Career moves

National CPA and business advisory firm has acquired Durkin Forensic, a Los Angeles-based forensic accounting firm.

Grant Thornton LLP has elected audit partner Jacqueline Akerblom to the firm’s Partnership Board.

BlumShapiro has named CPAs Rick C. Parmelee and Anthony J. Switajewski as new partners in the firm, effective Jan. 1, 2011.

Jefferson Wells, a global provider of risk advisory and accounting-related services, has launched its Technical Accounting and Financial Reporting Center of Expertise, a unit that will provide guidance in technical and compliance issues related to the financial reporting landscape.

Frank Tobias has joined the Lancaster, Pa., office of Reinsel Kuntz Lesher LLP, CPAs and Consultants, as a principal in RKL’s Tax Services Group.

Perhaps it’s because Sage North America has experienced a recent spate of executive turnovers, or the fact that its chief executive never had any intention of staying on for the long term.

Regional CPA firm Eide Bailly’s partners have elected Mark Martens of Fargo, N.D., and Ty Inglis of Minneapolis to the firm’s board of directors.

Alabama

Wayne Wilson was recently hired as managing director at the professional services firm of UHY Advisors in the Forensic, Litigation and Valuation Services Department.

KPMG tax partner Terri Oen has transferred from the firm’s Minneapolis office to Portland, Ore., where she will head the office’s tax client service teams and operations as tax partner in charge.

Sam Levy, CPA, has launched Levy Tax & Consulting to serve the tax needs of business owners and individuals.

KraftCPAs PLLC, one of middle Tennessee’s largest CPA firms, has admitted Amy Thompson and Mark Patterson to membership (ownership, that is) in the firm, giving the firm a total of 18 members.

After less than three years at the helm, Sage North America president and chief executive Sue Swenson announced her retirement Wednesday, planning a several-month transition that will include her replacement by current Sage France CEO Pascal Houillon.

Ruel Bognot has joined UHY LLP as a senior manager in the firm’s Assurance & Business Advisory Services Department.

MarcumStonefield, a division of Marcum LLP, has made three key appointments in its West Coast offices.

Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain, PC, one of the Southeast’s largest accounting and business consulting firms, has added Joshua “Clay” Morris in its Brentwood (Nashville) office.

The board of trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation has appointed nine new members to the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council, effective Jan. 1, 2011.

CPA and business consulting firm Abeles and Hoffman, P.C., has promoted Elizabeth Schelp to senior auditor.

CBIZ Tofias has hired Cathy Foley as tax director and George Coulter as business development manager.

Lewis, Hooper & Dick LLC has promoted two CPAs on its staff: Shannon Euliss and Kristin Sekavec.