Richard K. Babush, CPA, JD, Howard F. Neiman, CPA, Bill S. Johnson, CPA, Chris Clayton, CPA, JD, Barry Klein, CPA,
Jeffrey G. Olson, CPA, MTX, Stephen M. Rogut, CPA, James W. Lahm, CPA/ABV, Stafford W. Huff, CPA,
Stephen J. Nadeau, CPA, MTX, Scott Pohar, CPA, Melissa “Missy” Herbert, CPA
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Richard K. Babush, CPA, JD Babush, Neiman, Kornman & Johnson’s reputation for excellent service is due, in part, to the efforts of Dick Babush. As head of the firm’s tax department, Dick brings leadership, knowledge, and effective strategy to the complex financial matters of high net worth individuals and closely held businesses. Dick’s legal education and 50+ years of accounting experience and knowledge allow him to provide exceptional services when dealing with complex tax issues. He focuses primarily on estates and trusts, business acquisitions and dispositions, Internal Revenue Service and State Tax Authority representation, and litigation support. Dick, a founding partner, has a strong background working with clients of various industries. More recently, his client service includes professional service firms in law, healthcare, engineering and architecture. His expertise extends far beyond professional services into manufacturing, wholesale distribution, professional sports, broadcasting and cable systems. Dick is past Secretary and Trustee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and is currently a member of the Endowment Board, serving on its Investment Committee. He also serves on the Advisory Committees of Endowment for Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University. Dick has served as Treasurer, Vice President and on the Board of Governors of the Standard Club. Professionally, Dick was appointed by Governor Joe Frank Harris to the Georgia Vocational Education Task Force, the Georgia State Board of Personnel and the Georgia State Employee Benefit Plan Council, where he served as a member and Chairman for 10 years. He was also elected a Georgia delegate to the President’s White House Conference on Small Business in 1980. Throughout his career, Dick has served his profession locally as a past president and trustee of the Atlanta Tax Forum and member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA). In addition, he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the American Bar Association Section on Taxation. Dick earned his JD, with highest honors, at Emory University in 1963. He obtained his bachelors degree in 1960 at Youngstown University, magna cum laude. Dick is an avid golfer and has participated in many tournaments. Click here to download the Vcard
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Howard F. Neiman, CPA Partner Howard’s tax and business consulting services for family and closely held business clients are recognized nationally. Howard has been named many times in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s list of Who’s Who in Finance and he was nominated and awarded The Family Firm Institute’s “Fellow Status in Family Business Advising.”
Most of Howard’s clients have been his clients for many years, and thus Howard has built a strong niche in these clients’ industries. Those industries include:
Howard has been active with the Kennesaw State University Family Business Forum since its inception in 1987. Howard is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSPCA). He has served on many national Management Services Consulting committees with the AICPA and is a past chairman of the GSCPA’s Management Services Committee. He has had articles published with the Management Consulting Division of the AICPA, and also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Kennesaw State University School of Accounting. As a 1964 graduate of the University of Georgia, Howard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting. Click here to download the Vcard
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Chris Clayton, CPA, JD Managing Partner Chris has been an attorney and tax partner for nearly 25 years and is the firm’s specialist in state and local income tax and sales and use tax matters. He has been BNKJ’s managing partner for 11 years, leading the firm into its fifth decade of serving clients. This dual role as an accountant and firm managing partner has helped him provide clients with accounting and consulting services as well as insight into business planning, operation management and oversight issues. Chris works with many closely held businesses on complex, corporate tax planning matters. Chris has experience creating stock option plans, providing executive coaching and performing human resource management consulting which has been tremendously valuable to several of his clients needing such expertise. He works with high-net worth individuals as well, including entertainers, athletes, corporate executives, business owners and investors. Many large, publicly held corporations also use Chris and his team to supplement their personnel for special long-term projects. Chris works with clients in many industries, including professional services (law, medicine, architecture, engineering, etc.), distribution, construction, technology and software, sports and entertainment, onsite human resource providers, real estate management, private schools and multi-state retail distribution. Prior to joining BNKJ, Chris worked for several years at Touche Ross & Company (now Deloitte & Touche). There he provided complex tax services and general consulting services, and served on the national tax committee for state and local taxation. Chris holds both a BBA in Finance (1980) and Juris Doctor in Law (1983) from the University of Georgia and serves as a guest lecturer for many professional organizations such as the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA). Outside of the office, Chris volunteers his time and accounting expertise to help some of his favorite charities. He has served on the Atlanta Children’s Shelter Finance Committee and the Woodruff Arts Center Fundraising Committee. He is also an active supporter of Home Stretch and Camp Twin Lakes, and was one of the American Diabetes Association’s top 20 fundraisers for Tour de Cure. Chris and his wife Maureen live in Roswell. They have three boys—two in college and one in middle school. Chris loves to participate in outdoor activities such as tennis, fishing, golf and skiing. Click here to download the Vcard
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 Chris Clayton catches a striper—summer of 2010 |
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Barry Klein, CPA Partner in Charge of ERISA Audits With 20+ years experience in retirement plan audits, Barry leads BNKJ’s retirement plan audit team and has successfully created a special preplanning process for employee benefit plan audits. He has developed this niche practice area for the firm with a talented team of trained professionals, and extended BNKJ’s services to internal controls consulting. Specialized services include Department of Labor and IRS representation, internal control analysis and plan cost examination. His clients include both public and private companies, of various industries. He audits benefit plans ranging in size from 100 to 15,000 participants, with assets in excess of a billion dollars. Because Barry has extensive auditing experience, he is able to effectively and efficiently perform plan audits in a way that reduces risks associated with fiduciary responsibilities. He clearly highlights areas of exposure identified in the performance of the audits and works with clients to ensure that plans meet the specific needs of a company. Barry has given many lectures to employee benefits organizations on employee benefit plan audit trends, issues and best practices, including the Atlanta Chapter of American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), the Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB), and numerous intimate meetings for law firms, clients and other professionals. Barry stays on top of developments and issues relating to employee benefit plans, and is an active leader in the business community. He continues to serve as Treasurer and Board Member of ASPPA and is an active member of WEB. He is also a participating member of The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Prior to joining BNKJ in 1988, Barry gained valuable experience as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa, where he was partner in a prominent firm. He later moved to the United States and joined BNKJ’s audit group as a supervisor. Barry was named a BNKJ partner in 1995. He earned a Masters in Accounting from the University of South Africa. Barry and his family are sports enthusiasts, and enjoy many action-packed activities together. Barry especially likes to ride his bicycle, and often participates in charity cycling fundraisers. He also plays soccer in recreational leagues, and likes to relax by sharing fine cuisine with his clients, friends and family. Click here to download the Vcard
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Jeffrey G. Olson, CPA, MTX Partner Jeff, a partner at BNKJ, has more than two decades of broad-based public accounting and business experience. Jeff’s primary practice specialty has more recently been in accounting and auditing, but he also regularly applies his deep experiences in taxation, business capital formation and finance, and general business consulting. He is particularly specialized in the commercial and residential real estate and construction industries, and has also served public companies, including several REITs, and has participated in multiple public and private offering transactions. With these multiple disciplines and abilities, Jeff takes a business advisor approach. He is focused on value creation, while also serving the financial and tax reporting needs of his clients. Jeff particularly enjoys working with privately and closely held business owners, as he is able to use his broad range of experience to provide them with sound insights that really help their businesses. This approach – knowing the client’s business and industry, reviewing financial information and then having the client’s financial statements “tell the story” in a way most useful to them – is what has kept clients loyal to Jeff and loyal to BNKJ for so many years. Prior to Jeff’s nearly 13 years of local CPA firm experience, he was a Senior Manager with Deloitte & Touche, LLP, where he worked for 12 years. His educational background includes undergraduate degrees in both accounting and finance from the University of South Carolina, where he also earned a Masters of Taxation in 1984. Jeff is a member of the AICPA and Georgia Society of CPAs, and is particularly active in the Georgia Society’s Real Estate Section (Section Leadership Committee, Advanced Tax Group, A&A Group). He has been a guest lecturer in SEC accounting and reporting; drafted responses to AICPA Exposure Drafts and Invitations to Comment; and is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Companies (NAREC) and is a past member of NARIET. He is a long time United Way volunteer and, like many Atlantans, is an avid member of the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) and USTA. Jeff and his wife live in Marietta, Georgia with their two daughters. Click here to download the Vcard
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Stephen M. Rogut, CPA COO and Partner Stephen has been a partner since 1999 and works with many of the firm’s largest clients coordinating audits and preparing financial statements. In addition, he conducts internal control studies and provides compliance and consulting services to clients in industries including manufacturing, distribution, professional services, real estate and not-for-profit. Stephen also performs the firm’s technical reviews on all retirement plan audits, as well as all other financial statement engagements. Known for his organizational and interpersonal skills, as well as his strong work ethic, Stephen is often in the office before the sun rises preparing for his dual role as both the Chief Operating Officer of the firm and an audit partner. Stephen has been COO for the past seven years, and ensures that the firm functions smoothly and profitably just like any of the professional service firms BNKJ represents. In addition to his client and administrative responsibilities, Stephen coordinates the recruitment of the firm’s professional and administrative staff. His ability to find individuals that match our firm’s needs and culture has enabled BNKJ to keep our people, grow our firm and maintain pace with our increasing and diverse client base. Stephen is a native of Cape Town, South Africa, and earned accounting and law degrees from the University of Cape Town. Before moving to the United States in 1986, Stephen was employed with Arthur Andersen. Click here to download the Vcard
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James W. Lahm, CPA/ABV/CFF Partner Jim operates from a simple, core philosophy- the answers lie in asking the right questions. Whether providing accounting or consulting services to his clients, he applies this philosophy to an entrepreneurial outlook and a direct approach. His experience, technical and intuitive skills make him a valued advisor and trusted partner. Jim takes complex, technical issues and breaks them down into simple, easy to manage components. This is especially helpful to business owners who want to know about financial options, innovative opportunities and creative productivity methods. Jim has vast experience in financial reporting and tax services, drawing on economics, finance, and accounting analysis to help his clients. He has a background in performing business valuations, with skills and experience that have proven helpful to clients involved with sales or acquisitions and business succession planning. This knowledge has also helped his traditional clients, because understanding how to measure value can lead to improving value. A believer in lifelong learning and an avid reader, Jim continually pursues advanced education in accounting and consulting skills. Whether beginning a relationship or broadening an existing one, Jim offers top notch credentials, experience, technical understanding and dedication. He is an ABV (a CPA Accredited in Business Valuation), a CFF (a CPA Certified in Financial Forensics), a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Jim earned his B.S. in accounting at Kean College. A music lover since childhood, he listens to everything from classical and world music to modern jazz and rock and roll. Jim and his wife Bernadette also enjoy the visual arts, international cuisine and traveling. Click here to download the Vcard
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Stafford W. Huff, CPA Partner Stafford’s 20 years of service in public accounting, combined with his impressive and unique education, have contributed to his very strong and thorough understanding of the common and uncommon challenges facing growing businesses and their owners. From the beginning of his accounting career in 1986, Stafford has benefited from his involvement in a wide variey of tax and accounting engagements. He prides himself on developing practical solutions and earning the trust of clients, associates and other members of the professional services team. Stafford focuses his service efforts in taxation and business consulting. He is particularly knowledgeable in the areas of:
Stafford is a native of Atlanta and has earned degrees from the University of Georgia and the State University of West Georgia. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSPCA) and The Atlanta Tax Forum. Click here to download the Vcard
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Stephen J. Nadeau, CPA, MTX Tax Partner Don’t be fooled by Steve’s low key style because he has 25 years of experience behind his diligent nature. However, Steve cites the 1986 Tax Reform as the most change he has experienced during his career to date. With 20 years of service at BNKJ, Steve has watched the firm grow and change as he has moved from solely reviewing tax returns for other partners to working with some of his own clients. You will usually find Steve at his desk with head down in the details of a tax return painstakingly completing a final review. Most of his time is spent working with consolidated corporate groups and multi-state tax compliance. Steve also works with individuals on their tax plans and represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service and State Tax Authorities. Steve knows what it is like to sit at the desk of many of the corporate clients he serves. He was employed as an assistant controller for a family business for six years before coming to BNKJ. That’s why Steve works so closely with many business owners. Like many of his peers in BNKJ’s tax department, Steve has completed his advanced degree with his Master in Taxation from Georgia State University. He also earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Georgia State University and is a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of the Certified Public Accountants and the Atlanta Tax Forum. Steve has the distinction of having the longest commute to the office with his house in the outskirts of Atlanta. When he is not driving around the city, you can find him at home gardening or golfing with his wife and two daughters. Click here to download the Vcard
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Scott Pohar, CPA Scott Pohar has been providing estate planning and tax compliance services for more than 22 years, and manages the firm's estate and trust department. He has extensive experience, having worked with many wealthy families and executives to accomplish estate, tax and financial planning goals. Scott has especially strong experience in multi-generational estate planning, fiduciary income tax compliance, charitable planning and private foundations. Click here to download the Vcard
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Melissa “Missy” Herbert, CPA Melissa “Missy” Herbert is an audit partner in the Employee Benefit Services group at BNKJ. She brings more than 14 years of employee benefit plan audit and consulting experience. This experience is supported by a solid understanding of ERISA, DOL and IRS requirements and compliance and reporting and disclosure in all areas of employee benefit plans, including 403(b) plans. Missy offers public and private companies plan audit knowledge combined with a strong ERISA and plan operations background. This combination provides a full service product to clients, covering virtually all aspects of a company's employee benefit plan. During her career, Missy has performed plan audits and consulting for over 800 different companies with plan asset bases ranging from $500K to $5 billion. Missy also has extensive experience auditing plans that are required to file an annual 11-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Missy is dedicated to providing exceptional client service by tailoring the audit approach to meet the specific needs of each engagement. She researches complex accounting and auditing issues, and shares with the BNKJ plan audit team any emerging matters or trends that may impact our clients. Prior to joining BNKJ, Missy worked at a big four accounting firm and was the director in charge of the employee benefit plan group in the Southeast. She served on that firm’s national board, which was responsible for the development of the firm’s benefit plan training materials and audit methodology surrounding the benefit plan industry. Missy is currently serving on the Employee Benefit Plan Quality Review Committee for Georgia, and also serves on the distinguished Review Advisory Board for the Georgia Society of CPAs. Speaking engagements for Missy include the Georgia Society of CPAs Annual Southeast Accounting Conference and the Deloitte & Touche National Employee Benefit Plan Services Group Forum. Memberships include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is also a volunteer soccer coach as part of the Outward Reach Program. Missy earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting at the University of New Orleans, and is a certified public accountant. She has two children and enjoys running, often participating in marathons. She likes to relax by sharing fine cuisine with clients, friends and family. Click here to download the Vcard
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