Lazer Grant LLP is proud to  celebrate its 35th Anniversary and looks forward to many more years serving its current and future clients.

 

Joel Lazer, Managing Partner of Lazer Grant LLP who obtained his Chartered Accounting designation in 1975 explains that "We started out dealing with Financial Accounting, Insolvency and Tax. Today we also have Corporate Finance, First Nations and Consulting. We began 35 years ago with 13 people and today we have 36 people. Our largest client has about 300 employees and our smallest client has about ten employees. We deal with the full spectrum."

 

Lazer, who has served as Chair of Community Relations for the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg for the past three years, sums up the recipe for the company's success. "We specialize in relationships and helping people. We tell businesses that if you help your clients and your people, the money will follow. You'll be profitable. You won't have to chase the money."

 

He adds, "Our company's success is built on one key principle: to make your success possible. We find opportunities, focus in on challenges, and connect the dots to ensure that you have the resources and expertise you need to grow and succeed."

 

Lazer, who graduated from the University of Manitoba with a psychology degree explained that the roots of the company go back to the days when he, Aaron Singer and Alan Grant were partners in Winspear Higgins Stevenson and Company which merged with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells. "Within 18 months we felt that we would be able to better serve our clients without the national structure. We've been here for 35 years which attests to our strength and vibrancy, and we have had clients that have been with us for the entire time."

 

The company's accounting services include the preparation of year-end financial statements, interim financial statements and pro-forma financial statements. In the area of insolvency services, Lazer, who has also served on the Board of the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, says that "70% of our financially distressed clients avoid bankruptcy with a proposal that creditors approve." One client who retained Lazer Grant's insolvency services thanked it by saying "Thank you very much for this.  I felt so much better after I left your office – I was able to discuss all of this and still keep a sense of pride – and not feel like a loser – You are very well suited to this work."

 

Lazer Grant LLP provides many Business Consulting Programs including Business Plans, Client Advisory Boards, Internal System Analysis, Business Assessment,
Business Overview, System Documentation, Financial Plan, and Key Performance Indicators.  "Our view is that information systems are very important in business. Businesses need information that is timely and accurate.”

Lazer explains "Our open book management, entitled Lazer Results is based on three principles 1. We teach people how the business makes money 2. We build a score card which gets published so your people know how they are doing and 3. We build an effective bonus plan." He adds, "The principles are tied together with key performance indicators."


Keystone Ford, a company that had about 140 employees, engaged Lazer Grant's consultancy services, and demonstrated improved results. "The owner gave some credit to Lazer Grant for this improvement," Lazer notes. Additionally, the principal of  one of the small companies who engaged Lazer Grant's consultancy services went on to win a Women Entrepreneur Award," Lazer  adds, noting that "in her acceptance speech she gave us some of the credit."


Lazer says "We work together to build trusting relationships with our clients and provide service that is special indeed. The partners of Lazer Grant as well as team members work alongside the client, in their business, to develop all areas of the business."


In the area of Corporate Finance, Lazer Grant LLP which is located at 300-309 McDermot Ave assists businesses in deal structuring, negotiations and closing of shareholder buyouts, management buyouts, acquisitions and mergers, capital restructuring, and financing.


As it celebrates its 35th anniversary Lazer Grant LLP also marks the retirement of  David Glass who was the First Nations partner. "I've known him from my university days. We were in the same fraternity called ZBT. We also both went to Peretz School. David has been a partner for the last 15 years and we're going to miss him," Lazer says.


In addition to Joel Lazer