The Clifton Douglas Diffrence
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Clifton Douglas was founded by a former "Big 4" tax partner with a commitment to creating a company capable of providing a very different experience from what many companies receive from traditional accounting firms.
Our Approach
Unlike traditional accounting firms, we typically provide tax outsourcing services for all or a portion of our clients’ tax department function under a simplified, fixed fee structure. Prior to commencement of the engagement, we assist the client in establishing a multi-year tax plan; it is from this plan that the fixed cost is established. Thus, our profit is dependent upon developing efficient processes, not on the amount of time expended.
Our Commitment to Client Service
We are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality of service. In order to achieve this objective, we adhere to an extensive and highly selective hiring process and only invest in experienced, highly-qualified professionals. In addition to each candidate’s background and work experience, we also focus on communication skills, professional integrity, and a personal commitment to superior client service.
This approach ensures all of our clients work directly with a former “Big Four” tax partner or manager. While this limits the number of companies we are able to service, we believe these standards help ensure that all of our clients receive the exceptional client service expected from Clifton Douglas.
Our Commitment to Quality
We also strive to maintain the highest levels of quality by investing in what we believe are the best tax software and research tools available. As part of this initiative, we developed a proprietary software package that is utilized on all tax compliance engagements to add an additional level of quality control. Clifton Douglas also devotes significant resources to training and remaining current on the latest accounting/taxation developments, as well as trends in the high technology sector.
Our Commitment to Efficiency
We provide our services in a format that utilizes two-party involvement for enhanced quality control without additional costs. Due to our lower billing rates resulting from reduced overhead costs, we are generally able to provide consulting and compliance services at prices significantly below that of a large accounting firm providing similar services. We also control costs by working with our clients prior to engagement commencement to determine the appropriate scope of a project based on cost-benefit considerations.
Our Commitment to Timeliness
We develop mutually agreed-upon delivery dates with our clients for each project. If we miss a deadline, we reduce our fees by 10 percent. Our emphasis on timeliness ensures that the company’s management and auditors have adequate time to review project deliverables prior to implementation or filing.
Our Commitment to Superior Documentation
We have developed a proprietary internal control program based on our extensive experience at other high technology companies, which we utilize in the completion of each project. This program combines the company's internal controls with our compliance deliverables, resulting in a comprehensive reference tool for regulatory, audit, and due diligence purposes. It is also useful as a benchmarking tool for company planning and performance analyses.