GuzmanGray Expands Cross-Border Operations with New Tokyo Office Opening

GuzmanGray Expands Cross-Border Operations with New Tokyo Office

On August 1, 2026, GuzmanGray, a Japanese-American audit firm registered with the PCAOB and headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, opened its new office in Otemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo. This expansion is aimed at meeting the growing demand for cross-border services between the U.S. and Japan.

The Tokyo office will focus on several important areas, including assisting Japanese companies with IPOs in the U.S. and navigating their listings on major exchanges such as NASDAQ and NYSE. Additionally, it will enhance support for post-IPO PCAOB audits and SEC reporting requirements. The firm will also address audit needs for both U.S. subsidiaries of Japanese companies and Japanese subsidiaries of U.S. firms, facilitating group audits and ensuring compliance with the relevant standards.

A Bilingual Team Bridging Two Countries

GuzmanGray is equipped with a bilingual team of U.S. certified public accountants (USCPA) and Japanese certified public accountants, ensuring seamless coordination between specialists in both countries. Their presence in Tokyo and continuous support from U.S.-based staff eliminate barriers of language and time zones. This means that CFOs and finance teams from both nations can expect timely, practical cross-border support tailored to their needs.

When Japanese companies enter the U.S. capital markets, they face specific accounting and audit requirements governed by PCAOB standards. These include adhering to SEC disclosure and reporting requirements and complying with applicable financial reporting standards like U.S. GAAP and IFRS. Moreover, companies with subsidiaries across both countries need to prepare financial reports and audit documentation in alignment with group audits, underlining the need for fast and accurate cross-border responses.

GuzmanGray's cross-border audit system is structured to support both Japanese IPOs in the U.S. and group audits for U.S. companies' subsidiaries in Japan and Japanese companies' operations in the U.S. All audits are conducted following stringent U.S. standards, with reports prepared in both Japanese and English to ensure clarity and compliance.

Specialized Areas of Expertise

GuzmanGray specializes in several key areas:

- PCAOB audits for Japanese companies preparing for U.S. IPOs and listings on NASDAQ/NYSE.
- Annual audits and quarterly reviews for companies listed in the U.S.
- Audit-related activities associated with SEC filings such as Form F-1, Form 20-F, Form 10-K, and Form 10-Q.
- Support for financial reporting for U.S. companies' Japanese subsidiaries and vice versa.
- Facilitation of communication between parent companies, subsidiaries, and group auditors across borders.
- Timely responses to audit consent letters and comfort letters.

Japanese Service Group: Connecting with Local Expertise

A critical component of GuzmanGray's offering is the Japanese Service Group (JSG). This group comprises professionals who are well-versed in the regulatory frameworks, cultural contexts, languages, and business landscapes of both Japan and the U.S.

The bilingual experts from JSG assist in audit meetings, document requests, accounting issues, and overall management of the auditing process—providing support in Japanese. With Japanese staff located in the U.S., they ensure that communication with local management, finance teams, and group auditors is timely and efficient, fostering clear connections and responses.

Rather than just translating languages, GuzmanGray engages professionals who understand the auditing practices of both countries. This allows them to provide a cross-border audit experience that effectively transcends cultural and procedural barriers.

Leadership Behind the Japanese Service Group

The leadership team behind GuzmanGray's Japanese Service Group features professionals with extensive backgrounds in accounting and auditing:

- Morimasa Ueda, Audit Partner and JSG Leader, has over 25 years of experience, with 20 years dedicated to providing services to Japanese companies at Ernst & Young (EY).
- Rui Matsuura, Managing Partner overseeing audit operations, has 16 years' experience in auditing companies across various sectors, focusing on PCAOB audits and SEC compliance.
- Sam Salty, Global Managing Partner, has offered audit services internationally for over 25 years, leading GuzmanGray's global expansion initiatives.

Hiring Professional Talent Locally

As part of its commitment to support its expanding operations, GuzmanGray is increasing its hiring of professionals within Japan. The firm is looking for individuals with experience in audits, accounting, and financial reporting who are interested in the U.S. capital markets and cross-border services.

The Tokyo office team collaborates daily with U.S.-based staff and international auditing teams, participating in a wide array of cross-border assignments. By working in this environment, new recruits can engage directly with auditing for U.S. capital markets and global enterprises, contributing to the growth of the Japanese Service Group.

Those interested in joining GuzmanGray can reach out for recruitment inquiries at GuzmanGray Contact.

About GuzmanGray

GuzmanGray is a PCAOB-registered audit firm headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with a mission to provide bilingual support to both Japanese and U.S. clients. The firm not only specializes in aiding Japanese companies with U.S. IPOs and post-listing audits but also assists in ensuring compliance for U.S. companies' Japanese subsidiaries. Combining bilingual services with expertise in PCAOB and SEC regulations, GuzmanGray delivers audit services that are swift and reliable across cultural, legal, and logistical divides.

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