Bregante + Company LLP Opens Regional Office in Pleasanton

By Scott Eldredge, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Local Presence Brings Company Closer to Tri-Valley Clients

Bregante + Company LLP, a public accounting firm headquartered in San Francisco, recently opened a regional office at 4309 Hacienda Drive. The firm had outgrown its San Francisco financial district offices for the second time in seven years. In deciding how to make room for continued growth, it considered whether to move to a larger space in San Francisco or open a third office. With employees and clients in the East Bay, the company decided to open a new office in Pleasanton.

Since its founding in 1976, Bregante has offered full-service financial assistance, focusing its expertise on three distinct areas: closely held businesses, high net worth individuals, and nonprofit organizations.

A closely held business is one that is owned by a single person or a small group of people. Bregante strives to provide the owners with a better understanding of the business and tax complexities that exist in financial interactions between the owners and their business as well as between the business and its customers.

"In publicly owned companies, the primary focus is about what's right for the business, almost ignoring the ownership aspect," explains Steve Fineran, one of Bregante's four partners. "We prefer looking at what's right for the business as it relates to its owners."

High net worth individuals have needs similar to those of closely held business owners. With both types of clients, Bregante believes it is important to factor in many financial considerations, not just tax concerns. In addition, the company helps with such things as stock option planning, real estate transaction analysis, entity selection, and transitions and estate planning.

The company is typically involved with all aspects of a client's financial decision-making process, not just accounting and tax matters. In 30 years in the Bay Area, Bregante has developed relationships with a network of professionals they consider experts in their fields. These relationships are a resource for its clients.

"We try to help our clients with all of their financial needs, to be involved with all of their business activities," says Fineran. "If we can't help them with a particular issue, we help connect them with the right people, both in terms of skills and personality. We know from previous experience that when we get involved with clients in a particular area, they prefer to work locally. We know many professionals in the Tri-Valley, and we are working to increase our connections with people that can assist our clients in this area."

Bregante also works with nonprofit organizations. The company thinks it is important to help the community. By providing audits and financial services, the staff gets more direct interaction with the community and learn to be better accountants.

Bregante + Company LLP has offices in San Francisco, Novato, and Pleasanton. The company employs 34 professionals, five of which work out of the Hacienda office.

Photo: Bregante + Company's Hacienda staff will focus on serving the firm's East Bay clients.

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