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From thespian
to CPA
by
Holly M. Rodriguez
Michael
Mares is an accountant who thought he’d be a lawyer,
or maybe even an actor. In 1977, with a bachelor’s
degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree
from the College of William & Mary, Mares joined
a Charlottesville firm and briefly pondered whether
he was more suited to a career in the theater. Instead,
though, he turned to accounting, following in his father’s
footsteps.
Michael Mares |
Mares,
recognized for his work in business valuation services,
began his accounting career in 1980 when he joined the
Newport News-based Witt, Mares & Company. His law
background served him well, he says. “I was always
interested in law and saw a need for a legal background
to help clients with tax, economic and business issues,”
says Mare. Today Mares is one of 16 partners at the
firm.
Over
the years, Mares has appeared before U.S. Senate and
House Committees on tax issues, published articles on
Internal Revenue Service procedure, tax issues and policies,
IRS audit procedures and business valuations. He has
also appeared in several workshop videos produced by
the New York-based American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, discussing income tax policy and issues
for individuals and corporations and tax law updates.
He has also held nearly a dozen positions within the
organization. Last year, he was the chairman of the
AICPA Ethical Standards In Tax Planning Task Force.
His
accounting career hasn’t dampened his longtime
interest in the theater. Mares has performed in several
productions put on as part of a Newport News public
service group’s fundraising campaign, playing lead
roles in “The Sunshine Boys” and “Love,
Sex and the IRS.” In the latter show, he played
one of two roommates who decide to file their taxes
as a married couple to save money, and get audited by
the IRS. “That’s when you really see the ham
come out,” Thomas R. Brooks, a partner at the firm,
says laughingly. “And I think that’s what
. . . makes him such a good public speaker.”
Mares
also works with several civic groups, including Transitions,
The Virginia Peninsula Council on Domestic Violence.
“Mike is probably one of the most well-rounded
and knowledgeable CPAs I’ve ever encountered, and
that includes my 14 plus years with a [major] accounting
firm.” Brooks said. “[He] can quickly analyze
a situation, determine what the key issues are and quickly
reach a solution or recommendation.”
Return
to Virginia Business - November 2002
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