Meet the Staff

Sherry Clay, CPA – Owner

Sherry originally joined Ward Dean Jr., CPA, PLLC in November 2018. Prior to this, Sherry worked as a manager with another public accounting firm for 15 years. She has an extensive background serving various sized businesses in the areas of financial statement preparation, income tax, payroll tax, sales tax, and benefit plans, as well as providing individual income tax services. Sherry and her husband Steven have been married for over 30 years and have two children, one basset hound, one golden retriever, and several chickens and turkeys. She loves being active and when not working in tax and accounting you’ll find her baking, cake decorating, gardening, raising poultry, and hiking. Sherry has a side custom cake business called Peaks View Bakes, LLC, where she makes custom wedding and celebration cakes outside of the busy tax season.

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Education: B.A. in Accounting, Lynchburg College, magna cum laude, 2002

Memberships: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants

Gabrielle Ferguson – Staff Accountant

Gabrielle started with our firm in January 2020, which as we all now know was the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though she began a new career in what became one of the worse and most stressful tax seasons ever, she persevered and has proven herself worthy to hold a position in a tax and accounting firm. She is extremely intelligent and a fast learner. As a result, she has earned the rightful position to assist most clients with with their tax and accounting needs. Gabrielle provides payroll, bookkeeping, and income tax preparation services. Gabrielle and her husband Daniel have been married for eight years and they have four Furbabies. Gabrielle is very artistically gifted and loves to draw and paint.

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Ward Dean – Retired

Ward-website-picWard had spent almost 40 years assisting small and medium sized Virginia companies grow through accounting, payroll, tax, and advisory services. Ward fully retired in December 2020.

EDUCATION: B.S. Lynchburg College, 1971
MILITARY: US Navy