Your nonprofit has a mission. And you work hard to make sure your programs and efforts are realized. A big part of doing that means obtaining funding, and that often hinges on healthy and transparent financial accounting.
Cook & Company, A Professional Accountancy Corporation, is a certified public accounting firm that works exclusively with California nonprofit organizations. By specializing in nonprofi audit, tax and review services, we live and breathe nonprofit accounting and are able to invest all of our energy in making these specific service offerings as high-quality as possible.
A third-party audit helps demonstrate that your organization uses its funds responsibly. We’ll create a detailed and accurate report you can use to reassure donors and open the door to new funding opportunities.
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A Financial Review is a less detailed version of a full audit. Unlike many other firms, we offer clients a summary of findings, known as a Management Letter, for the nonprofit’s senior management and board.
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Incorrect or missed returns could put your organization’s tax-exempt status at risk. We make sure returns are done right and filed on time.
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We’re proud to be members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The AICPA sets the benchmark for CPA firm performance and conduct, requiring its members to meet the highest ethical and professional standards.
Just because something’s been done a certain way in the past doesn’t mean it’s the best way to do it. Our team is addicted to technology, and we’re always “thinking outside the box” to provide our clients with a faster, less expensive, and more reliable way to do things.
We see no reason why a CPA has to be stuffy or grumpy. We’ve hand-picked friendly, open people who can translate GAAP and IRS jargon to plain English and are committed to sharing their knowledge and experience with others.
Large firms with nonprofit divisions can be expensive, and small, general firms can be “jacks of all trades” who may not have the necessary experience with nonprofit requirements (which can lead to expensive mistakes). We bring you the best of both worlds: value and expertise.
We are one of the few Green Certified CPA firms under the California Green Business Program and make every effort to reduce our carbon footprint and be environmentally responsible.
Founder & Principal
Founder & Principal
Douglas Cook has 17 years of professional accounting experience, primarily working with nonprofit organizations.
Douglas earned his Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree (with an emphasis in Nonprofit Finance) from San Francisco State University, where he conducted award-winning research on nonprofit governance issues. He also holds a B.A. in Business from Dominican University of California and completed a Certificate in Accounting at U.C. Berkeley.
He is a member in good standing of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the AICPA Not-for-Profit Section and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Douglas is also committed to teaching. “As an accountant and teacher, I view each of our client relationships as an educational opportunity to help an organization strengthen its infrastructure, and thereby be in a better position to deliver its mission,” he explains. “One of the greatest pleasures of being a CPA for nonprofits is knowing I can use my knowledge and experience to help so many organizations make a positive difference in today’s complex world.”
Douglas currently teaches Nonprofit Financial Management as part of the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program at San Francisco State University. He has also taught accounting and auditing to undergraduates and graduates at Golden Gate University, and has served as a Fiscal Compliance Panelist/Instructor for the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership’s Emerging Leaders Program.
In addition, he recently started a blog where he discusses various topics relating to nonprofit accounting, financial management and good governance practices.
Senior Staff Accountant
Senior Staff Accountant
Ying is the firm’s senior associate on financial reviews and she is passionate about working with numbers and nonprofits! She also serves as a technical advisor to the audit team and is our go-to person for training junior staff.
Prior to joining Cook & Company, she served as a Staff Accountant for Star Vista, a multimillion dollar human services nonprofit. Ying’s experience in accounting for government contracts, temporarily restricted net assets, endowments, and functional expenses has proven invaluable to our clients.
Ying, who moved to the United States from China, is a CPA and holds an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Florida State University. She is also a member in good standing of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Bookkeeper / Executive Assistant
Bookkeeper / Executive Assistant
Kelsey joined the firm in 2018 with a background in a variety of administrative support and client services positions. She serves as an administrative liaison between the audit team and our clients, in addition to supporting the tax return preparation function.
Education
BFA, Screenwriting/Film
Get our FREE tool: Sample Nonprofit Accounting Close & Financial Statement Preparation Checklist.
It was clear when the lockdowns began which nonprofits had automated their accounting processes. In the COVID-19 era, how can you make the move to the cloud?
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Has your nonprofit organization received a loan as part of the CARES Act? You may be required to have a “Single Audit”. Find out more about how to prepare here…
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The nonprofit audit reports are about to change in 2020. Learn what the main changes are and how they will affect your organization here…
READ FULL STORY(415) 621-1112 | toll-free (855) 676-2727 | fax (855) 568-8895
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Northern California
One Sansome Street, Suite 3500
San Francisco, CA 94104
Southern California
3110 Main Street, Bldg. C
Santa Monica, CA 90405
