PDM

What PDM does

PDM Certified Public Accountants is a full-service, privately-held CPA firm headquartered in Torrance, California, founded in 1988 by Dana Piazza and operating as an LLP (formerly Piazza Donnelly and Marlette, LLP). The firm delivers a comprehensive suite of professional services spanning tax planning, tax compliance, tax audit representation, financial planning, succession and estate planning, assurance and audit, compliance audits (including GAGAS, Uniform Guidance, and FQHC engagements), and client accounting services. Its core technology stack consists of standard commercial accounting platforms—QuickBooks, Peachtree, and Sage 50—used to support client bookkeeping engagements, with no disclosed proprietary technology or AI-enabled tooling.

The firm serves a diversified portfolio of individuals, family-owned businesses, nonprofit organizations, and privately held companies across Southern California, with particular depth in nonprofit auditing (over 100 organizations) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) compliance auditing (over 20 annually). PDM operates from two offices (Torrance and San Pedro) and is staffed by 30+ professionals including seven active CPAs at partner or director level, each with 12-30+ years of public accounting experience spanning tax, audit, and specialty advisory practices. The firm's go-to-market is sales-led and partner-driven: services are delivered through direct client engagement with senior partners, supported by professional referrals from attorneys and investment advisors, content marketing via newsletters and the firm's website, and community involvement.

PDM has historically grown through the merger of three local CPA practices (2006, 2012, 2015) and the integration of specialty partners, transitioning from its original founder-partner structure to a multi-partner LLP. Revenue is generated entirely through fee-for-service professional engagements under a quote-based pricing model that is not publicly disclosed. There is no external investment, private equity ownership, or institutional capital; ownership is distributed among active partners, and the firm has experienced a wave of partner retirements between 2021 and 2023 without disclosed succession transactions.

Name

PDM

Legal name

PDM Certified Public Accountants

Website

https://pdmcpas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PDM Certified Public Accountants is a Torrance, California-based full-service CPA firm founded in 1988, delivering tax, audit, financial planning, and compliance audit services to individuals, nonprofits (100+ audited), FQHCs (20+ annually), and privately held businesses across Southern California through a 30+ professional partner-led team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Torrance

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services (Tax, Audit, Financial Planning): PDM generates revenue through professional accounting services including tax planning, tax compliance, tax audit representation, financial planning, succession planning, assurance and audit, compliance audits, and client accounting services. The firm serves individuals, family owned businesses, non-profit organizations, and privately held companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PDM Certified Public Accountants is a full-service accounting firm that provides professional tax, audit, and financial planning services to individuals, family-owned businesses, nonprofit organizations, and privately held companies across Southern California. The firm's core services include tax planning, tax compliance, tax audit representation, financial planning, succession planning and compliance, assurance and audit, compliance audits (including Uniform Guidance and FQHC audits), and client accounting services using QuickBooks and Sage 50.

Product overview

PDM Certified Public Accountants is a full-service accounting firm providing a comprehensive suite of professional services centered on tax planning, tax compliance, assurance and audit, and financial planning. The firm serves diverse industries including real estate, nonprofit organizations, manufacturing, technology, financial services, retail, and health services. Core service offerings include Tax Planning, Tax Compliance, Tax Audit Representation, Financial Planning, Succession Planning and Compliance, Assurance and Audit, Compliance Audits, and Client Accounting. The firm leverages accounting software including QuickBooks and Sage 50 for client accounting services, and specializes in Uniform Guidance Audits and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tax Planning

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 nonprofit organizations audited
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Marcum LLP: Top-15 U.S. accounting firm with strong West Coast presence offering tax, audit, and advisory services. Comparable in serving closely held businesses and high-net-worth individuals.
• Withum: Top-30 U.S. accounting and advisory firm serving mid-market companies and nonprofit organizations. Comparable in service mix and vertical segmentation approach.
• Eide Bailly: Top-25 U.S. CPA and business advisory firm with comparable mid-market client mix across tax, audit, and advisory services. Closely comparable in size, multi-partner structure, and regional service model.
• Moss Adams: Large West Coast-headquartered CPA firm offering tax, audit, and consulting services to closely held businesses and nonprofits — directly comparable given geographic and client-segment overlap with PDM.
• Wipfli: Top-20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm serving middle-market companies and nonprofits, with strong regional offices. Comparable in service breadth and mid-market client focus.
• CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA): Major U.S. accounting firm with significant nonprofit and healthcare practices, including audit services for community health centers. Highly comparable specialty focus to PDM's nonprofit and FQHC work.
• Plante Moran: Large U.S. CPA firm serving closely held businesses, nonprofits, and middle-market companies across multiple industries. Comparable partner-led service model and client mix.

Broad incumbents

• RSM US: Largest U.S. mid-market accounting firm offering tax, audit, and consulting — a much larger peer operating in similar space but with broader national footprint and enterprise client focus.
• BDO USA: Top-10 U.S. accounting firm serving closely held businesses, nonprofits, and middle-market companies. Overlaps PDM in audit and tax services but operates at significantly larger scale.
• CBIZ: National professional services firm providing accounting, tax, and advisory services to middle-market businesses and individuals. Comparable service portfolio with substantially broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pdm-llp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PDM