Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver LLP is a Walnut Creek, California-based CPA firm founded in 1992 that provides tax, audit, business advisory, and litigation support services to closely held and mid-market businesses plus high net worth individuals throughout the Greater Bay Area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersWalnut Creek, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver does
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver, LLP is a privately-held Certified Public Accounting limited liability partnership headquartered at 1777 Botelho Drive, Suite 350 in Walnut Creek, California. Founded in 1992 by John R. Comyns (formerly a tax partner at Deloitte & Touche) and Steven P. Smith, the firm serves small and mid-market businesses, closely held and family-owned companies, high net worth individuals, and select industry verticals (real estate, manufacturing, technology, hospitality, wineries, construction, distribution, and professional services) throughout the Greater Bay Area. Its central proposition is delivering Big Four-level technical expertise through partner-led engagements, positioning itself between regional/local CPA firms and full-service Big Four providers for clients that outgrow smaller practices but do not require a Big Four firm.
The firm's product surface is purely professional services rather than software. Seven service lines are articulated: Tax Planning, Tax Preparation & Compliance (federal and state for C-corps, S-corps, partnerships, LLCs, trusts, estates, gifts, and individuals), Tax Controversy Representation before the IRS and state authorities, Assurance Services (audits, reviews, and compilations for privately-held entities), Litigation Support & Forensic Accounting (expert witness, lost-profits calculations, divorce, tax disputes, accounting malpractice), Business Advisory Services (financial modeling, cost containment, M&A, due diligence), and Capital Transactions Services (mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations). Underlying technology consists of standard professional accounting and audit tooling; no proprietary software, API, SDK, or AI pipeline is disclosed.
The business model is a partner-owned professional services LLP compensated through hourly billing and engagement fees on tax, audit, advisory, and litigation matters. The team comprises 9 equity partners, 5 senior managers, 2 senior tax managers, and 1 audit manager (17 professionals total), nearly all drawn from Deloitte, KPMG, or PwC. Go-to-market is referral-driven (existing clients, estate planners, financial planners, investment advisors, and legal professionals) with a supporting website presence serving as a top-of-funnel credibility asset. The firm does not disclose revenue, has no parent company, has no external private equity or venture capital involvement, and operates solely from its single Walnut Creek office.
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver
- Legal name
- Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver, LLP
- Website
- https://csmllp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver LLP is a Walnut Creek, California-based CPA firm founded in 1992 that provides tax, audit, business advisory, and litigation support services to closely held and mid-market businesses plus high net worth individuals throughout the Greater Bay Area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Walnut Creek
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tax Services: Tax planning, preparation, and compliance services including corporate, partnership, LLC, S-corporation, individual, trust, estate, and gift tax returns. Also includes tax controversy representation before IRS and state authorities.
- Assurance Services: Financial statement audits, reviews, and compilations for privately-held non-publicly-traded businesses performed in accordance with applicable professional standards.
- Business Advisory Services: Mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, cost reductions, business modeling, financial planning, and capital expenditure planning.
- Litigation Support & Forensic Accounting: Expert witness testimony, financial analysis for court proceedings, divorce cases, lost profits, tax disputes, and accounting malpractice matters.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver LLP is a Certified Public Accounting firm providing tax planning and compliance, financial statement audits/reviews/compilations, business advisory (including M&A and capital transactions), litigation support and forensic accounting, and tax controversy representation. Services are delivered by partner-led teams to closely-held and family-owned businesses and high net worth individuals.
Product overview
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver LLP is a Certified Public Accounting firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services rather than a software product platform. The firm operates as an integrated service organization with the following core service lines: Tax Planning and Tax Preparation & Compliance form the cornerstone of the practice, supplemented by Tax Controversy Representation for audit defense; Litigation Support & Forensic Accounting for legal proceedings; Assurance Services covering financial statement audits, reviews, and compilations; Business Advisory Services for operational and strategic guidance; and Capital Transactions Services for M&A, divestitures, and capital raising. These services are delivered through a team-based approach with dedicated client service partners, targeting small and mid-market businesses and high net worth individuals throughout the Greater Bay Area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tax Planning
- Tax Preparation & Compliance
- Tax Controversy Representation
- Assurance Services (Audits, Reviews & Compilations)
- Litigation Support & Forensic Accounting
- Business Advisory Services
- Capital Transactions Services
Companies that use Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WithumSmith+Brown, PC: Large mid-market CPA firm providing tax, audit, advisory, and accounting services to closely-held businesses and HNW individuals. Comparable service mix and client focus to CSMD.
- Marcum LLP: Top-tier U.S. accounting and advisory firm serving middle-market businesses with tax, audit, and consulting services. Comparable to CSMD in targeting mid-market companies needing Big 4-quality service without Big 4 pricing.
- Moss Adams LLP: Large West Coast-headquartered CPA firm with strong Bay Area presence serving mid-market companies in technology, manufacturing, real estate, and wineries. Direct overlap with CSMD's industry verticals.
- Armanino LLP: Large California-based mid-market CPA and business consulting firm headquartered in San Ramon. Closely comparable to CSMD as a regional mid-market CPA serving Bay Area clients with similar Big 4-quality positioning.
- Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP: Silicon Valley-based CPA and advisory firm specializing in closely-held businesses, technology, real estate, and HNW individuals. Directly comparable to CSMD in geography, client focus, and service line composition.
- Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC: Top-50 U.S. accounting firm providing tax, audit, and advisory services to closely-held mid-market companies and HNW individuals. Closely mirrors CSMD's positioning, service mix, and Big 4-trained partner profile.
- BPM LLP: Bay Area-based full-service accounting and advisory firm serving middle-market companies, HNW individuals, and family offices. Direct overlap with CSMD's client segments and service mix in the same geography.
Broad incumbents
- Crowe LLP: Top-10 U.S. accounting firm serving middle-market clients across tax, audit, and advisory. Overlaps with CSMD's mid-market positioning but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- RSM US LLP: Major U.S. mid-market accounting firm positioned as the alternative to Big 4 for middle-market companies. Competes with CSMD for the same client segment but at much larger scale.
- BDO USA, P.C. One of the largest U.S. accounting firms, serving mid-market and large clients with full tax, audit, and advisory services. Functions as a Big 4 alternative for CSMD's mid-market clients who outgrow the firm.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver social profiles
Digital presenceComyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver
What does Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver do?
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver LLP is a Certified Public Accounting firm providing tax planning and compliance, financial statement audits/reviews/compilations, business advisory (including M&A and capital transactions), litigation support and forensic accounting, and tax controversy representation. Services are delivered by partner-led teams to closely-held and family-owned businesses and high net worth individuals.
Is Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver a public or private company?
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver founded?
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver based?
Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver is headquartered in Walnut Creek, United States, in the North America region.
How does Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tax Services are the primary driver. The others are assurance Services, business Advisory Services and litigation Support & Forensic Accounting.
Who are Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WithumSmith+Brown, PC, Marcum LLP, Moss Adams LLP, Armanino LLP, Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP, Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC and BPM LLP. Broad incumbents are Crowe LLP, RSM US LLP and BDO USA, P.C..
Does Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver have an API?
No public API is recorded for Comyns, Smith, McCleary & Deaver.