Our founder, a tax director at a major accounting firm, chose to open a boutique CPA practice in 2003 that would offer deep expertise with personalized attention to client needs.

We strive to find creative, pragmatic solutions to complex problems. We pair knowledge and experience with tenacity and drive. Our client’s success is the measure of our success. 

We are a team of CPAs, MBAs & Attorneys with experience at Big 4 & large regional firms. We serve the needs of closely-held businesses, trusts & estates, and high net-worth individuals. 

Mark Ratafia is the founder and CEO of Beacon CPA. With over thirty years of broad-based experience in tax, accounting and business advisory, Mark brings a unique mix of real-world knowledge, pragmatism, and creative thinking to his client-centric approach. He works closely with clients to understand their goals in order to craft solutions that fit. In the words of one ultra-high-net-worth client, “…it is a rarity these days for a professional advisor to hear your questions and concerns and respond so thoughtfully.”

Mark is the trusted advisor to domestic and international closely-held business owners, high net-worth families, and trusts & estates. His knowledge and expertise in the private client area allow him to advise on complex matters such as setting up U.S. business operations; investment into U.S. real property; U.S. international tax reporting; federal, state and local domestic taxation; formation of new ventures; business succession planning; charitable trusts; and wealth and legacy preservation planning. 

Mark is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in New York and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He graduated from the Fordham Gabelli School of Business with both a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Taxation in 1991. Prior to founding Beacon CPA in 2003, Mark worked at KPMG and American Express Tax & Business Services in New York.

Advised on the tax structuring for a related group of U.K. companies entering the U.S. market through a combination LLCs and corporations.  Beacon acts as the controlled group’s outsourced tax and accounting department for all U.S. tax and accounting matters. 

Represent international management consultancy for their U.S. tax, accounting and regulatory needs, advising them and providing tax return preparation services from their entry into the U.S. through and beyond their sale to Boston Consulting Group. 

For over 15 years provided outsourced controllership and tax functions to the U.S. subsidiaries of one of the world’s top five glass manufacturing and sales companies.  Services include the maintenance of accounting system, monthly and annual financial management reporting, corporate income tax return preparation, tax advisory, special projects and audit representation. 

Advised start-up private equity firm on proper selection of U.S. business entities, established accounting systems for reporting, managed tax function on outsourced basis, prepared and filed multi-state returns for interlocking entities and tiered partnerships. 

Provided tax advisory and tax return preparation for hedge fund manager with 30 partnership and S-corporation interests, multi-state filings, carried interests, tax basis issues, multiple residences and U.S international tax reporting for foreign income and assets. Consulted on structuring of new investments, tax optimization, Charitable Lead Trusts, Private Foundations, and estimated tax planning.    

Successfully represented U.S. family facing significant penalties for the failure to report $40 mm of foreign assets held in Swiss banks through various BVI, Panamanian and Hong Kong companies in collaboration with a leading international law firm. Beacon’s work in tracing the assets through multiple transfers over an eight-year period, creating financial statements for the offshore holding companies, and preparing amended tax returns for the family, was accepted by the IRS upon audit without change.

Represented billionaire private equity investor in complex state residency tax audit resulting in a reduction of over $6,000,000 of allocated income over a three year period through a novel database driven approach to income sourcing that the taxing agency accepted at the audit level. 

Represented foreign ultra-high net-worth family doing business in the United States through a complex trust structure, including multiple partnerships, LLCs, foreign asset reporting and multi-state business and fiduciary filings. 

Represented one of Israel’s leading family offices providing the tax and accounting needs for a series of complex trusts investing in U.S. real property and operating businesses.  Consulted on structuring of investments, maintained all the U.S. financial records, produced business and fiduciary reporting, and prepared all tax compliance. 

Provided outsourced corporate tax department services to a $100mm sales consolidated group of manufacturing, sales and service corporations with multi-state filings. 

Interested in joining our team? Click here for current job opportunities.