Managers

Michael Sperando, CPA

Michael received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1983 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has been with the Firm since 1983 and a manager since 1987.

Michael’s contribution to the Firm is serving the closely held businesses and individual clients in the following ways. His experience includes conducting and supervising compilation, review and auditing services for a majority of the Firm’s clients in a variety of industries. He also has extensive experience in tax services, management advisory services and small business services. He is responsible for maintaining the Firm’s internal quality control through annual inspections of work performed by all members of the Firm and is in charge of overseeing the Firm’s peer review that occurs every three years.

Michael is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is currently serving as treasurer of his homeowners association.

Maria L. Esters, CPA

Maria is a 1987 graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She joined the Firm in 1988 and currently serves as an audit manager, providing audit services for a variety of clients in real estate development and management, construction, healthcare and not-for-profit entities. She also has experience in the areas of estate planning and fiduciary tax preparation.

Maria is member of the Alabama Society of Certified Public accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Mary Ann C. Burkhalter, CPA, CVA

Mary Ann is a 1993 graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a CPA in Alabama and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Finance. After graduation, she worked in the accounting department of Lloyd Noland Hospital and during 1995 joined Horton, Lee, Burnett, Peacock, Cleveland, & Grainger P.C. She currently serves as a manager in the Firm’s audit department. She has experience in audits of closely held businesses and non-profit entities, tax preparation for corporations, individuals and partnerships and in business valuation services.Mary Ann is a member of the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and serves on the Finance Council for St. Aloysius Church.

H. Lee Benson, CPA

Lee practices in the area of income taxation. He is experienced in tax compliance, tax research, tax planning and federal and state tax examination issues. Lee serves all types of clients, including individual, non-profit, partnership, s-corporation, and corporate entities. He works with clients in a variety of industries, including real estate, non-profit, construction, healthcare, small business and service companies.A graduate of the University of Alabama, Lee earned his B.S. in Accounting in 2000 and his Masters of Tax Accounting in 2001. Lee began his career with Horton, Lee, Burnett, Peacock, Cleveland and Grainger in 2001 and currently serves as manager of the Firm’s tax department.

Lee is a member of both the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.