Our founder, Melissa Marshall, leads Marshall Van Zandt Virtual Controller & Accounting Solutions with a wealth of experience and a clear passion for helping businesses thrive. Melissa’s background in corporate finance, accounting leadership, and strategic business consulting allows her to guide our dedicated team in delivering personalized financial management and accounting services tailored to the specific needs of growing businesses. Whether working with startups or established companies, Melissa’s expertise ensures that our clients receive actionable insights and support that foster clarity, control, and sustainable growth. At the heart of our approach is a commitment to building strong partnerships that help businesses succeed through sound financial practices.

Following her extensive tenure as Controller at Arrowhead Lake Association, Melissa Marshall has become known for her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to bring order to complex financial landscapes. During her time at ALA, she not only managed full-cycle accounting operations but also led long-term financial planning initiatives, conducted reserve studies, and presented clear, actionable reports to the board. These experiences honed her skill for transforming complex financial data into insights that drive confident decision-making.

Before stepping into her leadership role, Melissa built a strong foundation in public accounting through her work with Smith Marion & Co. and VLS LLP, two well-respected Southern California firms. There, she supported a diverse range of clients across the nonprofit, governmental, real estate, and small business sectors—handling audits, tax preparation, and financial consulting. Her time in public accounting developed a sharp eye for compliance, internal controls, and accuracy under pressure, and it gave her a deep understanding of the challenges that growing organizations face when scaling their financial systems.

Melissa’s background also includes extensive involvement in accounting education and leadership. At the University of La Verne, she served as Vice President of the Society of Accountants and worked as a peer tutor, mentoring students in accounting and finance. She later expanded her perspective through advanced coursework in accounting and finance at the London School of Economics, which strengthened her analytical framework and broadened her global understanding of financial practices.

Today, as the founder of Marshall Van Zandt Virtual Controller & Accounting Solutions, Melissa combines more than a decade of hands-on accounting experience with a forward-thinking approach to virtual finance. She specializes in helping small businesses, nonprofits, real estate firms, gas stations, and medical practices establish sustainable financial systems that promote clarity, efficiency, and long-term growth. Her guiding philosophy remains simple: accurate books and clear numbers lead to smarter, more confident decisions.