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About Us

About Our Firm

Since 2004, Clausen & Rice has been providing quality, personalized financial guidance to local individuals, businesses, farmers and ranchers. Our expertise ranges from basic tax management and accounting services to more in-depth services such as reviews, compilations, financial statements, and financial planning.

Clausen & Rice is one of the leading firms in and throughout the area. By combining our expertise, experience and the team mentality of our staff, we assure that every client receives the close analysis and attention they deserve. Our dedication to high standards and work ethic is the reason our client base returns year after year.

Our Mission

Our mission is to help clients maintain financial viability in the present, while taking a proactive approach to achieve future goals. This requires open communication to reach an understanding of our clients' needs through research and sound analysis. Clausen & Rice is dedicated to meeting these goals with high standards of excellence and professionalism. 

Our dedication to hard work has earned the respect of the business and financial community in and around the area. We believe this to be a direct derivative of our talent and responsiveness to our client base. Whether you are a current or prospective client, rest assured that individuals and businesses who choose Clausen & Rice Inc receive competent and timely advice.

Our Team

John E. Clausen, CPA

John graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration, Management in 1975 and a Bachelor degree in Accounting from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1982. He worked for a national accounting firm in Pierre from 1983 to 2004. In 2004, John and Dan Rice started Clausen and Rice. John has more than 37 years of public accounting experience and has served a wide variety of clients including individuals, retail businesses, and non-profit organizations. John is a CPA and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the South Dakota CPA Society. He currently is a member of the board of directors for Delta Dental of South Dakota and has served on the board of directors for several other non-profit organizations in the past in the Pierre-Ft. Pierre area.

John and his wife Carol have two daughters and four grandchildren. In his spare time, John enjoys golfing, boating, reading and playing drums.

Daniel T. Rice, CPA

Dan started his accounting career in 1986 after graduating from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration majoring in Accounting. Dan worked for a national accounting firm in Pierre from 1986 to 1997 before joining a local bank where he worked as a commercial lender for several years. In 2004 he and John Clausen started Clausen & Rice. Dan has more than 34 years of public accounting experience with expertise in the areas of individual and business taxation and business consulting and tax planning. Dan is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and South Dakota CPA Society. He also serves on the board of the Oahe Foundation and has served on several other non-profit boards over his career. Dan also continues to support and volunteer for Junior Achievement of South Dakota.

In his spare time Dan enjoys spending time with his wife and family and enjoying the great outdoor activities that South Dakota has to offer.

Kristy L. Hight, CPA CTFA

Kristy graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. She has over 31 years of experience in the financial industry, including public accounting (specializing in tax), trust administration, investment management, estate planning, and commercial lending. She is a Certified Public Accountant, and a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, South Dakota Bankers Association, and the South Dakota CPA Society. She serves on the City of Pierre Golf Board, and the Hillsview Ladies Golf Association Board.

Kristy and her husband Todd enjoy golfing, playing billiards, camping and boating, and spending time with their six children and one grandchild.

Amber M. Mason, CPA

Amber attended the University of South Dakota and graduated with a bachelor degree in Business Administration majoring in Accounting. After graduation, Amber worked for a local public accounting firm for 19 years. During that time, while working and raising her family, Amber obtained her CPA license. Amber joined Clausen and Rice in November 2022. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the South Dakota CPA Society. Amber has worked her entire career in public accounting focusing mainly on financial reporting and taxation for businesses and individuals.

Amber and her husband, Josh, have two sons, Jacob and Daniel. She enjoys reading and traveling around the state/country to watch her children compete in a variety of different sports. She and her family also enjoy riding motorcycle, camping and hunting.

Karla Kuiper

Karla has been with the firm for 15 years providing internal support services. She has 30 plus years in the accounting profession assisting clients with payroll and sales tax returns, individual tax service and monthly bookkeeping. She is a current board member of Countryside Hospice Support & Memory Center.

Karla, with her husband Doug, enjoy spending time with their 3 grandsons, golfing, Green Bay Packers football, and coming up with home improvement projects.

Tammy Cruse

Tammy, a Pierre native, graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting. Tammy has worked as an accountant/bookkeeper since 1991 and joined Clausen & Rice in 2008. Tammy has served on several non-profit organization executive boards including: Treasurer for AAUW Preschool, Treasurer & President of Washington School PTO and Treasurer for both Oahe FC Soccer Club, and SD State Soccer Association.

Tammy and her husband Brad enjoy time outside boating, camping, and hiking, but above all else spending time with family and friends.

Margaret Malm

Margaret has over 15 years of office management and 10 years of accounting/bookkeeping experience. She grew up on a farm near Promise, SD, 50 miles from the closest town, and graduated from Mobridge, SD. Margaret moved to Fort Pierre in 1993 and met her husband Glenn, who is a diesel mechanic/shop manager for A.G.E. Corporation.

Margaret has 4 children Lacey (Sioux Falls, SD), Kaeley, Carley and Joe. She enjoys going to watch their kids play sports, camping, fishing and boating. In her spare time, Margaret enjoys refurbishing old things and spending time with family and friends.