Cory Burnett is a Senior Manager at DZA, working in the Client Advisory and Accounting Services (CAAS) team. His work spans a wide range of support, from providing CFO services to tackling one-off accounting projects.
“Clients seek CAAS help because they need help correcting financial statements or they are behind on their accounting. Helping clients clean up their financial statements and fix their accounting problems is what I like best about what I do at DZA. I can be the clients go to when things are tricky or overwhelming,” Cory said.
Career Path
Cory began his career working in the finance department of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). During that time, he went back to school for an accounting degree and later joined DZA. He’s been in the accounting field ever since.
He holds a BA in Finance and Accounting from Eastern Washington University and is a licensed CPA.
Areas of Focus
Cory’s primary focus is CAAS, though he also works in reimbursement. “Working as a CFO for critical access hospitals, it is pretty important to understand cost-based reimbursement,” he said.
To stay current in the profession, he attends CPA.com conferences, participates in DZA-led trainings, and engages in DZA’s annual conference.
One of his proudest professional milestones was earning his CPA license.
The Start of CAAS
Cory and Kami Matzek created CAAS after seeing a gap in the accounting space. “We saw a gap in the accounting industry, and we thought that DZA had the skills to help fill it. Not all organizations need full-time CFO or accounting staff. When there is turnover, DZA can step in until the organization can hire a permanent replacement,” he explained. “This differs from DZA’s other services, because instead of auditing, we’re essentially acting as an interim CFO, Controller, or other accounting staff services.”
Life at DZA
For Cory, being part of an independently owned and operated firm means having flexibility and access to decision-makers. That transparency and availability are important in how DZA operates and how the CAAS team is able to serve clients directly.
Outside of Work
Cory lives in Spokane with his wife, Anna, and their two kids, Austin and Zoe. Family life largely revolves around the kids’ school and sports schedules. His daughter is in cheerleading, and his son plays baseball. During the spring and summer, the family attends several Spokane Indians games and tries to make it to at least one Seattle Mariners game each year.
Cory is also a longtime participant in Spokane’s Hoopfest. He has played in 28 total Hoopfests. Although he wasn’t able to play in 2025, he’s aiming to reach 30 total appearances. He also enjoys golfing and attending sporting events, whether with friends, family, or his brothers. His most recent big event was the 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Much of his community involvement comes through his kids’ school activities, where he stays active as a volunteer and supporter.
Looking Ahead
Cory’s long-term goal is to continue growing CAAS and eventually lead the service line as a partner at DZA. If you would like to get in touch with Cory, please email cburnett@dza.cpa.
