Our Team
Bench & Donath’s team combines deep technical experience with continuity of service, allowing us to support clients consistently as their businesses and personal circumstances evolve.
Phil Bench, CPA, CA, LPA, MBA
Founding Partner
416 784 4194 ext. 224
Phil is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Licensed Public Accountant, and holds a BSc in Mathematics from John Carrol University and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. He has extensive experience advising private businesses on tax, assurance, and strategic matters. Phil also previously taught CPD courses for the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants across Canada.
Tibor Donath, CPA, CA, LPA
Founding Partner
416 784 4194 ext. 225
Tibor earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Licensed Public Accountant. He has held senior leadership roles in mid-sized accounting firms and has extensive experience advising private businesses. He has also served as a board member and audit committee chair for multiple public companies, bringing deep governance and financial oversight expertise to his clients.
Judah Cohen, CPA, CA, LPA
Managing Partner
416 784 4194 ext. 226
Judah earned a Bachelor of Administrative Studies from York University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Licensed Public Accountant. He has held leadership roles within Toronto accounting firms, developing broad expertise in tax, assurance, and advisory services for owner-managed businesses.
Darren Lewis, CPA
Partner & CEO
416 784 4194 ext. 232
Darren brings experience in accounting, advisory, investing, and business leadership. He began his career at a Big Four firm advising on transactions and financial reporting, and later spent five years in private equity with a mid-market firm, serving as Vice President and working closely with management teams and boards. He holds an HBA (Ivey Scholar) from the Ivey Business School and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting from Rotman Commerce.
Eugene Balogh, CPA, CA
Partner
416 784 4194 ext. 222
Eugene holds a B.A. from the University of Waterloo and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. He brings extensive experience in senior finance roles, including controller and internal audit positions within mid-sized and international organizations, as well as experience with other Toronto-based accounting firms. Eugene has extensive experience in the areas of corporate tax compliance, tax structuring and planning, and financial reporting.
Xinyuan Zhang, CPA, LPA
Manager
416 784 4194 ext. 234
Xin is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Licensed Public Accountant. She holds a Master of Taxation from the University of Waterloo and an undergraduate degree in Science from McMaster University. She specializes in audit, review, and compilation engagements for private corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Xin maintains a strong focus on corporate tax planning and structuring to help clients optimize tax efficiency and meet compliance requirements.
Manoucher Ghazi-Zadeh, MBA
Senior Staff Accountant
416 784 4194 ext. 227
Manoucher holds a Bachelor of Administration from the Tehran Institute of Advanced Accounting and an MBA from Victoria University of Manchester. He works closely with clients on a wide range of accounting, tax, and compliance matters, providing steady support across their ongoing needs. Known for his responsiveness and strong client service focus, Manoucher is committed to delivering practical guidance and maintaining long-term client relationships.
Leah Katz
Senior Staff Accountant
416 784 4194 ext. 228
Leah holds a Bachelor of Judaic Studies with a concentration in Accounting from Talpiot College. She brings prior in-house experience in bookkeeping, accounts receivable, billing, and collections, along with a background in teaching. Leah supports clients across a range of accounting and compliance matters with a practical, detail-oriented approach.
Payam Keyhani
Senior Staff Accountant
416 784 4194 ext. 233
Payam holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance, as well as an Advanced Diploma in Accounting from Seneca College. He has experience with Toronto accounting firms and in-house finance leadership, supporting both compliance and financial management functions. He is currently pursuing his CPA designation in Canada and is an IFAC member in Iran.
Atul Aggarwal, CPA
Staff Accountant
416 784 4194 ext. 231
Atul holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Guru Nanak Dev University and is both a Chartered Accountant (India) and a CPA (Canada). He has experience with CPA firms serving small businesses, with a focus on audits, financial reporting, personal and corporate tax compliance, bookkeeping, and CRA audit support. He also brings prior experience in commercial and residential lending through his work in the banking sector.
Lawrence Gomes
Staff Accountant
416 784 4194 ext. 230
Lawrence holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Accounting from the University of Dhaka. He has experience with Toronto-based accounting firms serving small and mid-sized businesses, with a focus on financial statement preparation and tax compliance. He is committed to delivering accurate, timely support to clients across industries.
Karen Phillips
Office Manager
416 784 4194 ext. 221
Karen is a long-standing member of the firm and plays a central role in its day-to-day operations. She oversees office administration, client coordination, billing, and internal processes that keep the practice running efficiently. Known for her responsiveness and attention to detail, Karen is often a primary point of contact for clients and helps ensure a seamless client experience.