Career moves

The Senate has approved Mary Schapiro by a unanimous vote as the next Securities and Exchange Commission chairman.

KPMG has named a new chief information officer and a new leader of its tax restructuring and corporate recovery practice.

George Klaus, who served as president and CEO of Epicor Software from February 1996 to February 2008, has been named to those positions again, following the resignation of Thomas F. Kelly.

To see the report on Accounting Today's Top 100 People of 2008, click here.

The Center for Audit Quality has named Mary Moore Hamrick as director of external relations and strategic planning.

Sage North America has picked Motasim Najeeb as the accounting and business software company's new chief technology officer.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed James L. Kroeker as acting chief accountant, replacing Conrad Hewitt, who retired Monday.

Securities and Exchange Commission Chief Accountant Conrad Hewitt announced that he will leave the regulator as the Obama administration takes over. Also leaving will be John White, the director of the Division of Corporate Finance.SEC Chairman Christopher Cox had said previously that he will leave upon the change in administration.

Susan G. Markel, chief accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Enforcement, is stepping down after 14 years at the agency.

Freddie Mac has named Raymond G. Romano as chief credit officer as the tarnished mortgage capital provider seeks to restore its reputation.

President-elect Barack Obama has named venture capitalist Karen Mills to lead the Small Business Administration, drawing fire from one small business group.

Financial Executives International has named Marie N. Hollein as the organization's new president and CEO.

President-elect Barack Obama has named Mary Schapiro as the next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, replacing Christopher Cox.

Regional firm Eide Bailly LLP has elected Jerry Topp to another three-year term as managing partner and chief executive. Topp has served as managing partner since 2003, overseeing significant growth in the firm's revenues, staff and number of offices. The firm also re-elected Sioux Falls partner Keith Severson and Boise, Idaho, partner-in-charge Kevin Andersen to three-year terms on the board. Also joining the board as ex-officio/non-voting members are Steve Corley, partner-in-charge of the Oklahoma office, effective August 1, and James Lyons, Colorado partner-in-charge, effective November 1. The board elected Minneapolis partner Al Heinen to serve as chairman of the board, and Kevin Andersen to serve as vice chairman for one-year terms. The firm ranked No. 25 on Accounting Today's list of the Top 100 Firms, with revenue of $103 million in 2007. It has offices in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North and South Dakota, and Oklahoma.

Nina Smith, who headed Sage North America's largest division for the last year, has left the company as major changes continue to roll through the organization following the hiring of new CEO Sue Swenson in March.

Former Internal Revenue Service Acting Commissioner Kevin Brown has joined PricewaterhouseCoopers as a partner in the firm's IRS Service Team.

Corefino has hired Lyne Noella as vice president of strategic alliances to help the accounting outsourcing provider establish business relationships with interim CFOs and accounting industry service providers.

The National Conference of CPA Practitioners reelected sole practitioner Karen Giunta of Hicksville, N.Y., to a second term as president of the organization.

Securities and Exchange Commission Chief Accountant Conrad Hewitt intends to leave the agency in January.

Tax document automation provider Copanion Inc., makers of the GruntWorx line, has named technology industry veteran Stephen Royal to the post of chief financial officer, effective immediately.