Sam Brunner

About Sam Brunner

Sam has more than eight years of experience in public accounting serving privately held businesses. His primary focus is servicing clients in the local Phoenix tech industry including a wide range from pre-revenue start-ups to large global enterprises. He has a passion for the founders in the local market and approaches his role at CLA very similarly to how a founder grows their business. He is very active in the local tech ecosystem through networking and mentoring. Sam has deep technical experience in business taxation in private equity and VC backed portfolio companies that encompass flow throughs and corporations. Sam also works with the equity funds and individual owners by exit planning, capital maintenance, consulting, and general compliance. He strives to help portfolio companies achieve their objectives from day-to-day business and tax consulting and aligning the proper resources from CLA when needed. Sam works with his clients directly to understand their goals of exiting. He has assisted a range of clients including high net worth individuals, business owners, and private equity firms through successful exits by utilizing his experience in the M&A deal space, including assistance with tax diligence, tax forecasting and modeling, and multi-scenario analysis for Federal and Multi-State taxpayers. Sam sits on the Arizona tax committee under the Accountancy Board, serving the state of Arizona by reviewing complaints against Arizona CPA’s and issuing disciplinary action when needed. He is accompanied by other members on the committee that include leaders within the local market and their respective firms.

Experience

1. Manager

   CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen)

   Jul 2022 — Present · Phoenix, AZ, US

   CLA exists to create opportunities for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services. Whether your needs are local or abroad, we promise to know you and help you. CLAconnect.com Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor.

Education

• W. P. Carey School of Business – Arizona State University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Accountancy

  2013 — 2017

• Grand Canyon University

  Master of Science - MS, Accounting

  2018 — 2020