Julie West

Shareholder, Tax Practice

Julie co-leads BPM’s corporate tax group and was named one of San Francisco Business Times’ 150 Most Influential Women professionals in 2012. She works closely with life science, pharmaceutical, medical device, software, social media, communications, and manufacturing companies. Julie began her career at Deloitte & Touche and understands the complex business needs of companies from pre-revenue startups to consolidated publicly-traded ones.

She has nine years of experience in public accounting and deals extensively with tax provisions (FAS 109/ ASC 740), FIN 48 analysis for uncertain tax positions, Section 382 studies to determine limitations on tax attributes, and stock compensation. She has advised companies involved in a wide arena of transactions, including mergers, asset and stock acquisitions, tax-free reorganizations, and succession planning. She consults and reviews a variety of tax returns with multi-state and international filings and analyzes sales tax filing requirements. Julie is passionate about building and mentoring her team of outstanding professionals.

Industry Expertise and Experience

• Assisted a privately-held pharmaceutical company which was determined to be a variable interest entity and was required to be consolidated into its public company collaboration partner. Prepared quarterly and annual tax provision disclosures to comply with the public company’s accelerated filing timeline.
• Secured over $150,000 of refundable credit in New York for a manufacturing client, improving cash flow.
• Represented corporations in IRS audit of Qualified Therapeutic Development Project Grants and application for such grants.
• Implemented sales tax study to assist medical device company’s initial launch of device over tight timeline.
• Assisted private equity and venture capital funds to increase their ownership of portfolio companies without triggering ownership changes under IRC Section 382.

Professional Affiliations

• Sponsoring Member – Sand Hill Angels (Investment group)
• Member - Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce Finance Committee
• Member - AICPA

Education

BS/ Business Administration- Summa cum Laude- Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Certified Public Accountant

Interesting Tidbit

Julie has completed a full marathon, half marathon, and triathlon and hopes to add Tough Mudder to the list in the near future.