McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC is a Professional Limited Liability Company whose members are more commonly referred to as partners.
Edward J. Amorosso, CPA - CEO, Managing Member
A graduate of Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Ed joined McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC in 1978. In 1985, he was admitted as partner, has served as the firm’s Managing Partner since 1994, and is now the firm’s Chief Executive Officer.
In addition to providing leadership and direction to the firm, he provides business advisory services to clients in areas such as: financial negotiations, the purchase and sale of closely-held businesses, litigation support, auto dealerships, and ESOP consultation. As the director of Government Contracting, Ed leads a consulting team to provide expertise to the firm’s clients in this industry. In addition, he provides assistance with legal proceedings as the firm’s director of Litigation Support.
Recognized as a specialist in government contacting, auto dealerships and employee owned companies, the firm’s CEO contributes to: accounting and reporting issues for cost type contracts, cost accounting systems, review and analysis of cost returns, review and analysis of overhead and general & administrative calculations, preparation and review of incurred cost submissions and negotiations with DCAA (Defense Contract Audit Agency) on forward pricing rates. He also provides services related to ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) feasibility studies and the development and implementation of ESOPs.
Ed has served as a member of both the Professional Ethics and the Management of an Accounting Practice Committees of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Additionally, Ed has served as an officer and director of numerous civic and charitable organizations. He currently serves as a member of the finance committee of the Norfolk Sports Club Scholarship Foundation, treasurer of Chesapeake Bay Academy, member of the board of Norfolk Public Schools Education Foundation, member of the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance, and also member of the board of the Greater Norfolk Corporation.
Ellyn E. Bess, CPA, CPC - Member
Ellyn received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Ball State University. She joined McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC in 1995 and was admitted as a partner in 2009.
In addition to being licensed as a CPA in both Virginia and California, Ellyn has earned the designation of Qualified Plan Administrator, Qualified 401(k) Administrator and Certified Pension Consultant from the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA). She currently serves as the director of the firm’s Pension Department.
As a specialist in retirement planning services, Ellyn provides consulting on the establishment and administration of retirement plans, taxation of employee benefits, as well as other qualified retirement plan matters.
In addition to her consulting practice, Ellyn devotes considerable time to her profession. She participates in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the ESOP Association and is a past president of the Tidewater Chapter of Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Ellyn’s dedication to our community is evident by her serving as secretary for Meals on Wheels, her membership on the United Way Professional Advisory Committee, and as past president of Norfolk Sunrise Rotary Club.
Douglas L. Bowles, CPA - Managing Member of Accounting and Auditing Services
Doug received his Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce, at the University of Virginia in 1971. Upon graduation he joined the Norfolk firm of Edmondson, LedBetter & Ballard LLP (ELB), and was admitted to the partnership in 1978. In January, 2002, ELB merged with McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC.
Elected as the firm’s Managing Member of Accounting and Auditing Services, Doug has decades of invaluable experience in accounting and auditing services to a wide variety of industries. With an expertise in the not-for-profit organizations, Doug directs the firm’s Not-for-Profit consulting team. In addition to consulting on a significant portion of the firm’s not-for-profit client relationships, he also represents client relationships in the areas of manufacturing, construction, professional services, retail and wholesale.
Doug currently serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. Service to his accounting peers is well represented by his active involvement with the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Doug has served various committees for more than 30 years, completed a three-year term on the Board of Directors and a two-year term as chairman of the Peer Review Committee, a committee on which he has served for over 16 years. Additionally, he is past president of both the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Society of CPAs and of the Virginia Group of CPA Firms, Inc., and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. As a qualified reviewer in the AICPA's mandatory Peer Review Program, Doug reviews and monitors the quality of the accounting and auditing practices of member CPA firms and of firms otherwise licensed by the Virginia Board of Accountancy.
Doug is active in our community, having served as treasurer of Thalia United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach, chairman of its Finance Ministry Team for 1997 and 1998 and currently serves on its Board of Trustees. He is also a former member of the Virginia Beach Kiwanis Club where he served as both vice president and secretary.
To honor his very distinguished career, Doug was voted one of Virginia’s “Super CPAs” in the area of not-for-profit organizations for seven consecutive years by Virginia Business magazine.
Jorge A. Dabul, CPA - Member
Jorge received his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University in 1982 and a Master of Science in Accounting with a concentration in taxation from the University of Virginia in 1984. He was a partner with the firm of Edmondson, LedBetter & Ballard LLP that merged with McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC in January, 2002.
Prior to joining McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC, he was vice president of a national publicly traded company, and was responsible for federal corporate income tax reporting and compliance. He also served as Tax Senior Manager with an international known CPA firm where his client service responsibilities included tax compliance, research, and corporate tax planning functions, as well as preparation and review of individual, partnership, and fiduciary income tax returns. With extensive experience in all aspects of tax research, planning, and compliance for commercial entities, Jorge heads the firm’s Incentive Tax Credit consulting team. He concentrates on planning and developing income and estate tax strategies for closely held businesses and their owners and has advised clients on numerous successful merger and acquisition transactions.
Jorge is a member of the American Institute, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Tidewater Estate Planning Council, Hampton Roads Tax Forum, and Leadership Hampton Roads.
In support of our community, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Chesapeake Regional Health Foundation and the Endowment Fund of the Chesapeake Rotary Club.
David M. Limroth, CPA - Member
David received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, with a Concentration in Accounting from the McIntire School of Commerce, at the University of Virginia in 1981. He has continuing education credits from the Marshall-Whythe School of Law of the College of William and Mary, with a focus on Corporate and Partnership Taxation and Estates and Trusts. David has practiced in public accounting since 1982 with McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC and as a partner since 1989.
David’s practice has been principally devoted to serving medical and dental professionals. Clients benefit from his high level of expertise in traditional tax and accounting services and financial reporting, compensation formula design and implementation, and retirement plan design and administration. With regard to physician recruitment arrangements at hospitals, consulting and facilitating mergers, joint ventures and succession planning, his expertise has been particularly constructive. He currently serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and as director of the firm’s Healthcare Industry consulting team. David was named a Virginia “Super CPA” by his peers in 2009.
David is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Hampton Roads Tax Forum.
David’s deep commitment to our community is evidenced by his service as Heart Gala committee member for the American Heart Association, his previous service as a treasurer and board member for Westminster Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay, the Chesapeake Bay Academy, and Places and Programs for Children, Inc.
William A. Prince, CPA - Member
Upon earning his Bachelor of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary in 1978, Art joined McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC, and was admitted as partner in 1986.
As director of the firm’s Estates and Trusts consulting team, Art offers extensive experience in all aspects of tax research and planning, including both commercial entities and not-for-profit organizations. His concentration is in planning and developing income and estate tax strategies for closely-held businesses and their owners.
In service to his profession, Art is a former chairman of the Professional Ethics Committee of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and member of its Board of Directors, and is a past president of the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Hampton Roads Tax Forum.
By serving as an officer and trustee of the James Barry-Robinson Home for Boys as well as an officer and director of the Saint Patrick Catholic School, and the Barry-Robinson center, Art commits himself to enriching the community. He previously served as director of Saint Mary’s Cemetery.
Edward M. Ridout, Jr., CPA, CFE - Member
Marty received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, summa cum laude, from Old Dominion University in 1988. McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC welcomed him to the firm in 1989, and admitted him as partner in 2001.
Marty serves as Director of the Hospitality consulting team and Director of the Wholesale, Retail and Manufacturing consulting team and offers considerable expertise in each industry. These include manufacturing, government contracting, retail, wholesale, service, and not-for-profit organizations. He provides expertise in not-for-profit organizations subject to Federal compliance regulations under OMB Circular A-133. Moreover, he offers practical knowledge in auditing, accounting and business advisory, fraud-prevention consulting and fraud examinations for both commercial enterprises and not-for-profit organizations. This knowledge has allowed him to assist clients with mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs by providing due diligence services, as well as litigation support services.
Marty is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Additionally, he speaks on occasion, for the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Old Dominion University Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi.
He serves on the Old Dominion University Accounting Advisory Council, and previously served on the Board of Directors of Virginia Campus Outreach Opportunity League, church audit committees, and PTA for his children’s schools.
Kevin E. Riggins, CPA, MST - Managing Member of Tax Services
Kevin earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Old Dominion University in 1986, and his Masters in Taxation from the College of William and Mary in 1992. Prior to joining McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC in 1989, he worked as a tax manager for an international accounting firm. McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC admitted Kevin as partner in 1995.
Elected as the firm’s Managing Member of Tax Services, Kevin also serves as director of the Real Estate Industry consulting team and director of the Cost Segregation consulting team. He primarily practices in the area of federal taxation, with particular emphasis on matters relating to partnerships, LLCs and corporations, real estate acquisitions, operations and dispositions, like-kind exchanges and cost segregation studies, and LLCs. Kevin has extensive experience in the negotiation of partnership agreements and corporate shareholder agreements.
Kevin is a member of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Hampton Roads Tax Forum.
Additionally, Kevin serves on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation center.
Walter J. Roe, CPA, CVA - Member
Walter began his career in public accounting in 1981 after receiving his Bachelor of Science from High Point College in 1980. He began working at McPhillips, Roberts & Deans, PLC in 1987 and was admitted as partner in 1995.
Walter serves as the head of the firm’s Automotive industry team and Business Valuation team. He provides a wide range of services to clients of varied closely-held businesses in the auto dealership, construction, and service industries. Walter specializes in advising clients on a variety of accounting, auditing, and general management matters, and additionally provides valuations of closely-held businesses. He has performed valuations involving construction, government contracting, manufacturing, the sports promotion industry, auto dealerships and wholesale distributors. The valuations have been used for gift and estate purposes, mergers, ESOP valuations and family law matters.
Walter is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.
For community contributions, he is a board member of the Virginia Beach travel soccer team, a board member of the Hampton Roads Soccer Counsel, and past Chairman of the Board of Goodwill Industries of Hampton Roads.
R. Paul Speece, CPA - Member
Paul earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Buchnell University in 1976, at which time he began his career in public accounting and became a partner in 1982.
Paul’s areas of expertise over his long career include: federal, state and local tax matters related to corporations, partnerships, individuals, trust and estates, and litigation support. Under his guidance, clients are advised on long-term business strategies and acquisitions and sales, particularly in the healthcare and not-for-profit industries. He also serves as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
Paul is a member of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
His considerable devotion to the community is evident by his service as: member of the Accounting Advisory Committee for Tidewater Community College and Norfolk Public Schools; Emeritus Board Member and past treasurer of Friends of the Norfolk Juvenile Court; and as board member and past president of Samaritan House, including service on its Real Estate and Finance committees.