Melanie Geist, CPA
Office Leader and Tax Partner | Aprio
Who I work with
I work with entrepreneurs who want to strategize and grow their businesses, as well as family businesses that want to plan for the future and develop actionable succession plans.
My specialty
I specialize in income tax planning for closely held businesses, as well as general accounting and tax planning.
Results I have delivered
I often help clients and strategic partners dip below the $12 million estate tax threshold. I also work with our team to generate ERC credits of up to $1 million for a number of clients as well as recommend cost segregation studies to help clients defer up to $1 million in annual income taxes.
Unique things about me
I served in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua as a small business volunteer from 1998 to 2000 after I looked up the Corps and learned I could see another part of the world, learn another language and immerse myself in another culture. The experience truly opened my mind and helped me see the world through a different lens. It literally changed the trajectory of my whole life.
When I am not at work
When I’m not at work I love to get out and explore and learn about new places, whether it’s a city I’ve never visited or a gorgeous coast on some sea I’ve never seen. Traveling, putzing around cities looking for little hole in the wall bars and restaurants and relaxing by the water all make me feel at peace in their own way.
People say I am
Direct, positive, motivational and always quick with a laugh and a smile.
Affiliations
I earned my Bachelor’s in Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Alabama and my Master’s in Taxation from the University of Texas at San Antonio. I’m a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of Texas, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA). I am currently a member of the TSCPA Leadership council and a member of the AICPA council.