Principal Profile

Stephen D. Livingston, CPA - President

Mr. Livingston's diverse background has been very instrumental in his client service. He has over 35 years of experience.

Mr. Livingston graduated from Old Dominion University (ODU) in May 1984 with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration - Accounting.

Upon graduation, Mr. Livingston spent the next two years working for a local CPA with a diverse clientele of small to mid-size business clients. This opportunity allowed him to work one-on-one with a diverse group of small business owners and entrepreneurs.

In August 1986, an opportunity with a local, downtown Norfolk CPA firm helped expand his horizons. During his fourteen-year tenure with this firm, he continued to work with a diverse clientele of businesses, including multi-entity and multi-state companies, providing them with accounting, consulting, and tax services.

In 1992, Mr. Livingston was made a partner with this firm after six years of service. During his eight-year tenure as a partner, he sharpened his accounting, marketing, tax, leadership, and business advisory skills. In 1999, he successfully completed a certification program resulting in the CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst) designation. The CVA program gave him the tools necessary to perform business valuation engagements as well as utilize that knowledge in working with business owners to help them provide the type of information that their bankers needed to provide the necessary credit facilities required by the business. In 2001, Mr. Livingston's entrepreneur desires got the best of him. He left the CPA firm to pursue an opportunity to be a part owner and CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of a multi-location wholesale distributor. As a CFO, he dealt with the financial side of running a business. His CPA experience was a plus in dealing with lease negotiations, bank financing, business and health insurance renewals, dealing with manufacturers and major suppliers, and a multitude of other business matters. Mr. Livingston was responsible for the expansion from three to five business locations plus the addition of a major product line. This experience made him realize that there are a significant number of businesses that would benefit from a "part-time" CFO. Having been on both sides of the fence, Mr. Livingston feels that he knows what today's business owners are dealing with.

In 2006, Mr. Livingston decided to focus solely on serving the business community as a full-time CPA firm. In March 2009, he incorporated his accounting firm as Stephen D. Livingston, CPA, P.C.

Mr. Livingston, along with his wife and two children reside in the Great Bridge section of Chesapeake, VA. He is a past President of the Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Society of CPAs (a local professional organization for accounting professionals). He previously served on the board of a local non-profit organization. He was active with his son's Cub Scout Pack 901 (former Committee Chair for 5 years) and is actively involved as the Finance Chair for Oak Grove United Methodist Church.