Company History
In 1984 as a young and inspired CPA, Charles D. Grass and then business partner purchased a small accounting firm; a year later CDG went solo and began expanding his firm. By 1993 Charles grew the firm to a team of nine, annually preparing over 900 income tax returns. In 2007 CDG attempted a merger with a similar sized CPA firm which resulted in losing most of the team and half the clients. In 2008, Grass CPA and Associates settled in their current location in Renton, Washington and began to rebuild to a team of five focusing on income tax and accounting needs of individuals an their closely held businesses.
In 2019 Grass CPA & Associates acquired the practice of a retiring Enrolled Agent adding to the team three part-time staff. Beyond 2020? We see a bright future for Grass CPA & Associates because that inspired, but now seasoned, CPA still believes in and is passionate about this business and each client who Grass CPA is honored to serve.
Firm’s Professional Affiliations
Staff Profiles
Grass CPA and Associates is a full-service Certified Public Accounting firm licensed in Washington State. All our CPA’s hold valid state CPA Certificates.
Charles D. Grass, CPA EA ATA ATP
Founder, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Grass CPA & Associates LLC
Charles was born in Seattle and was on the infamous JP Patches show as a Cub Scout. His family moved to Orcas Island where Charles graduated from Orcas High School and worked in food services at Rosario Resort during his high school and college years.
Charles graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in the spring of 1983 and joined a local accounting firm and Washington Association of Accountants (WAA). That fall he studied for and took both the CPA exam and the IRS Special Enrolled Agent’s exam. Charles obtained EA status in 1984 and received his Certified Public Accountant’s license in 1985 and opened Grass CPA in the what is now Newcastle with the assistance of his late wife Karen. Charles moved the practice to the Renton Highlands in 1993 and to the current building in 2007.
Grass CPA’ focus is on the needs of Individuals and their closely held businesses in the areas of accounting, bookkeeping, compliance taxes, income tax preparation and representation, and, with our affiliated company, Grass Wealth Management LLC, financial and retirement planning. Charles believes that local businesses should be involved in and support the local community. Grass CPA is a member of the Renton Chamber of Commerce and supports several community charities in including Vision House, Congregations for Kids and Congregations for Homeless.
Charles has prepared tens of thousands of income tax returns since 1980 (when he worked part-time with a ‘large national income tax firm;) and has hundreds of happy, returning clients. He is a member and a Past President of the Washington Association of Accounting and Tax Professional (WAATP, formerly WAA). Charles is a member of and State Director for the National Society of Accountants (NSA). In addition to his accounting and tax credentials, Charles maintains insurance and securities licensing.
Charles and his wife, Kathy, make their home in the Renton Highlands and their blended family includes two married adult children, 3 grandchildren and one cocker spaniel, Ruby. When not working overtime hours during ‘tax season’, Charles and Kathy travel the world piece by piece (Brazil, S Korea, China, Danube River, Rhine River, and Germany, so far), are involved in WAATP, NSA, Rotary International, collecting JP Patches memorabilia and yard art and participate in leadership at their church.
For compliance purposes we make the following statement:
Charles D. Grass holds a valid Certified Public Accountant license, in good standing, with the State of Washington.
Nancy C. Reilly
Enrolled Agent
Nancy started her first small business in the state of Alaska and then Washington many years ago. With responsibilities ranging from overseeing inventory, in-house accounting and management, and formerly the owner of her own firm, Nancy Reilly lived the challenges and demands that most small business owners experience. This has given Nancy a first-hand understanding of the many hats small business owners must wear. After many years of formerly owning, operating and increasing revenues of a small firm, Nancy has earned a working knowledge of what accounting and taxation procedures best serve small businesses owners.
Nancy studied in Anchorage, at Alaska Methodist University and is licensed to practice before the Internal Revenue Service as an Enrolled Agent (EA). Only Enrolled Agents are required to demonstrate to the Internal Revenue Service their competence in matters of taxation before they may represent a taxpayer before the IRS. Unlike attorneys and CPA’s, who may or may not choose to specialize in taxes, all EA’s specialize in taxation. EA’s are the only taxpayer representatives who receive their right to practice from the United States Government while CPA’s and attorneys are licensed by their individual states.
Nancy is constantly enhancing her knowledge of new accounting methods and staying current with the ever-changing federal tax code. In addition to her formal education, Nancy C. Reilly combines her expertise in the continually changing field of tax law with many years of practical experience in all aspects of taxation to make her the best choice of a tax professional for any individual and small business owner.
Jeremy Saladino
Enrolled Agent
Jeremy is an Enrolled Agent certified by the Internal Revenue Service to prepare tax returns. In 2010, Jeremy brought his prior tax experience and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Central Washington University in Accounting to Grass CPA as an Associate. In addition to taxes and client bookkeeping, Jeremy can be found, in the back, reviewing returns, preparing a payroll or two, and researching a client’s tax question to make sure the law hasn’t changed.
Jeremy is active in the local chapter of the Washington Association of Accounting and Tax Professionals, a non-profit organization that advocates and educates accounting and tax professionals all over Washington state, serving as both a past Chapter President and currently on the State’s Legislative committee monitoring the Washington State Board of Accountancy to ensure the rights of members of WAATP aren’t restricted. When Jeremy isn’t at work, or working for WAATP, he can be found spending time with his family and researching his family tree.
Jill Maes
Project Manager
My name is Jill Maes. I am the project manager here at Grass CPA & Associates, LLC . My job, in a nutshell, is to make sure all projects are worked on and completed in a timely manner. Sometimes it is a little like dancing. I do everything from gathering data, to limited tax preparation, to billing clients for our services. My role involves the intimate knowledge and talents of our tax prepares and skillfully matching their expertise with the needs of our clients. When not at the office I enjoy spending time with my husband and 5 girls. I love to read and can often be found listening to an audio book during my commute. My plans for the future include studying and testing to become an enrolled agent.
Associate “B”
Staff Accountant
Associate “B” is in the Identity Protection Program (IPP). (WINK) In IPP, the protected limit their internet and social medial exposure. Associate “B” has been a member of the Grass CPA team for many years and an Accountant for more than two decades. Associate “B” holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from a Pac 12 University and does Accounting, Bookkeeping, Compliance Tax and payroll work for Grass CPA and its clients. Outside of Grass CPA, Associate “B” is involved in church and community service activities.
Julia Chopra
Bookkeeper
After 15 years in software development Julie wanted to try something different that would allow her to spend more time with her two children. An opportunity arose to help her children’s soccer club with club registrar duties which introduced her to bookkeeping and QuickBooks Online. Following this introduction, Julie found an opportunity to be a bookkeeper\ office assistant for a small tax firm. The fit was perfect, and Julie found that she enjoys helping small businesses with their payroll, bank reconciliations and business tax payments. She has also been able to leverage her background in software to help get a broader use of QuickBooks.
When not working on the books she can be found walking her golden doodle or on the soccer field, either playing, watching her children play or at a Sounders match!
Paula Stockwell, AFSP
Staff Bookkeeper
Hi I am Paula Stockwell the office ninja. I work at the front desk so chances are I will be the first face you see when you come in. I am a little jack of all trades, multi-tasker that hops from desk to desk to get done whatever needs to get done. When I am not in the office my husband and I get out on our Harley Davidson Trike every chance that western Washington weather will permit us. I love donating my time to Combat Veterans organizations and programs. When I get just Paula time you will usually find me either reading or watching a good murder mystery.
Emilie R. Castle
Staff Bookkeeper