About our Firm
Our Niche
Kiyohara & Takahashi has developed a niche market in Franchise Restaurant operations. Currently, the firm handles close to fifty different franchisees representing Jack in the Box, Del Taco, El Pollo Loco, Applebees Bar & Grill, Papa John’s Pizza, Famous Dave’s Barbeque, Woodgrill Buffet, Burger King, Ohana Hawaiian BBQ, Wendy’s, Denny’s and ARCO AM/PM. Our involvement with these franchisees is not limited to the traditional accounting and tax services. We also provide pre-acquisition due diligence, proforma, and breakeven analysis; franchise qualification and analysis; financing procurement and loan covenant compliance; internal control procedure and accounting software consulting; and operational comparisons with industry results. Many of the referrals are from the various franchise lending institutions who come across franchisees who are not prepared or organized with sufficient financial records. We are also asked to provide expert witness testimony and valuation analysis for various franchise restaurant related litigation.
Our Team
Chris began his career in public accounting in 1984. Prior to establishing the firm, he was a partner at Kojima, Kiyohara & Company CPA’s, a Los Angeles based firm which specialized in real estate and international taxation matters. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the California State University of Los Angeles and has a Masters Degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University.
ckiyohara@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 221
Edwin has been in public accounting since 1993. He started his career at Kojima, Kiyohara & Company CPA’s and has conversational Japanese speaking ability. He has a degree in Business Administration from the University of California Riverside and a Masters Degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University.
etakahashi@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 222
Pia is a principal at Kiyohara & Takahashi and has been with us since 2000. Pia maintains a degree in Business Economics and a minor in accounting from the University of California at Los Angeles and is currently enrolled into the Masters of Taxation program at Golden Gate University.
pchan@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 223
Joyce started at Kiyohara & Takahashi in 2004. Prior to joining the firm, Joyce assisted a Chinese fast food chain similar to Panda Express in their expansion to over thirty units. Joyce brings to us her experience in Chinese quick service food concept. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University at Los Angeles in 1998 and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Taxation program at Golden Gate University.
jlam@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 224
Gahlin has been with the firm since the inception in July of 2000. She has attended California Polytechnic University at Pomona and completed various bookkeeping courses, which enables her to engage in various write-up and payroll engagements. Gahlin is our "in-house" payroll expert. She is fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese.
gkiyohara@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 231
Hiroko graduated with a BS degree in Business Administration (emphasis in accounting) from California State University at Los Angeles in December 2005. Immediately after graduating she joined Kiyohara & Takahashi. Hiroko comes to us from Japan and is fluent in written and conversational Japanese.
hoda@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 245
Rosa has been with Kiyohara & Takahashi since January of 2007. She brings to us her accounting experiences at small private businesses and service as a multi-term controller for a national nonprofit organization. She also serves as the firm's IT manager & network administrator. She is fluent in Taiwanese.
ryan@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 230
Cheri started at Kiyohara & Takahashi in 2007. Cheri brings to us her franchise accounting experience from Jack in the Box Inc. where she was responsible for compiling comparative financial statements for Jack in the Box franchisees and management. Cheri graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accountancy) from San Diego State University in 2003.
cdonaldson@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 225
Miho has been with Kiyohara & Takahashi since December of 2007. She graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She brings to us 8 years of accounting experiences from a small public accounting firm. She also speaks conversational Japanese.
mohashi@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 243
Patricia graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BA degree in Business Economics, emphasis in Accounting in 2008. She joined Kiyohara & Takahashi immediately after her graduation. She is currently sitting for the CPA exams. Patricia is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.
pwu@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 229
Cathy graduated with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (emphasis in accounting and finance) from California University, Long Beach in May 2010. She started at Kiyohara & Takahashi in January 2010 as an intern and became a full time employee in June 2010. She is currently sitting for the CPA exams. Cathy is fluent in Korean.
ckwon@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 241
Shirley graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (emphasis in accounting) from California State University at Los Angeles in June 2009. She started at Kiyohara & Takahashi in July 2010. Shirley brings to us five years of accounting experience.
skurokawa@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 246
Garrett started at Kiyohara & Takahashi in 2010. He began his career at Pricewaterhousecoopers in downtown Los Angeles specializing in Tax. Garrett graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Business Administration, and Masters in Taxation from the University of Southern California in 2005. He brings with him experience in accounting and tax.
gyamada@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 242
Erika has been with Kiyohara & Takahashi since January of 2011. She graduated from Bukkyo University in Japan. Erika has obtained an Enrolled Agent and is currently preparing for the CPA exam. She is fluent in written and conversational Japanese.
eotsuka@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 226
Michelle graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (emphasis in accounting) from California Polytechnic University at Pomona in June 2011. She joined Kiyohara & Takahashi immediately after her graduation. She is currently sitting for the CPA exams. Michelle is fluent in Spanish.
marroyo@ktadvisors.com (323) 278-1300 ext 227
