Our Team

Our accounting services safeguard you and your family and optimize all your hard-earned dollars.
You've worked hard to get where you are. You deserve a firm that works hard for you.
More time to focus on new services, new customers and other core business issues.
Our services encompass nearly every aspect of financial life.

Services For Individuals

Protecting your personal assets has never been more important.

QuickBook Services

QuickBooks is the ideal business accounting software for small to mid-sized business owners.

Business Services

Are you running your business at peak performance?

Tax Services

Don't pay more in taxes than you have to!

Meet Our Staff:

Williamsburg Office:

Penelope Payne, Enrolled Agent

Penelope has been working in the accounting and bookkeeping industry for over 30 years. Penelope has vast experience in tax research, planning and compliance to individual, Corporation, LLC, S-Corporation and partnership tax law. During her career, she has had exposure to various industry requirements, and she works closely with her clients. She has been a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor since 1998 and supports most versions.

Since starting her business in 1998, she has served over 1500 clients across the country. Surpassing client expectations, Penelope offers comprehensive tailored approach to each one of her clients. Training and troubleshooting QuickBooks problems is her specialty. Her expertise comes from her many years of working with QuickBooks and the diverse companies she has had the pleasure to assist.

In addition to her Certification as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Penelope earned her Accounting Degree from the University of Texas. Penelope is a member of the Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce, Gloucester Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Accountant Society, York County Chamber, National Society of Enrolled Agents, and National Society of Accountants.

Penelope is involved in many community organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Literacy for Life, Dancing with the Williamsburg Stars, Angels of Mercy, Waterman’s Museum, and BikeWalk Virginia.

Tina Godwin, Enrolled Agent

Tina joined the Payne and Associates team in August 2001. She has had wonderful client interactions over the years with her job entailing on-site and in-house bookkeeping and payroll. Tina is extremely technically savvy in her ability to set up computers and link additional programs to QuickBooks for seamless accounting. With her diverse background in accounting, Tina has a unique ability to assess the needs of small businesses. Utilizing her powerful understanding of Microsoft Excel, she is able to generate simple or complex detailed reports from QuickBooks for key analysis and business decisions. Tina is skilled in both corporate and individual tax preparation. With her exceptional tax knowledge, Tina is able to recommend how to maximize deductions for business and individual tax returns. Tina is a member of the Virginia Society of Enrolled Agents as well as the Accountants Society of Virginia.

Monica Harris, Accountant (2020) & Enrolled Agent (2017)

Monica joined the Payne & Associates team in 2014. She has been an IRS Enrolled Agent since 2017 and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. She is also a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor for QuickBooks Online and Desktop products.

She has 7+ years of experience in small business bookkeeping, payroll, and employer tax filings as well as individual and corporate income taxes. Monica enjoys problem solving with clients and teaching others, especially small business on how to streamline accounting processes so that valuable deductions or credits are not missed when the time comes to file income taxes. Additionally, Monica provides small business consulting and tax planning services. Currently, Monica is preparing to sit for the CPA exam.

Melissa Wall

Melissa has been with Payne & Associates since 2013. She does bookkeeping, QuickBooks, and payroll. She is currently working on her Associates Degree from Thomas Nelson Community College. When she has spare time, she enjoys fishing and doing cross stitch.

Leslee Holston

Leslee joined Payne & Associates in July 2020. She has a degree in Business Accounting and over 15 years of experience using QuickBooks while keeping the books and doing payroll for a small, family-owned construction company. In her free time, she loves making handmade cards & gifts and teaching the art to others.

Candy Blake CPA

Layton, Utah Office:

Candace Lerman

Candace Lerman has been with Payne & Associates since 2005. A registered tax return preparer with over 30 years experience, Candace specializes in military, multi-state, rental home and small business tax returns. Candace works with clients all over the United States and some in other countries and works from her home office in Layton, Utah near Hill AFB.

Gloucester Office:

Tori Bruch

Tori joined Payne and Associates in December of 2018. Tori provides services at our Gloucester location.

Tori has an Associate degree in Accounting and has worked within the field for 24 years. She has worked with an import company, construction and manufacturing company, as well as other CPA firms. For the last 4 years Tori has worked specifically with QuickBooks. Tori is also a notary.

Diane Walker

Diane joined Payne & Associates in January 2021 as part of the contract when P & A purchased her Gloucester business. After high school Diane worked in a local bank and for Deepsea Ventures. Inc ( a research & development company) in Gloucester. She also managed several office rental buildings. She started classes & work at H & R Block in 1987. She passed her Enrolled Agent exam in 1990 and worked 2 years for a CPA in Mathews and l year for a CPA in Middlesex before opening her own business in 1993. Also during this time she attended Christopher Newport College. Diane welcomes her past clients to Payne & Associates.

Intern:

Maddie Los

Maddie joined Payne and Associates in 2020 as our intern. She attends Gloucester High School and is in her senior year. Her areas of interest are medicine and business. Two different subjects that she really enjoys being apart of and exploring. Right now, she is planning on attending William and Mary with the intention of majoring in medicine. However, she is inclined to major in business after working at Payne and Associates.

Marketing:

Martha Payne & Nanette Opperman

Martha provides marketing services for Payne & Associates. After graduating from Texas Tech with her Bachelor's Degree in Science, she set out on a lifetime of travel. Martha loves the atmosphere and people of the Williamsburg area.

Nanette joined our marketing team this summer. She has a Bachelor's Degree in English and a Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Therapy. She will be working with our online division of marketing.