Leslie Pearson & Associates, PC

I was referred to Leslie two years after starting a business. I had a bookkeeper who felt that I needed more sophisticated tax advisement. This was one of the very best decisions I have made since starting my business. Leslie and her team have taken care of everything with regard to taxes and other accounting issues, which allows me be more efficient business wise, less anxious about what is due, what decisions I should be thinking of making etc. I have sought her expertise in making decisions regarding college funding, divorce, you name it. The financial investment firm I use for retirement etc, has also been willing to communicate directly with Leslie’s firm, again, to make sure that I the best guidance, the best support team. I have considered being introduced to Leslie Pearson, continuing our relationship for 13 years now, to be a stroke of luck, a blessing, my good fortune, figuratively and literally.
Laurie White
Corporate Careers Unlimited

I’m very surprised by the negative reviews, which pushed me to break my Unilocal hiatus and write this one today. I’ve worked with Leslie and her associates since 2012, and I have had nothing but the absolute best experience. They have helped me to get my small business/​private practice off of the ground with very knowledgeable and sound accounting guidance. They are quick in communication by phone and email, and I really like that I can upload my bookkeeping and tax documents to a secure website to avoid a drive south of the river. Even if I did have to drive, I would commit the time to do it because they’re such a wonderful group. She also worked with my financial advisor and the two of them have put together a great financial plan for my business as well as my personal finances. They’re always willing and able to answer my questions and work with me on whatever issues I have pop up. I feel incredibly lucky to have such a great team!

Where to start? I had high hopes for Leslie Pearson when I had my initial meeting with her. To be fair, she spent a good amount of time with me and gave me some helpful tips for organizing documents and keeping track of my finances. I am a new small business owner, so her initial assistance was appreciated. However…, things went downhill quickly. It is now almost July, and they have yet to complete my 2014 tax return, even though I provided them all my documents well before April 15. They did file an extension with the IRS on time (barely). They lost paperwork. They claimed they emailed me when they did not (and they later admitted it was their mistake). They have not prepared my estimated quarterly tax payment, which was due June 15, so now I will have to pay a penalty. I hired an accountant to relieve the stress of filing my own taxes, but this CPA has created much more stress and anxiety for me than if I had just muddled through on my own. I don’t expect a lot from my CPA. They don’t need to be cool or funny or personable. But I do want them to be detail-​oriented and responsive, traits that Leslie Pearson & Associates do not seem to have.

Just for an update… our old CPA amended the tax return Leslie Pearson and Associates created for us and we now owe over $ 16,000 LESS in taxes.