Privacy Policy

Meet the Francis & Associates, LLC Team

Kristi S. Francis, CPA
Tax Planning

Kristi Francis graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and began her career with Ernst & Young (formerly Ernst & Whinney), serving as a senior accountant and tax manager in their Dallas and Cleveland offices before starting Barclay Financial Group in 1987. As owner of Francis & Associates, LLC, she specializes in business advisory and tax services for closely-held businesses and their owners.

Kristi has taken active leadership roles in various community organizations, including Altrusa International, Inc. of Downtown Dallas, Hope Cottage, the Junior League of Dallas, and the Lamplighter Parents’ Association. She is a volunteer at the Parish Episcopal School, teaches Sunday School at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, and is a member of the Genesis Women’s Shelter Alliance, the Partnership benefiting Community Partners of Dallas, Entrepreneurial Women Presidents, and the Fitzwilliam Literary Society. She is a guest lecturer for the Community Board Institute’s annual education conference. In addition, she currently serves on the executive board of Hope Cottage, has served as chairman of the board of the Altrusa International, Inc. of Downtown Dallas Foundation, and has served on the executive board of the Lamplighter Parents’ Association.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, entertaining, playing the piano, traveling, and spending time with her husband and teenage daughter.

Lisa H. O'Bryant, CPA
Tax Planning

Lisa O’Bryant graduated Cum Laude from the University of North Texas in December of 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She began her career at Ernst & Young serving as a senior accountant in the Dallas tax department. Lisa has also worked for a regional accounting firm during her career as well as a local company with real estate and car rental investments before joining Francis & Associates, LLC in December of 1996.
Lisa is the tax manager of our practice.

In her spare time, Lisa enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends. She also volunteers at her daughter’s school and at her church. Lisa and her husband live in Garland and have two teenage daughters.

Kathleen H. Ekstrom, CPA
Tax Planning

Kathleen Ekstrom graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Texas in December of 1994 with both Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science degrees. While at the University of North Texas, she was a member of th e national honorary fraternity Beta Alpha Psi. She has worked for regional accounting firms throughout her career, joining Francis & Associates, LLC originally in August of 1998.

Kathleen’s experience includes both tax compliance and planning for individuals and their related business entities. Besides bring her tax expertise to clients, her proficiency with QuickBooks accounting software has been extremely helpful for clients that are starting up new businesses and for those clients who need accounting help on an as needed or interim basis.

Kathleen and her husband live in the North Dallas area with their two young daughters.