Mark Thomas, CPA

As a CPA, Mark Thomas fixes problems. More accurately, he helps clients, especially those in the not-for-profit industry with audit and assurance needs, create processes compliant with governmental accounting standards and systems and assist with internal controls to help them grow.

Mark’s work with 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) not-for-profits focuses on audit and assurance work for educational institutions, including private and charter schools, trade associations for airports and pharmaceutical organizations, political groups and human services-related entities.

While Mark, a partner at Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell (CBM) with nearly 25 years of public accounting experience, supports not-for-profits in all areas, revenue recognition compliance is one of his specialties. As not-for-profits downsize and move into remote environments, he helps ensure their revenue recognition processes are set up correctly, especially as internal controls and personnel change over time. Mark also supports not-for-profits with lease accounting guidance to record those agreements accurately.

Pension plan audits are another area where not-for-profits look to Mark for guidance. The Department of Labor often requires this type of audit, and clients frequently are unaware of what they must do to remain compliant. Mark works with a client’s leadership team, usually incorporating human resources, to educate clients on their fiduciary responsibilities and how to manage and account for any pension funds set aside correctly.

Mark is always ready when clients call and ask what they need to do to take on a new situation or adjust their operations for a new governmental standard. That’s why he often leads staff training and discussions with clients on implementing new standards. It’s a philosophy he inherited from his father who taught him to try his best in everything he does while helping people along the way.

That effort to do the best he can transfers to his life outside the office. Mark is a fan of DIY (do it yourself) projects because learning how to do new things gives him a sense of accomplishment. Fixing the brakes on his own car is among his many DIY achievements and he’s on a lifelong endeavor to restore a 1974 VW Super Beetle. When he’s not working outside, Mark enjoys spending time with his family or reading a good fantasy book (the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter series are among his favorites.)