Professionals on the Move – March 17, 2017

PKF O’Connor Davies Adds Partner
PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP recently announced the addition of Joseph Centofanti, CPA, CFE, FCPA, CFF, CGFM, CITP, CRISC as a Partner in the Government Services Division. Centofanti has 30 years of public accounting, audit and engagement experience providing consultation services to governments, not-for-profits and commercial businesses. He specializes in operational audits, internal control evaluations, fraud prevention and fraud investigations. Centofanti serves as an adjunct professor of governmental accounting and auditing at the University of Connecticut graduate program and frequently lectures on fraud prevention and government accounting.

Marks Paneth Names New Partner and Co-Partner-in-Charge
Marks Paneth LLP recently named Warren Ruppel to practice leader for its Government Services and Hope Goldstein as Co-Partner-in-Charge of its Nonprofit, Government and Healthcare Group. Ruppel has more than 35 years of accounting and auditing experience serving governmental entities and nonprofits. He previously served as the Assistant Comptroller for Accounting of the City of New York and as the CFO of a nonprofit organization.

In her new role, Goldstein will direct Marks Paneth’s NGH Group alongside Michael McNee, who has served as the Group’s leader since 2002. She has more than 25 years of accounting and auditing experience serving the nonprofit, higher education and government sectors. Her expertise includes audit and attest engagements, mergers, initial bond offerings, governance structures, forecasts, internal control and systems studies, risk assessments and assurance activities.

Grant Thornton COO Appointed to U.S. Chamber Board of Directors
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently appointed Jim Brady, CPA, chief operating officer at Grant Thornton LLP, to its board of directors. In his current role, Brady oversees the firm’s national business operations and the development and execution of the firm’s strategic initiatives. He is also actively involved on the firm’s Public Policy team, advocating among lawmakers for tax fairness for businesses organized as pass-throughs and medium-sized businesses, as well as solutions to problems of government fraud, waste and abuse. Brady received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant University.

Grant Thornton Hires New Managing Director
Grant Thornton LLP recently announced the addition of Kathleen Sifer as a managing director, leading its Public Sector federal financial regulatory practice. In her new role, Sifer will lead quality delivery and business development efforts for financial regulatory clients. She has leadership and management experience working at global public and private sector organizations. Sifer received her master’s degree in business administration from the American Graduate School of International Management and her bachelor’s degree from Temple University. She earned her Change Management Advanced Practitioner Certification from Georgetown University McDonough School of Business and completed the Strategic Marketing Management Program at Harvard Business School. She is also Six Sigma certified.

PwC Names New Leader
PwC recently the appointment of Charlie Carr as the firm’s US Family Enterprises Advisory Leader, within its Private Company Services practice. In his new role, Carr will oversee the firm’s family enterprise consulting offerings and lead projects in family governance, succession planning, risk analysis, and family policies. He has more than 25 years of financial services experience helping families define and achieve their vision and legacy. Carr holds a bachelor’s degree in of Business administration in accounting and management from Baylor University. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ and has a Six Sigma green belt for process design.

Scheffel Boyle Manager Honored
Scheffel Boyle CPAs recently announced that Elizabeth Heil, CPA, manager, recently received the Tallerico Leadership Award from the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber presents the Tallerico Leadership Award to “an outstanding individual who has achieved excellence in his/her business or profession, has served the community in a meaningful way, and has assisted women in reaching their full leadership potential.”

Heil has been with Scheffel Boyle for nearly 20 years and is a long-time member on the firm’s recruiting team, where she helps recruit and mentor young talent for the firm. She is also active in many local organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce and as Treasurer for the Illinois Federation of Business Women’s Metro East chapter. Heil earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois and her M.B.A. from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Wipfli Growth Leader Appointed to Illinois CPA Society’s Board of Directors
Wipfli LLP recently announced that Brian Blaha, CPA, growth leader, has been appointed to the Illinois CPA Society’s Board of Directors. Blaha has 20 years of service with Wipfli and leads and executes the firm’s growth strategy. He has previously served as the firm’s Chicago market leader and on the firm’s Board of Directors. Blaha graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of business administration degree from St. Norbert College.

CohnReznick Welcomes New Managing Director
CohnReznick LLP recently announced the addition of Dana S. Fried, JD, LLM as a managing director of the firm’s National Tax Services. Fried has 35 years of tax and accounting experience. His expertise includes design/structuring, operational and administrative consulting, and tax-related services, as well as compensation and employee benefits aspects of mergers and acquisitions transactions for large, medium and small public companies and privately-held clients. Fried earned a JD from Boston University School of Law, a LLM in Taxation from New York University School of Law, an MBA from Boston University Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in English and History from SUNY Binghamton.

BerryDunn Welcomes New Senior Manager
BerryDunn recently announced it has hired Andrew Majka as a senior manager in its Healthcare Industry Group. In his new role, Majka will specialize in critical access hospitals, rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers. He has more than 25 years of experience having served in numerous roles including executive level financial management. His expertise includes reimbursements, regulatory filings, oversight of accounting, revenue cycle management and strategic planning.

Margolin, Winer & Evens Names Two New Partners
Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP recently announced the appointment of Scott Saulino, CPA and Paul E. Becht, CPA as partners. Saulino’s expertise includes complex acquisitions, development project financing, debt restructurings and other matters. He has authored numerous articles for trade and business publications. Saulino received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from SUNY Albany.

Becht specializes in REITs, debt buyers, manufacturers, distributors and employee benefit plans. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Oswego State University and frequently speaks at conferences.

Armanino Adds Partners
Armanino LLP recently added Nghi Huynh, CPA and Todd Northrup, CPA as tax partners. Huynh has nearly 20 years of transfer pricing tax experience working with multinational enterprises. Her expertise includes pricing strategies for cross border transactions and complex issues in multiple tax jurisdictions. Huynh earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley and her master’s degree in taxation from Golden Gate University.

Northrup has 20 years of tax provision and compliance experience, working with public and private companies, and entrepreneur-owned and investor-backed organizations in the technology, entertainment, manufacturing and distribution sectors. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo and his master’s degree in business taxation from the University of Southern California.