Staff Profiles

Susan L. Paulsen, CPA, MS Susan is the firm partner for the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center. Susan has 45 years of experience in accounting, auditing and consulting for not-for-profit and health care organizations, in addition to general businesses and organizations.

Susan has a BA in Business Administration and an MS in Accounting from California State University in Sacramento, California and is a licensed CPA in the state of Washington. Susan is considered an expert in not-for-profit and nursing home accounting and reimbursement.

Susan has been an instructor in governmental and not-for-profit accounting at the University of Washington, Bellevue Community College, and for the WSCPA.


Dennis L. Megaard, CPA, PFS, NHA
Dennis has 40 years of providing accounting, auditing and consulting to not-for-profit and health care organizations as well as general accounting, auditing and tax services for small businesses and individuals.

Dennis has a BA degree in accounting from the University of Washington, and is licensed as a CPA and as a nursing home administrator in Washington State. He is also a registered general securities representative (Series 7 and Series 66) and an investment advisor representative, licensed in the state of Washington. Additionally, he holds an insurance agent's license for life, disability, and long term care insurance in Washington state.

Experience in health care accounting and consulting includes all facets of the Medicaid reimbursement program. In addition, Dennis has worked extensively in the areas of financial feasibility review, evaluation of financing alternatives, and debt restructuring in the context of acquisitions, expansions and business diversification. He has also served a variety of health care and social service organizations including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, mental health transitional facilities, United Way member organizations and HUD insured mortgagors.

In addition, Dennis has served as controller (on contract) for a Seattle-based contractor. His responsibilities included: financial reporting oversight; tax planning and compliance; monitoring of employee benefits reporting and procedures; risk management and insurance matters; inventory systems and controls; job costing applications and analysis; guidance to owners on shareholder issues – buy/sell matters, valuations, distributions; and, financial policies and procedures.

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Holly Liu, CPA
Accounting Manager
Holly is an Accounting Manager for Paulsen, Megaard & Co., PS and has practiced public accounting since 1999. Holly is responsible for tax return preparation, consulting services, auditing services, and the ongoing accounting engagements of the firm.

Holly is involved in the preparation of Medicare and Medicaid cost reports and other reimbursement services. She prepares individual, partnership, corporate, and tax exempt tax returns. She participates and manages audits of financial statements and completion of monthly and annual financial statements. Holly has extensive experience in auditing employee benefit plans including 401(k), 403(b), and Profit Sharing Plans. To demonstrate her commitment to the employee benefit plan audits, she as passed the Advanced Defined Contribution Plan Audit Certificate Exam from the AICPA and was awarded a digital badge.

Holly is also registered as a general securities representative (Series 7 and Series 66) and as an investment advisor representative, licensed in the states of Washington and California, and Ohio. Holly holds an insurance agent's license for life, disability, and long term care insurance in the state of Washington.

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Jenni Wendlandt
Office Administrator

Jenni has been with Paulsen, Megaard & Co. PS for 22 years. She oversees administrative functions for the firm. Jenni has good decision making skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong problem-solving and customer service skills. She is highly capable of performing several tasks concurrently with ease and professionalism.

Jenni is responsible for firm bookkeeping (billing, AR, AP, and payroll), scheduling meetings, organization and processing of tax returns, audit planning, scheduling and processing, bookkeeping services for clients; including preparation of excise tax returns, bank reconciliations, collections, preparing financial statements, firm quality control and efficiency assurance, and performing other duties assigned by management.

Jenni is proficient in many computer systems including QuickBooks (Desktop and Online), BillQuick, Accpac, Proseries, HUD Fass online system, and Microsoft office systems.

Jenni graduated from Central Washington University with a BS in Tourism Management.


Afton Schmakel
Accounting Assistant

Afton has been with Paulsen, Megaard & Co., PS for 19 years. She prepares individual tax returns, handles client bookkeeping, and is responsible for the firm’s invoicing. She also maintains the firm’s continuing education files.

She also manages office tasks such as answering phones, filing, copying, data entry and mailings. Afton is responsible for the majority of the word processing and office organization. With Afton's attention to detail, she is very quick to resolve client issues while handling her other duties.

Afton is proficient in many computer applications including QuickBooks, BillQuick, ProSeries and Microsoft Office Suite. She also excels at any online research.

Afton holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of Washington and earned her MBA from Seattle University.