About Us
The Guardian Solutions, CPA
Company Growth Story
After honorably serving his country for two decades in the U.S. Coast Guard, Daniel Lavinder founded Guardian Solutions, CPA in 2022, leveraging his strong financial acumen and business leadership. What began with preparing a few basic tax returns quickly evolved as Daniel recognized a significant pain point for many small business owners: a lack of dedicated, client-focused accounting support.
This insight led him to connect with successful accounting firm owners who demonstrated the profound impact of providing small businesses with their own outsourced accounting department. At Guardian Solutions, we warmly welcome you to a partnership with one of our experienced accounting & tax managers. This relationship is designed to be a lasting one, growing alongside your business for many years. Not only will your bookkeeping, tax, and payroll be handled with utmost competence, but you’ll also gain access to a dedicated accountant who offers cross-industry insights, crafts custom tax strategies, and is truly invested in helping your business achieve the success it deserves.
We genuinely enjoy developing our talented team, empowering them to become star accountants who make a significant difference in local small businesses, positively impacting the lives of employees, their families, and the wider community. We are here for the long haul, ready to celebrate every step of your journey.
Join the Team
At Guardian Solutions, CPA, we’ve built a workplace where accounting professionals can thrive without sacrificing balance or purpose. Our culture emphasizes work-life balance, offering a 32-hour work week and flexible schedules even during tax season. We focus on meaningful client relationships, giving you the opportunity to directly impact small business owners and their communities.
Here, your expertise is valued, your growth is encouraged, and your contributions truly matter. If you’re looking for a rewarding career that combines professional advancement with personal fulfillment, Guardian Solutions is the best place to build your future.
Dedicated Partnership
Proven Accuracy
Every number matters. From bookkeeping to tax filings, we ensure your financials are handled with precision, clarity, and compliance so you can focus on running your business with confidence.
Advisory Insight
Our Team
Daniel Lavinder, CPA
Owner
Daniel, owner of Guardian Solutions, is passionate about the spirit and vitality of small business owners. He enjoys sharing stories and insights from various industries, drawing on his avid listening to podcasts and audiobooks to provide timeless advice for thriving in today’s economy.
Outside of his firm, Daniel and his spouse are dedicated to teaching their six children entrepreneurial skills, building a small homestead, and actively participating in their local church community.
Grace MacDowall
Lead Associate
Grace, Lead Associate at Guardian Solutions, is driven by a passion for empowering small business owners. She helps them make informed decisions through accurate financial reporting, finding immense satisfaction in seeing her clients achieve their goals. Grace excels at transforming numbers into compelling narratives for her clients.
Outside of work, Grace enjoys reading, knitting, and cooking for loved ones. She loves exploring Central Virginia with her husband, always on the lookout for new antique shops.
Nikki Mowry
Associate
Nikki, Guardian Solutions’ Social Media Manager, is passionate about highlighting the team’s commitment to dedication, kindness, and genuine care. She finds joy in creating posts that foster connections and provide assistance through Guardian’s services, noting that the team consistently inspires each other to excel.
Beyond her professional role, Nikki is dedicated to personal growth, embracing continuous learning and new ideas. Her pursuits include studying at JMU, reading, knitting, and walking her dog, Bodie.
Catie Bennett
Associate
Catie, an Accounting Associate at Guardian Solutions, is excited by the problem-solving and puzzle-like nature of accounting. Her love for uncovering mysteries and helping others has translated into a passion for finding unique ways to help small businesses grow and succeed. She is always eager to take on new challenges that require critical thinking and enjoys learning new skills.
Outside of work, Catie enjoys staying active through intramural sports and going to the gym. She can often be found exploring new coffee shops and is dedicated to completing her studies at William & Mary.
Anna Swynford
Associate
Anna has always been driven by a love for numbers and a natural talent for problem-solving. At Guardian Solutions, she channels that energy into deconstructing complex tax situations, finding creative ways to help her clients maximize their savings. Anna thrives on the challenge of “unwinding” financial puzzles to ensure her clients are in the best position possible.
Away from her desk, Anna stays just as active. She spends her time keeping up with her four children—and especially enjoys hiking and traveling together. To unwind, she enjoys knitting and losing herself in a good book.
Let Us Help:
Dear Friend,
It’s one thing to manage a business; it’s quite another to grow it. If you’re reading this, you know what I’m talking about (and you’re probably looking for business advising insights to help you do it).
It seems like the books are being handled properly. It seems like payroll is (mostly?) under control. It seems like the IRS is okay with how we’re handling our taxes. It seems like the financial reporting is in place.
We’re flush … most of the time. But we’re certainly not growing. We’re not prospering.
What are we missing?
This is a common story that we hear when we first start talking to business owners. The boxes are checked; the people are in place … but the fact is, they’re not quite sure how to optimize the financials for performance and growth.
Our specialty is in reading between the lines of the systems, the softwares, and the financial statements to see the true financial story being told … even when the reports all “seem” okay (for now).
The fact is that the Federal Government would love to have more of your business’s hard-earned money in their accounts. Your employees probably don’t care about cost control as much as they should. Your sales team might need to focus their efforts in a new direction.
But you don’t have to hand more dollars over to the government than they require just because you don’t know their rules as well as they do. You don’t have to live in a constant state of anxiety over the state of your books. The future of your business doesn’t have to be a question mark.
Let’s get a real-time reading on your business’s financial health with our business advising services. Answer a few questions below to get started.
Click the button above to take your first step, and we’ll be in touch soon to follow up about your specific business advising needs.
And of course, take a few minutes to look around our website and discover why we’re considered a trusted CPA in the Greater Richmond area.
Talk again soon,
Daniel W. Lavinder, CPA
PS — When you fill out the form, we’ll also add you to our weekly email series on “Real World” Strategy for small business owners. Our readers enthusiastically forward these to their colleagues and peers all the time because they’re not your standard “business advising tips.”
PPS — Already want to schedule an appointment? I don’t blame you … many people are fed up with trying to manage their books and financials on their own. Our schedule is very full … but if you call us at (804) 292-2820 or Email Us, we’ll give you two options for an appointment right away. We will NOT make dealing with a business advisor as painful as dealing with your books has already been!