Bellingham, Washington-based VSH CPAs announced the merging in of fellow Bellingham firm Ahn Tax & Business Advisors, including its founder and previous VSH partner Lydia Ahn, who will be rejoining the firm as a partner, effective Nov. 1, 2021.
VSH was founded in 1997 and with the combination will have approximately 50 staff members.
In her return to VSH, where she previously worked for 10 years, advancing from staff accountant to partner, Ahn will now focus on strengthening the firm’s international and cross-border technical capabilities, in addition to helping businesses manage their tax liability and explore opportunities in stewardship of their cross-border investments, assets and operations.
“Lydia Ahn knows northwest Washington and merging her expertise and dynamic group of clients is a tremendous boost to our ambitions to advance VSH in the changing market of business advisory services,” said VSH CEO Jessica Waggoner in a statement. “She’s a leader, she’s trusted by her clients and, as we watched her practice grow, we knew we wanted her to grow with VSH.”
Ahn specializes in partnerships, real estate and development, professional services, cross-border business, foreign asset holdings and taxation of U.S. persons living abroad, and is a regular presenter on cross-border and real estate topics in Washington, British Columbia and Alberta. Before forming ATBA, Ahn’s work at VSH focused on working with high-net-worth families and their business interests at other regional accounting firms.
“There’s something special happening at VSH, something I wanted to be part of,” said Ahn in a statement. “They’re committed to their clients’ success here at home, across the country and around the world with the investment in talent and innovation to back it up. Bringing our clients and practices together helps everyone achieve more.”
“Lydia builds partnerships and is exactly what business leaders want in an advisor,” stated Waggoner. “She’s collaborative, committed to her clients’ success and dedicated to improving the professional and personal lives of everyone around her. As VSH continues to grow, we couldn’t be happier to welcome her and her clients to the VSH community.”
