieties of foods from all the food groups; provides the right number of calories to maintain a healthy weight and does not have too much fat, sugar, salt, or alcohol
By choosing foods that give your body steady energy from healthy sources of nutrition, you help your mind feel at its optimum. Each person's nutritional needs are unique. In order to find the foods that are right for you, talk to your health care professional.
Experts are examining whether specific nutrients may impact mental health. Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals including folate, vitamin B12, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, and omega-3 -- for example -- are being investigated as contributing to depression in new mothers. Ask your doctor or another health care professional for more information.
2. Exercise Regularly
Regular physical activity has long been recognized as a powerful tool in improving physical and mental health. It offers myriad benefits, including: reduced tension and stress, increased physical and emotional energy, improved sleep, and an increased sense of wellbeing. Being active helps you to be able to do the things you enjoy and stay independent, which positively impacts your mental wellness. That's why health experts say that everyone should be active every day.
If you are diagnosed with depression or anxiety, your doctor may recommend exercise in addition to medications and/or "talk therapy". This is because changes in the brain that result from exercise, may help relieve stress and improve mood. Exercise can also provide a healthy distraction from a cycle of negative thoughts and may counteract weight gain from medications used to treat certain mental health disorders.
3. Get Enough Good Sleep
To function effectively, your mind and body need time to process information, rest, and heal. Adequate sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle and can benefit your physical and mental wellness in a number of ways. Research shows that getting healthy sleep improves energy, memory, focus, learning ability, and mental and emotional resilience.
Experts are investigating links between poor sleep and a variety of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.
Consider a few basic steps to promote healthful sleep:
Follow a consistent sleep routine (soothing bedtime ritual and sleep/wake times)
Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, sugar, heavy meals, and strenuous exercise close to bedtime
Eat nutritious meals on a regular schedule
Exercise regularly
Speak to a health care professional if you are having difficulty sleeping
4. Manage Stress
Everyone feels stressed from time to time. However, when stress is long-term or becomes constant it can lead to physical and mental health issues. People can be impacted by stress in different ways, depending on the individual. For example, some people may experience mainly digestive symptoms, while others may have headaches, sleeplessness, sadness, anger, or irritability. People under chronic stress are prone to more frequent and severe viral infections, such as the flu or common cold.
The effects of stress tend to build up over time. Taking practical steps to manage your stress can reduce or prevent these effects. Here are some things to consider:
Recognize the signs of stress, such as difficulty sleeping, increased alcohol and other substance use, being easily angered, feeling depressed, and having low energy.
Talk to a health care professional and get care for existing or new physical or mental health concerns.
Exercise regularly to help boost your mood and reduce stress.
Explore stress coping techniques, and schedule regular times for these and other healthy and relaxing activities.
Set goals and priorities, decide what must get done and what can wait, and learn to decline new requests if they are putting you into overload.
Focus on your wins and what you have accomplished at the end of the day
Stay connected with people who provide you with emotional and other support and ask for help if you need it
It is important to make the time to care for your mental health if you want to be at your best So make the time for you!
Copyright © 2022 LifeCare, Inc All rights reserved
This publication is for general informational purposes only and it is not intended to provide any reader with specific authority, advice or recommendations Where you deem necessary, we suggest that you seek advice regarding your particular situation from the appropriate professional
EDEN MARFORI
Audit Administration & Human Resources Manager LA Office
HowlonghaveyoubeenwithVasquez+ Company?
16yearslastNovember:)
WhatdoyoulikebestaboutworkingforVasquez+ Company?
IlovethegreatcompanycultureatVasquez. Everyoneisnice,helpful,andfriendly.Also,asa mom,IappreciatethattheFirmvalueswork-life balance,andmakessurethatparentsareableto attendtoresponsibilitiesandgettospendquality timewiththeirfamily/friendsoutsideofwork.
Doyouhaveamottoorpersonalmantrathatyoufollow?
Surroundyourselfwithpeoplewhobringoutthebestinyouandthosewhomakeyou smileandlaugh,neverdwellonnegativity,anddonotsweatthesmallstuff.
Whatdoyouliketodoonyourfreetime?
Spendtimewithmyfamily,watchactionorcomedyfilms,orjustenjoyacupoftea whilelisteningtogoodmusic.
Whatisoneskillyou’dlovetolearn? Iwouldliketolearnhowtoplaytheguitaranddrums.
What,ifanything,areyoucurrentlybinge-watching?Orreading? IamcurrentlywatchingCobraKaiandTomClancy’sJackRyan.
What’sonyourbucketlist?
Watch,fromthefrontrowseats,anNBAAll-Stargame.
Whatarethe3placesthatyouwouldliketotravelto? Japan;Morocco;andSantorini,Greece.
Whatare3wordsthatbestdescribeyou? Punctual,Grateful,Positive.
MARIA CECILIA “CES” CURAMENG
Human Resources Director
Manila Office
HowlonghaveyoubeenwithVasquez+ Company??
2Months
WhatdoyoulikebestaboutworkingforVasquez+ Company??
IamexcitedtobeworkingwithV+Company becauseofthemanychallengesandopportunities itoffers.Iwantedtobepartofanorganizationon itswayfrombeingGoodtoGreat.
Doyouhaveamottoorpersonalmantrathatyoufollow? Everyonehasgreatpotential;wejustneedtotakeachance.
Whatdoyouliketodoonyourfreetime? Gotothebeach,snorkel,andscubadive.
Whatisoneskillyou’dlovetolearn? TolearnSpanish,Iamtheonlyoneinmyfamilywhodoesnotspeakthelanguage.
What,ifanything,areyoucurrentlybinge-watching?Orreading? Nothingnew.LovetheNetflixmovies.LoveoldseriesfranchiseslikeTheLordofthe Rings,TheGodfatherandcrimeshows.
What’sonyourbucketlist? Tofinishmypublicationontalentmanagement.
Whatarethe3placesthatyouwouldliketotravelto? Israel,Spain,andGermany.
Whatare3wordsthatbestdescribeyou? Strong(ontheoutside),mushy(ontheinside),coachandmentor.
E A T U R E D A R T I S T
D I A N A A R A R A C A P
Auditor with a golden voice
I will never have a day that I don’t sing. It is a part of my lifestyle and my comfort space when I’m communicating with God. I had my first audition to be a choir member when I auditioned for the Celestial Choir in our church in 2012 It was determined my voice range was that of an Alto These are the notes I read on musical sheets
Being part of our church choir is a real joy It is both spiritual and fun My weekly routine – going to church and singing in the choir – is so important to me that a week would be incomplete without me serving God in this way.
With this background, I was fortunate that I was one of the pioneer members of my high school choir, and later became a member of the choir in college. While in college, I wanted to expand my knowledge of music and that’s when I joined Musikolar, an organization that caters to all campus musicians who enjoy music of any kind As a member of Musikolar, I was also blessed enough to sing in the cafés, at a music festival in my school, and enjoy the rare opportunity to be a front act of a Philippine band (Spongecola) in their album launch
When working in my previous firm in 2021, out of fun, my best friend and I auditioned for one of the biggest talent events my previous firm has. Luckily, we passed the audition and headed toward the grand finals where we were named in the top 7 talent groups of that year That was my first talent competition It was a good experience considering the COVID restrictions at that time, and that we needed to film and record separately as a duo That’s a tough job!
Never Enough
Sulat
Hallelujah
H O W T O B E C O M E A C R M A
Elevateriskassurance.Arriveahead.
Astheonlyriskmanagementassurancecertificationfor internalauditors,theIIA’sCertificationinRisk ManagementAssurance®(CRMA®)programhasbeen updatedtoreflectthein-depthorganizational knowledgeandadvancedskillsetsthatarerequiredto provideeffectiveriskmanagementassurancetoaudit committeesandexecutivemanagement.
Earning the CRMA helps address the impact of risk and demonstrates you have the ability to:
Provide assurance on core business processes in risk management and governance
Educate management and the audit committee on risk and risk management concepts
Offer quality assurance and control self-assessment
Add value for your organization as a trusted advisor.
CRMA candidates must have an active Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) designation prior to being approved into the CRMA program If you have any questions, submit a case via your profile in the Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS).
Government Issued ID
5 year of internal audit and/or risk management experience
*Work experience is an “exit” requirement for the CRMA program. Candidates with less experience may apply for the CRMA program and sit for the exam However, to obtain the designation, the experience requirement must be met before the two-year program window expires
Eligibility Period
The CRMA program window is two years, meaning that candidates have two years from the date they are accepted into the program to complete the program requirements (i.e., pass the exam and provide evidence that they have obtained five years of internal audit and/or risk management experience).
Please refer to the“CRMA Program: Why and How It’s Changing” handbookfor more information about how the recent CRMA program update may affect you Candidates in the CRMA program agree to accept the conditions of the program, including eligibility requirements, exam confidentiality,Code of Ethics, Continuing Professional Education (CPE), and other conditions enacted by The IIA's Professional Certification Board (PCB).
Know more here: https://www theiia org/en/certifications/crma/
B I R T H D A Y S - L O S A N G E L E S
Wishing you all the best on your birthday and a wonderful year ahead.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
Cid Conde Yvette Sibal Jake Waggoner Geli Matondo Cristy Canieda
Jay Toledo Emer Fabro
Eileen Usi Melody Flores Marilin Angeles Francis Roque
Eden Marfori Kenneth Bareng
Laura McLaughlin
Arianne Alba
Christian Walawala
Daniel Espindola Jason Tagasa Tricia Toledo
Shiyi Kang
Carlos Cruz
B I R T H D A Y S - M A N I L A
JANUARY
Lorie Gumansing Ronelle Aceron Christine Banayos Pia Bitoin Yvette Delos Santos
Millicent Orilla Madela Zafra Sheree Malapit Cacey Baui Rizz Vergara
Jonathan Valentino Leah Zaldua Shannah Gorgonia Lorrie Mier Cedric Cruz
Myra Galve Jan Darren Andres Jan Baronia Danica Yabut Gleyne Rios
FEBRUARY
MARCH
Queenie Cortes Joram Panahon Mitch Dichoso Marian Sacriz Rose Niel Luteriña
Nathaniel Zafra Felice Jimenez Yancy Batalla
Lech Plamenco Quennie Mendoza
Nice Cañeda
Angeli Presto Kristine Belleza Jarod Mich Signey
Maurice Taguinod
Marc Bauzon
Jim Aira Morgia Angelic Bernardo
Korina Castillo
Kent Ceracas Francesca Dela Chica
Caitlin Manila Phoebe Dellosa Gia Lastrado Jokoz Creo Christine Del Mundo
A Y S & E V E N T S
1
NEW YEAR'S DAY
First day of the new year It is usually marked by rites and ceremonies that symbolize casting off the old year and rejoicing in the new
2 FIRM HOLIDAY
Special non-working holiday
16 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
Honoring the achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr
14
VALENTINE'S DAY
Observed in honor of St Valentine as a day for the exchange of valentines and other tokens of affection.
20
PRESIDENTS DAY
A federal holiday primarily honoring the lives and accomplishments of U S Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln but has been expanded to include the honoring all U S Presidents
25
EDSA REVOLUTION/ PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION
Marks the day Filipinos marched along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Manila to end the dictatorship of President Ferdinand E Marcos and begin a new era marked by true freedom and democracy
12
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
Daylight Saving Time begins, clocks are set forward one hour.
Please note that RSM uses CST (Central Standard Time) For a complete list of courses, log in to your RSM MyLearning
Audit & Accounting
Q4 Current Accounting Practice Issues and Recent Developments - 2022 01/13/2023 01:00 PM
Industry
Q4 State Local Governments A&A Updates - 2022 01/11/2023 12:00 PM
Taxes
Accounting for Income Taxes: Interim Reporting 03/16/2023 12:00 PM
Notice 2023-7 provides interim guidance on certain items related to the new corporate minimum tax in anticipation of forthcoming proposed regulations.
Our baseline forecast for the American economy next year calls for a mild recession by the second half of the year as the impact of higher interest rates sets in.
COVID-19 lockdowns saw remote work surge across the globe in 2020. And while restrictions almost everywhere have now lifted, the work-from-home trend persists.
Whew! That's probably your reaction when outside experts announce that their audit of your not-for-profit is complete
T E S T I M O N I A L S
Here's what some of our clients shared about their experience with the Firm. Thank you for all the hard work, team!
Thank you, guys, for being so awesome to work with.
Iamwritingtoexpressmy gratitudefortheVazquez LLC'simportantand excellentworkincompleting the2021auditandtaxreturn fortheFarmlinkProject. Afirstauditistypicallynot easy,butyourteamwasso professionalandexperienced makingitbothpossibleand nontraumatic.
We have enjoyed working with your team for the EBP audits
I wanted to thank you again for another successful Overhead audit again this year We were happy to get through it and finalize the report.
