Get to know Rachele Gordon

Who is Rachele Gordon?

Rachele Gordon is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Senior Manager who’s lived and worked in the Tri-Cities for more than 10 years. From MNP’s Port Moody office, Rachele helps corporate and individual clients with tax planning, corporate reorganizations, tax issues, and annual tax compliance needs. When she’s not working, she enjoys frequenting local clients’ businesses and seeing their success. We chatted with Rachele to learn more about her, her work, and her attachment to the Tri-Cities.

Did you always want to become an accountant?

I got interested in accounting when I was working in commercial banking after obtaining a degree in finance. I wanted to have a better understanding of financial statements and the tax system so decided to obtain my chartered accountant designation. That got me interested in advanced tax planning so from there I took the three-year In-depth Tax Course.

Why tax?

I love the challenge and variety that comes from working with different clients, all with unique situations. And with an ever-changing Income Tax Act, you’re always doing things differently and learning something new.

What kinds of clients do you work with?

I work with private sector, corporate and individual clients from a variety of industries and of all sizes, from businesses with total assets of $100,000 to those with assets in the hundreds of millions of dollars. I also work with the not-for-profit and union sectors.

What is your approach when working with clients?

The first thing I do is to get to know the client’s situation — not only their financial and tax situation but also their goals, life ambitions, and unique family circumstances. It’s important to get the full picture before you start planning so that, when their goals come to fruition or when those family changes come years down the road, you’ve put the right structure in place to minimize tax.

What are your clients’ biggest challenges?

How to plan for the future in a world of unknowns — will my business continue to grow, will my family dynamics change, will my kids get involved in the business? And then tax legislation is always changing. How do you deal with that uncertainty and plan for the future in a way that takes into consideration both personal and tax goals? That’s why it’s critical to understand the client’s full picture. If you don’t have that as a base, you can’t create the right tax plan for them no matter how good you are.

What are your favourite things to do in the Tri-Cities?

I’m an avid runner and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. There are so many incredible trails to explore. I also go biking with my toddler along the Shoreline Trail and in Rocky Point Park. And we enjoy attending local events such as Golden Spike Days, Lights at Lafarge, and Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival.

To learn more or to discuss how Rachele Gordon, CPA, CA, can help your business, contact her at 604.949.2108 or [email protected]