Douglas G. Paul was the proprietor of Douglas G. Paul & Associates, Certified Public Accountants, an accounting firm which specialized in the tax areas of closely held business, real estate, trust, estate and family wealth planning, as well as return preparation and business advisory services. The firm’s emphasis was on assisting clients with all of their financial needs. Doug believes that it is important to consult with clients during the year for purposes of minimizing tax consequences and maximizing financial benefits. On January 1, 2004 Doug merged his firm with Ghirardo CPA, forming a 30+ person organization which continues the culture expressed above.

Doug has been a financial advisor and quasi-controller to numerous closely held entrepreneurial companies, some from pre-incorporation days through acquisition, merger negotiation or initial public offering. He has assisted these enterprises to varying degrees with his expertise in business expansion, bank financing, financial reporting, budgeting, tax planning and research, employee incentive programs, succession planning and minority shareholder buyouts, as well as providing them with referrals to a well-developed network of professional contacts with bankers, attorneys, stock brokers, insurance agents, etc., to whom he can refer his clients as part of his advisory services.

Doug has been a CPA since 1972, and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the California Society of CPAs, and the Marin Estate Planning Council. His past experience includes positions with Arthur Andersen & Co., the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and partnership in a Marin County CPA firm prior to opening his firm in 1985. He is now an independent contractor to Ghirardo CPA, and continues to serve his clients with the expanded staffing of this larger organization.

Doug graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a BA in Economics, and an MBA in Finance. He subsequently received a Master in Taxation from Golden Gate University.

He is on the board of the Marin Estate Planning Council, a member of the Professional Advisors Committee of the Marin Community Foundation, the Board Emeritus of the Marin branch of the San Francisco YMCA, is past Chair of the Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation, a former board member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Marin, Inc, and the Redwood High School Scholarship Foundation.

Doug lives in Mill Valley with his wife, Elke. When not providing consulting services, Doug and Elke enjoy spending time at their home at The Sea Ranch on the Sonoma County coast.