About Us
AB FinWright is an accounting firm with a wide range of expertise for your business or individual needs. We offer personalized attention, impeccable service and customized partnerships with you to ensure your goals are attained.
We are headquartered in Los Angeles, and have satellite offices in Redlands, Palos Verdes and (coming soon) Paris, France.
Partners
Abraham Finberg, MBA, CPA
Abraham Finberg, MBA, CPA, Managing Partner at AB FinWright LLP, provides outstanding client services to simplify troublesome tax issues and is the go-to tax and accounting expert for business owners in new and emerging industries. He is especially well-versed in distribution, manufacturing and related excise taxes; real estate, commercial and residential; retail pharmacies; medical and dental offices; complementary health offices; law offices; and cannabis-related tax issues.
Prior to joining AB FinWright LLP, Abraham founded his own full-service accounting firm, Abraham Finberg and Associates, Inc., in 2009 and served as CEO for over a decade. He successfully represented various clients in IRS and Board of Equalization tax compliance audits and prepared and reviewed corporation, partnership and individual tax returns. He currently serves as Auditor for the 63D RD U.S. Army Reserves, where he led the Army Audit Readiness Program and supervised preparation of monthly financial and variance reports for internal and General Officer review.
Abraham received his Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. He is a licensed CPA in California.
Abraham loves to spend quality time with his family like sailing with his wife, telling bedtime stories to his daughter, and keeping up with his son’s college ambitions. He bikes to work and finds it absolutely hilarious when he’s passing motorists stuck in a notorious L.A. traffic jam on his bicycle!
Rachel Wright, MST, CPA
Rachel Wright, MST, CPA is a Managing Partner with AB FinWright LLP and has vast experience building accounting departments and creating internal controls for fast-growing entities in the real estate development industry, from architecture to construction to manufacturing. With management and leadership experience in her field, she successfully navigates the tax landscape to find the best solutions for clients to elevate their businesses, while making complicated tax issues simple to understand.
Prior to joining AB FinWright LLP, Rachel founded and managed her own firm Wright Accounting Services for 15 years before merging with Abraham Finberg and Associates, Inc. in 2019. Previously she led the finance and accounting department of a fast-growing manufacturing company and has also worked with clients on several tax audits with various federal and state agencies.
Rachel has a Master of Science in Taxation (MST) from Golden Gate University. Rachel is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of California. She is currently pursuing her Masters Certification in International Tax in order to serve American expatriates living abroad as well as her Masters Certification in Estates and Trusts.
She emphasizes work-life balance to her clients in her own life by spending time riding dressage, yoga, hiking, and traveling with her family.
Our Trusted Advisors
Simon Menkes, CPA
Simon Menkes, CPA, is a Trusted Advisor at AB FinWright LLP whose expertise spans many industries, but with a specialty in technology, finance, construction, retail, real estate, and cannabis. A seasoned veteran with two decades of accounting experience, he provides clients wise counsel and trustworthy guidance to grow their businesses and achieve their goals.
Previously Simon was a controller and senior accountant for various businesses in a range of industries, including real estate, property management, technology and financial services. Responsibilities included management of all daily accounting and financial operations, cash flow analyses and projects, month-end close, payroll, audit compliance, and much more.
Simon earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from Princeton University and is a licensed CPA in the state of California and a mediator certified by the National Conflict Resolution Center. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA).
Simon spends his free time practicing karate, surfing waves, or dancing. He has also written two novels and is currently working on his third.
Gary S. Bachrach, MBA, CPA
Gary S. Bachrach, MBA, CPA is a Trusted Advisor at AB FinWright LLP who creates innovative and intuitive solutions that help his clients achieve their goals and grow their business. With over two decades of CFO and controller experience under his belt, Gary is an expert when it comes to accounting, cash management, financial analysis, budgeting, cost accounting, personnel and corporate tax, insurance, personnel administration, employee benefits, and more.
Previously Gary garnered extensive controller and CFO experience in various companies in a variety of industries, including a multi-state telecommunication installation and service company, numerous corporations in tight cash flow environments, a software startup, and more. In his roles ranging from “Interim Controller and Consultant” to “Director of Finance and Administration”, Gary shouldered many accounting, tax, cash flow management, and leadership responsibilities that have shaped him into the seasoned veteran and accomplished individual he is today.
Gary earned his Master of Business Administration degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a licensed CPA in California and a chair member of the California Society of CPA’s Southern California Business and Industry Committee and has been the treasurer of nonprofit West Side Food Bank for over 20 years.
Gary enjoys yoga, swimming, reading, and gardening. Gary’s green thumb allows him to keep his garden flourishing with greens and especially loves tending to his bumper crop of tomatoes.
Andrew Gradman, Esq.
Andrew Gradman, Esq., is a Trusted Advisor at AB FinWright LLP and founder of Gradman Tax. He is an expert in tax law who helps clients understand and minimize tax obligations including income, estate, employment, property, excise, sales, use and franchise taxes.
Prior to building Gradman Tax, Andrew practiced law for various employers, garnering a decade’s worth of experience and expertise. He received a Master of Laws in Taxation and business certificate from New York University, a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University.
A man of many talents, Andrew contributes his tax expertise to the Beit Tzedek low-income tax clinic as a volunteer. He is a cellist who performs with the LA Lawyers’ Philharmonic and a prolific author. His article on qualified opportunity zones was on the front-page for the Tax Notes Federal magazine. Andrew is also a top 200 article creator on Wikipedia with nearly 1,000 pages. He enjoys watching Kurzgesagt, a YouTube channel that provides minimalist animated educational content, and science videos featuring ducks.
Sasha Mamula-Elkins, MBA, MSP, SHRM-CP
With over 13 years in business consulting and seven years directly in HR outsourcing in California, Sasha understands the unique challenges of small and medium-sized businesses. Currently, Sasha is President of an HR outsourcing firm focused on small businesses and, as an employer, has experienced the same issues with hiring, retaining, engaging, and managing a workforce her business clients face. She does not just consult on theory, she consults on law knowledge, knowledge of psychology, and from experience. She also serves as Membership Director on the BOD for her local SHRM chapter.
While working full time, she earned her MBA in 2010 and her Master of Science in Psychology in 2013, both which further strengthen her skill set as she approaches HR from both a business and psychological perspective. In addition, she is certified in Human Capital Management through ADP, certified as an HR Professional through SHRM, certified in California HR, certified in OSHA for HR, and IIPP writing.
Karen Sam
Karen Sam is a Trusted Advisor at AB FinWright LLP working on international tax research and other complex tax matter research for the firm’s clients. A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Karen researches and writes on international tax and tax policy. Her article “A New Framework for Digital Taxation” (co-authored) is forthcoming in the Harvard Journal of International Law. She has also published in Tax Notes. Karen is a musician and has played with orchestras in Singapore, New York, and now Los Angeles. She is a native speaker of both English and Mandarin.
Our Tax and Compliance Team
Rhonda (Roni) Ryckman, CPA
Roni Ryckman began in her career in the “Big 4” working at KMPG Peat Marwick. She worked her way through college as a bookkeeper while also learning Tax Preparation. After a couple years, Roni transitioned into private practice as it became more fulfilling. Working with small/medium size businesses became Roni’s passion as she became skilled at best practices, workflow and set-up and training bookkeeping staff. Roni graduated from San Diego State University and enjoyed the community so much she decided to establish San Diego as her home base with her family. She has specialized in the construction industry for most of her 2 decades of practice but has branched out into other areas as well following the demands of other industries. She loves a challenge and has never met a set of books she could not “fix”. Roni loves to travel with her children, most often abroad including Italy where her family originated. She was a musician long before an accountant and loves to write and perform music whenever time allows.
Melissa Walters
Melissa joined us in 2018 and is client-oriented and results-driven. She manages the tax logistics of obtaining client information, responding to inquiries, sending out tax returns and e-filing.
Melissa has a Bachelors’ Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and an Associate’s Degree in Office Administration from El Camino college and is also a certified bookkeeper and office clerk.
Personally Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and loves the great outdoors- enjoys hiking, traveling, exploring new places and relaxing on the beach. She’s also a huge fan of music, dancing and horror movies.
Our Client Accounting Service (CAS) Team
Grace Yan
As an administrative coordinator with over 10 years of experience in the accounting field, Grace acts as a liaison between the firm and clients. With her bachelor’s in Foreign Trade & Transportation from Shanghai Maritime University and further studies at Langara College in Canada, she has refined her knowledge of taxes and accounting throughout her academic and professional career. She is detail-oriented and passionate about tax planning and preparation, with AB FinWright supporting her future prospects of exploring the tax landscape more deeply. Committed to clients and the team alike, Grace applies the feedback she receives to her work and is constantly growing alongside the firm.
Monica Villanueva
Monica earned her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy degree from Mapua University in Makati, Philippines. She became a Certified Financial Market Professional (CFMP) in 2017 to become knowledgeable and gain understanding of securities in the Capital Market.
Monica’s previous experience includes working with other international businesses providing accounting, payroll, audit, and tax compliance services. With her extensive experience in full cycle accounting, she has recently joined the CAS team to provide a high quality level of service to our clients.
Outside of work, Monica loves to watch movies and various television series. She also likes to travel and try adventurous activities like skydiving and bungee jumping.
Our Human Resource and Administrative Team
Tara O’Connor
Tara joined the team in 2018 and is the master of her craft acting as the key liaison for our partners & staff. She leads management across the LA office as the first point of contact with our clients in all matters, providing smooth, speedy, and hospitable service at all times.
Previously she gained many years of expertise in sales and event planning for Trade Shows and Conventions with clients including Acura, Cosmopolitan, Coca Cola and many others. Tara also garnered many years of experience across the entertainment industry in a variety of roles with Fox Studios, Warner Bros and Disney.
Free time for Tara is spent enjoying nature with long hikes and bike rides. She also loves cooking and trying out new recipes and is a powerhouse at playing pool. Being from England, Tara is a huge fan of The Kominsky Method and its extra-dry, British humor.
Tina Suarez
Tina Suarez is a Human Resource Manager with over 20 years of experience in all areas of human resource management for California based and multistate businesses. Skilled in strategic planning and analysis, implementing HRIS technology solutions, employee and contractor relations, payroll and timekeeping processing, performance management, recruiting and retention practices as well as regulatory compliance. She is also strongly experienced in developing and implementing company policies, conducting workplace investigations, payroll and benefits administrator, and workers compensation, creating job descriptions and developing complex compensation programs. On her free time Tina enjoys spending time with friends and family in camping on the central coast of California and taking her quad out for riding at the Dumont Dunes.
Angelica Islas
Angelica joined our team in 2020 in an internally-focused role developing controls and processes that strengthen and grow our business. An optimistic and team-oriented player, she is passionate about working with the partners to grow the business and enjoys mentoring her team to develop to their fullest potential.
Previously Angelica was a senior accountant in a manufacturing business. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business, Business Administration, and Management from California State University-San Bernardino and is prepping to take the Uniform CPA Examination® to obtain her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
Outside of work, Angelica loves to spend time with her daughter and travel with her family. She is talented in the kitchen and prepares awesome Mexican dishes! Angelica enjoys sewing, volunteers with her local social group and is a huge fan of Law and Order: SVU.