Get to Know Geoffrey Webber

Geoff Webber, a partner specializing in tax with Duke CPA Inc., a small accounting firm in Cowansville, recently joined the MNP family through a merger on February 1, 2022. Now part of MNP, we sat down with Geoff to get to know him better and learn more about his passion for taxation and agriculture. Here’s what he had to say:

Did you always want to become a tax advisor?

Well, I didn’t wake up at age 13 and say ‘taxation!’ I did want to be involved in agriculture. I completed an MBA and worked at a ski hill for a couple of years but I was missing agriculture. I knew that Duke had a large agricultural practice so I started working for them in 1992. I realized that the firm didn’t need another accountant; we needed someone who understood tax. That led me to do a post-graduate diploma in taxation at the University of Sherbrooke.

What do you like about your work?

It was what the firm needed and, like a lot of things, once you get into it, it becomes more and more interesting because you become better at it. It was difficult to get that degree — there’s a lot of memory work involved in taxation. But it’s turned into something really interesting over the years.

How would you describe how you work with your clients?

A lot of the time, it’s asking questions. They’ll come in with a problem and it’s a matter of finding out what they’re really trying to do, and then working on a solution. Sometimes you find out they don’t actually have a tax problem; what they’ve got is some type of problem in the family. So I ask questions, figure out the real problem, and then get into the mechanics.

How do you define added value?

In my part of our business it’s about reducing or deferring taxes as much as possible. Having good relations with people and treating them well is always good, and a very important part, but you can be as happy and friendly as you like — if you don’t advise them well and cost them thousands of dollars in tax, that’s not good.

Are you involved in the community?

I sit on two boards. I’m treasurer of the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation. We raise funds for the hospital. That’s out of interest. I’m also very involved with Butters Homes, which was created by the Butters Foundation to manage the homes the foundation bought or built to house intellectually disabled adults. It also manages the camp that offers fun and respite and I sit on the board of directors of the camp association.

What are you envisioning in terms of your future with the firm?

Because we only have three partners, we’re all involved in administration and I don’t do as much tax consulting work as I’d like to do. With MNP and the additional resources they provide, I’ll be able to do more tax work and spend more time with clients rather than administrative work. I am also excited to be with MNP, a firm that is very heavily agriculture focused.

What do you do when you’re not working or volunteering?

I ride my bike, go cross-country skiing in the local woods and do some camping. Someone joked that travel books have been moved to the fantasy section of the bookstore for the time being because of COVID but we usually do one or two long-distance trips a year. We live in a really pretty part of the country so I spend a lot of time outdoors, around the lake. Pretty simple stuff.

Contact Geoff

To learn more about Geoff or to find out how he can help you, contact him at 450.263.4123 ext. #222 or [email protected]