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DANA BORYS, CPA, MST 
Dana has nearly 20 years of public accounting experience with a specialization in corporate tax services for cannabis, high technology (computer science, information, SaaS, and telecommunication), biotechnology (life science and medical device), and consumer business companies. She has extensive knowledge of the complex business needs of pre-revenue venture backed start-up companies to consolidated multinational publicly traded companies.
Over the years Dana has built a broad foundation by advising companies with entity structuring, tax provisions, ASC 740-10 analysis, state and local income and sales tax nexus, federal and state tax incentives, and inventory costing methodologies. She consults with individual clients on their long term financial and retirement goals and maximizing their equity-based compensation.
Dana holds a Master of Science degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University where she graduated with honors.
The San Francisco Business Times induced Dana into the “Forever Influential Honor Roll” in 2018 after Dana was an honoree in the 2017 “Most Influential Women in Business”.
CHRISTINE ABELLERA-PHAM, CPA, MST
Christine Abellera-Pham is a tax advisor from the Bay Area with over a decade of public accounting experience. She spent her first two years as an auditor of both private and publicly traded companies for a Big Four Firm. Christine then spent 11 years as a tax advisor for a large national firm where she focused mainly on complicated high net worth individuals, trusts, foreign tax filings as well as quarterly and year end tax planning. She also trained many new hires over the years who still work in tax to this day.
Christine is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in California and holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from the University of San Francisco, where she graduated with honors, and a Masters of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University.
CORY CARROLL, CPA, MSBA
Cory has over 20 years of public accounting experience working closely with company owners, CFOs, and controllers to identify their accounting, tax, and financial needs in order to execute a plan of action. His past clients have ranged in size from start-up to $40M gross revenue per year in a wide range of industries, with a focus on government contractors and high-tech corporations. Cory has extensive experience with both service providers and producers/manufacturers of high-tech equipment, and his strong accounting background allows for a detail-oriented nuts-and-bolts accounting and tax analysis or a 30,000 foot view of important issues.
Technical expertise includes corporate and individual tax compliance, tax minimization strategies, entity selection, accounting system set up and structuring, R&D credit consulting and calculations, multi-state apportionment analysis, exit strategy planning, and consulting on mergers and acquisition for asset vs. stock sales/purchases.
Cory has been a licensed CPA in California for over seventeen years and holds a Bachelor degree in Business Economics with an Accounting Emphasis from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a Master of Science in Financial and Tax Planning from San Diego State University.
JESSICA ESQUIVEL, CPA
Jessica Esquivel has over 10 years of corporate federal and state income tax compliance experience. She specializes in handling tax consulting projects for start-ups, high technology and software, and emerging businesses. Before joining the firm, Jessica held a senior role at a tax services firm in the Bay Area where she advised clients on their options for managing complex matters. She also worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Large Corporate Tax Group, assisting large multinational clients to meet their tax filing and reporting requirements.
Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from San Jose State University. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of California.
JOYCE (EXMUNDO) KANDT
Joyce has nearly 20 years of public accounting experience with a specialization in tax credits and incentives. Her main expertise is with Research & Development Tax Credits for a number of industries including high technology, software, food & beverage, construction, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices/equipment, manufacturing and more.
Prior to serving as a technical advisor to the firm, Joyce spent a number of years at Big 4 Firms and even started the R&D Tax practice during her time at BPM, LLP. She has hired in an entire team, led internal trainings and developed successful processes. Joyce values her clients and their needs to ensure they are taking full advantage of these tax incentives.
Joyce holds a Bachelor of Science degree in in Accounting from the University of San Francisco.
NAZ NASSERI
Executive Admin
Naz joined Dana R. Borys, An Accountancy Corporation in the Spring of 2021 as an Executive Assistant. Naz holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from University of Tehran. She is coming from InConcert Financial Group, where she spent 7 years managing the office and creating firm processes to streamline client workflow and increase engagement. Naz also played a key role in helping InConcert Financial Group adopt and embrace technology to run the business more efficiently.
Naz has recently moved to sunny San Diego from the Bay area.
SARA RABY, CPA
Sara is a tax advisor with nearly 20 years of public accounting experience, with a specialization in working with individuals and their closely held businesses.
Throughout her career, Sara has worked with many individuals on their federal and multi-state tax filings, IRC Section 1031 exchange calculations and other real estate transactions for rental properties, and identifying tax planning opportunities for self-employed individuals. Sara has also successfully led several IRS audits that resulted in a ‘no-change’ decision.
Sara is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of California. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce with an emphasis in accounting from Santa Clara University
CHERYL SAROUKHANOFF, CPA
Cheryl Saroukhanoff has over 10 years of business experience with a mix of financial management and
tax accounting. She is now a tax advisor with over 2 years of experience in federal and state income tax.
Prior to pursuing tax, she held a role as a Demand & Inventory Forecasting Manager for a large
corporation.
Cheryl is a licensed Certified Public Accountant with the State of California. Cheryl holds a bachelor’s
degree from The University of California, Los Angeles and received her accounting certificate from
California State University San Bernardino.
HAIDER RAJA, EA
Haider Raja brings over 10 years of public accounting experience, primarily specializing in tax credits and incentives to the firm. His main expertise is calculating and documenting Research and Development (“R&D”) Tax Credits for a number of industries such as Biotechnology, Engineering, Software, Manufacturing and Food Sciences.
Most recently, Haider served as a Tax Supervisor at a large national firm for over 3 years where he helped build the R&D Tax practice. Prior to this, Haider also spent 3 years specializing in R&D Tax Credits at a Big Four Firm.
Haider holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Economics from Queens College and The City College of New York. He is also a certified Enrolled Agent that can practice before the IRS in tax audits.
ALANA SYRIAN, MST
Alana Syrian is a tax advisor with 9 years of accounting experience. She spent her first 3.5 years in public accounting where she focused on corporate tax services for tech, and biotechnology companies before joining private industry. She spent 1 year at a large public utility company and has spent the last 4.5 years at a private equity firm.
Alana holds a Bachelors of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Michigan – Dearborn, and a Masters of Science in Taxation from Wayne State University.
“Dana has been an excellent advisor to our team as we expand the business geographically. Her hand’s on approach provides us with the tools needed to make informed decisions and develop best practices. Leveraging Dana’s tax knowledge has been extremely helpful as we grow our business.”
Johnny Valeriote, President