David Harper holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Virginia. Prior to that, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Auburn University with a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and a Finance concentration. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – certified in the states of Florida and Georgia. In addition to his CPA designations, Mr. Harper is also Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) through the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a Certified Business Appraiser (CBA) through the Institute of Business Appraisers and a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) through the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).

Mr. Harper has received advanced training in the collaborative process as a financial neutral and is also a trainer of collaborative practice. His past experience as an investment advisor representative and general securities representative (Series 7 and Series 66 licensed) through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) enables him to better serve his clients in a neutral capacity.

David Harper’s litigation support services includes business valuation and forensic accounting services in both consulting and testifying roles including:

  • Expert witness testimony
  • Financial neutral – collaborative practice
  • Joint expert – litigation cases
  • Court-appointed expert – forensic accounting

Mr. Harper’s range of experience in business valuation, forensic accounting, and/or business consulting includes:

  • Business operations and controls consulting
  • Business mergers and acquisitions
  • Forensic investigations and funds tracing
  • Business transition and succession planning
  • Collaborative process and collaborative practice
  • Marital dissolution and other family law issues
  • Grand theft, fraud, and other criminal investigations
  • Gift and estate tax valuations
  • Shareholder disputes
  • Equitable distribution arrangements
  • Equity compensation strategies
  • Financial modeling
  • Retirement savings and life insurance plans
  • Corporate and individual tax/investment strategies

Mr. Harper began his career with Ernst & Young in its Assurance and Advisory Business Services practice. After several years with E&Y, he spent six years with Retirement Capital Group specializing in executive compensation and benefit strategies, business valuation, and financial planning for individuals, corporations, partnerships, and non-profit organizations around the country. After RCG, Mr. Harper was with Brauer & Harper CPAs, PA for four years specializing in business valuation, forensic accounting and litigation support services. Mr. Harper currently serves as founding partner of Westbay CPAs, established in 2013.

Mr. Harper is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Institute of Business Appraisers, the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, Tampa Bay Academy of Collaborative Professionals (Board Member), Next Generation Divorce (former Board Member), and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. He is also former co-chair of the Clearwater Bar Association Collaborative Law Section and former co-chair of the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals Statewide Conference.

Mr. Harper has presented/lectured on topics such as business valuation, forensic accounting, collaborative practice, and financial analysis and modeling on more than 25 occasions. He is also a chapter author of two books published by the American Bar Association and Open Palm Press.

He and his wife are the proud parents of four children.