Expat Focus: Can you tell us a bit about your background and how Protax came into being?

Marc Strohl, Protax Consulting

Marc Strohl: I'm a licensed Certified Public Accountant, awarded membership by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and also awarded membership in to the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA). I earned a Master's degree in Public Accountancy from the Canadian educational institution McGill University.

Before Protax, I was employed by Deloitte & Touche LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, both big 4 firms. At Deloitte & Touche LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP I managed the individual expatriate and foreign national tax programs for an array of their clients which included public multi-national companies, not-for-profit organizations and professional firms.

Established in March 2001, Protax Consulting Services Inc. has become a leading professional services tax accounting and consulting firm offering tax accounting, consulting and compliance and accounting business management services to individuals and businesses worldwide. Our concise and informative executive summary tax articles are considered industry benchmarks. We operate on a global platform with client presence worldwide providing seamless tax coverage worldwide through our foreign offices.

Separating a smaller boutique style firm from the myriad of medium, large and big four accounting entities is no small task, which is why our mission has always been to focus on the individual clients involved at every stage, constantly asking the questions: "...have we added value to the process...", "...have we met client expectations..."

Expat Focus: What services does Protax offer?

Marc Strohl: Protax specializes in the delivery of tax accounting, consulting and compliance services to:

Individuals - Foreign nationals (non US citizens or non US green card holders here in the US), US expatriates (US citizens and US green card holders living outside the US), including high-net worth individual tax. This includes consultations on and / or explanations of your various compensation packages, including that as pertains to individual tax equalization or tax protection arrangements.

Businesses - small business corporate tax - both regular "C" corporations and "S" corporations- and partnership tax, in addition to the rendering of accounting business management services - Bookkeeping, bill paying, banking, life, medical, disability and liability insurance, financial statement review and analysis, cash flow management and projection, general business consulting and business formation services. Protax also specializes in tax representations for individuals and small business corporations and partnerships.

Expat Focus: What is a typical day in the office like?

Marc Strohl: Depending on the time of the year we may either be planning for the upcoming tax season or deep in the middle of the current tax season. We're also always responding to client requests, needs and compliance requirements to ensure the timely filing of all of their related tax documents.

In a typical New York City setting, there is a time for work and a time for fun and games. When in the office we work hard, no games and no fun, however myself and staff try to maintain an active and thriving personal life, whether with the family, friends or colleagues.

Expat Focus: What financial issues do expats typically need your professional advice with?

Marc Strohl: We deal with mainly US tax related issues, and are not allowed to offer investment advice, although we have no issue informing clients where we feel the equity, housing, bond, currency or commodity markets may be heading.

Expat Focus: What are your plans for the future?

Marc Strohl: We continue to add new staff, and training is paramount. As the economy improves and large multinational public companies start to send their employees on international assignments again, we try to pick up programs where we assist the employees of those companies in US tax related consulting and compliance matters.

Expat Focus: What do you do to relax?

Marc Strohl: At Protax the staff is all married, with active family lives. Compared to traveling or spending time with the kids perhaps the most relaxing time that we have is while we are working in the office! TV, sports, the gym, and living a full New York City life, with trips to Long Island, New Jersey and upstate New York all fill our leisure time.

Expat Focus: Marc, thank you very much for your time!

Any readers who are interested in the above services and would like to contact Marc may do so here.