1,000+ accounting firms received private equity investments over the last 10 years.
– International Federation of Accountants
David Neighbors
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
As tax managing director for EisnerAmper, David works hand-in-hand with middle-market businesses, founders, investors and multi-generational families on complex tax planning, compliance and strategy. His career has spanned public accounting, private industry and entrepreneurship. For more than 10 years, he taught courses on individual tax compliance and on S Corporation taxation at San Jose State University as adjunct faculty.
Outside the office, David enjoys Bay Area restaurants and spends time along the California coast.
What does a typical day look like for you?
No two are the same, but they all center on solving problems and helping people make informed decisions. I split time between advising clients on federal and state tax matters, reviewing planning opportunities, and working with internal teams to move projects forward. Some days I’m deep in technical analysis, others I’m walking clients through the implications of new legislation or helping them think about the next chapter in their business.
What keeps you coming back to your work?
What keeps me energized is seeing the impact of thoughtful tax planning—and the relief it gives clients. When someone feels more in control of their future because we’ve mapped out a strategy, that’s meaningful. I also enjoy the intellectual challenge—tax law never stands still, and the constant evolution pushes me to keep learning, adapting and sharing that knowledge with others.
What would people not expect of accounting?
How people-oriented the work is. Yes, tax involves technical rules, but the real job is understanding peoples’ goals, motivations and constraints. Much of what we do is less about numbers and more about problem solving, communication and judgement. And despite the stereotypes, accounting can be incredibly dynamic—especially when working with entrepreneurs and fast-moving businesses.
What should people know about accounting?
Accounting, and tax in particular, is ultimately about clarity and confidence. A good accountant helps people see the bigger picture, avoid pitfalls and anticipate what’s coming. The profession offers far more diversity of work than most people realize: advisory, technology, forensics, policy, education, private industry, public practice and more. It’s a field where you can build a career.
What do you hope for the future of the CPA profession?
I hope the profession continues embracing innovation while holding onto its core values of integrity, trust and public service. As technology accelerates, CPAs have an opportunity to lead not just in compliance, but in advisory roles that help businesses and communities navigate change. I’d also like to see continued momentum in recruiting and developing new talent who bring fresh perspectives to, and reflect the diversity of, the world we serve.
Politics, Policy, Budget—Updates from the Capitol
CalCPA | April 15, 2026
The Wealth Tax: A Game of Chicken
The proposed 5 percent tax on California billionaires remains one of the most closely watched measures in the state. Proponents cleared the 25 percent signature-gathering threshold required to move forward but haven’t yet filed the full batch of authographs. Well-funded counter-initiatives are designed to neutralize or undercut the wealth, gathering signatures at a reported $15 per signature—an almost unheard-of figure.
Budget Clouds Horizon
A relatively calm state budget situation, supported by AI investment and a strong stock market, may be deceiving as federal funding cuts tied to H.R. 1, and the prospect of a worse 2027-28 budget cycle, cloud the future.
AI Policy, PTET Credits, Profession’s Future
Beyond politics, a fix for “stranded credits” under California’s Pass-Through Entity Tax program—which faces a five-year expiration that could disrupt taxpayer planning—along with implementation of AB 1175, and CPAs as third-party assurers of AI systems, define CalCPA’s advocacy.
CalCPA continues to play a leading role in shaping California’s climate disclosure regulations, an area of increasing importance for the profession, markets and the public. CalCPA and AICPA submitted joint comments to CARB on the next phase of implementation under California’s climate disclosure laws.
Amid record anxiety about the future of work—and growing warnings about the potential erosion of white-collar careers—one unlikely field may be getting the last laugh.
Numbers don’t have to be scary and one accounting instructor is making it his mission to demystify numbers and make math fun again.
What are the origins of income taxes?
In the late 18th century, Britain was engaged in the costly Napoleonic Wars, which strained the nation’s finances. To raise revenue for the conflicts, Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger introduced what is credited as the first modern income tax in his 1798 budget. The tax went into effect in 1799 and was levied on incomes over 60 pounds.
This inspired other countries including the U.S., which used its first income tax in 1862 to fight the Civil War. Income tax was then solidified into the economy with the 16th Amendment and its ratification in 1913.
What are the origins of income taxes?
In the late 18th century, Britain was engaged in the costly Napoleonic Wars, which strained the nation’s finances. To raise revenue for the conflicts, Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger introduced what is credited as the first modern income tax in his 1798 budget. The tax went into effect in 1799 and was levied on incomes over 60 pounds.
This inspired other countries including the U.S., which used its first income tax in 1862 to fight the Civil War. Income tax was then solidified into the economy with the 16th Amendment and its ratification in 1913.
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