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Richard Cortez, CPA

Councilman City of McAllen (former Mayor)

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1974Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) retired status in 2014Richard started his public accounting career in 1969 while still attending college.� He worked for a local public accounting firm as a junior accountant.� After graduating from college, he accepted a full-time position as a senior staff accountant with the same firm.� Richard’s primary assignments included performing tax services for individuals and businesses and conducting independent audits of small-to-medium-sized companies and governmental entities.�After receiving his CPA license in 1974, Richard became a partner with other CPAs and continued practicing public accounting.� In 1984, he began providing consulting services, assisting parties in litigation by assessing and determining economic damages.� In 1998, Richard combined his practice with a regional firm, and the new firm was named Burton McCumber and Cortez, L.L.P.� This firm is a full-service public accounting firm providing attest services for publicly traded companies, financial institutions, governmental entities and private companies.� The firm has offices in Brownsville and McAllen, Texas and also in Matamoros and Reynosa, Mexico.� The firm provides services to the maquiladora industry in Mexico.� Richard has retired as a partner but continues to head the forensic consulting services department for the firm.� He has been involved in hundreds of cases in federal, state and bankruptcy courts.� Richard has been appointed receiver, special auditor, accountant, and business valuator by various state district courts.Richard has devoted considerable time for the betterment of the accounting profession.� He has held various positions, including president of the local Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs.He has performed business valuations for various industries and companies of all sizes.�Richard has taught a graduate level course in Forensic Accounting at University of Texas-Pan American.