AICPA Honors Forensic and Valuation Professionals

Each year, the AICPA FVS Section recognizes volunteers who have contributed greatly to the practice and profession. Schwartz and Zweighaft are recipients of the 2021 Forensic & Litigation Services (FLS) Volunteer of the Year, while Puca is the Business Valuation Volunteer of the Year.

“Antonella, Lynda, and David have been instrumental in advancing the interests of the forensic and valuation services area,” said Barbara Andrews, director of forensics and technology advisory services for the AICPA. “From providing thought leadership and professional understanding to helping create new standards and credentials, their commitment cannot be understated.”

Puca is a managing director with MPI and a member of the AICPA’s Business Valuations Committee. She was awarded this year’s Business Valuation Volunteer of the Year award for her ongoing contributions to the AICPA and its members. Puca has authored and presented on a wide range of topics that include private equity and venture capital, early-stage development companies, Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs), ESG and more.  In addition, she has contributed guidance to help AICPA members navigate complex valuation issues that arose during the COVID 19 pandemic and has been a key contributor to the FVS Division’s advocacy efforts that impact the valuation profession.

Schwartz is an experienced fraud investigation and forensic accounting expert with her own practice, as well as a highly regarded instructor leading the Forensic Accounting curriculum at Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She currently serves as a member of the AICPA Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) Committee and was also past member of the AICPA Forensic and Litigation Services (FLS) Committee. Schwartz has been instrumental in several AICPA Forensic and Valuation Services (FVS) Section initiatives. Serving as co-chair of the FLS Forensic Technology Task Force, she leads a team of forensic technology experts in the development of the FVS Section’s reference guide on “Understanding the Forensic Technology Landscape.” In addition to her service with the FVS Section, she is a frequent author and speaker on forensic accounting topics.

Zweighaft is a Partner with RSZ Forensic Associates. He currently serves as a member of the AICPA Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) Committee and is also a past member of the AICPA Forensic and Litigation Services (FLS) Committee. Zweighaft is the immediate past chair and current member of the AICPA FLS Fraud Task Force. His primary responsibilities included FVS Eye on Fraud, an AICPA FVS quarterly report on fraud trends and topics, as well as the publication of the FVS Sections “Fraud Risk Framework,” which serves as a visual framework on fraud perpetrated in the business, consumer and government sectors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he strategically pivoted the Fraud Task Force’s efforts by providing awareness, education and resources to members dealing with fraud-related issues that stemmed from the pandemic.