Bowman bestows a scholarship honoring a late partner; the AICPA appoints a new chair; and more CPA news.
Firms on the move: RSM launches second Industry Eminence class
May 24, 2019 12:38 PM
BAHRAIN
Awael Al Bahrain Management Consultancy entered a collaboration agreement to become a member firm of the international association Andersen Global.
CALIFORNIA
Armanino, San Ramon, launched Armanino AI Lab, designed for business executives seeking to integrate AI technology in their organizations. Members of the AI Lab will be able to attend peer-to-peer meetings; have exclusive access to product and vendor reviews; connect with Armanino’s data scientists, AI developers and consultants; learn about AI best practices; and execute on AI proof of concepts.
FloQast announced it held its inaugural user conference, TakeControl, in San Francisco on May 16, for customers of its close management accounting software. The company also recognized its 2019 Month-End Masters award winners: Innovator of the Year — Jon Hardy, accounting manager, Viewpoint; Accounting Leader of the Year — Derek Mernagh, corporate controller, Yelp; and Rookie of the Year — Shanna Wheeler, controller, RebBuilt.
FloQast announced it held its inaugural user conference, TakeControl, in San Francisco on May 16, for customers of its close management accounting software. The company also recognized its 2019 Month-End Masters award winners: Innovator of the Year — Jon Hardy, accounting manager, Viewpoint; Accounting Leader of the Year — Derek Mernagh, corporate controller, Yelp; and Rookie of the Year — Shanna Wheeler, controller, RebBuilt.
CONNECTICUT
Carolyn Smith was appointed to a five-year term on the Governmental Accounting Standards Board by the Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation. Smith, who currently serves as the chief audit executive for Columbus City Schools, will begin her term July 1, 2019, extending through June 30, 2024. Smith succeeds outgoing GASB member David Sundstrom, whose second term concludes on June 30, 2019.
GEORGIA
Bennett Thrasher, Atlanta, was recognized in three categories of the Daily Report’s Best of 2019 reader survey. The firm was voted one of the top three firms in the categories of: Best Full-Service Accounting Firm, Best Forensic Accounting Firm and Best Business Accounting Firm.
ILLINOIS
RSM, Chicago, announced the second class of the firm’s Industry Eminence program, who join last year’s 10-person inaugural class. The 2019 class, and their focus industries, includes: Peter Cadigan, consumer products; Kennedy Chinyamutangira, financial services; Karen Galivan, consumer products; Jessika Garis, health care; Michael Gerlach, business and professional services; Shruti Gupta, industrial products; Scott Helberg, real estate; Megan Hicks, industrial products; Brandon Koeser, financial services; Adam Lohr, technology; David Mamane, financial services; Davis Nordell, technology.
INDIANA
CarterDillonUmbaugh, Plymouth, announced a name change to KohnDillonUmbaugh, reflecting the elevation of Justin Kuhn from junior to senior partner.
NJSCPA
NEW JERSEY
Bowman & Co., Voorhees, recognized the recipient of the Lisa A. Donahue Scholarship (pictured), given in honor of a former partner at the firm who died after battling cancer 11 years ago. The award is bestowed in recognition of Donahue’s long and dedicated service to the CPA profession. This year’s recipient is Allison Darley, a student at Rutgers University who is majoring in accounting.
WithumSmith+Brown, Princeton, launched My Radar, a new feature integrated with Microsoft, which offers users a quick view of what’s important to them across all Microsoft 365 solutions and drives them to that part of the firm's intranet.
WithumSmith+Brown, Princeton, launched My Radar, a new feature integrated with Microsoft, which offers users a quick view of what’s important to them across all Microsoft 365 solutions and drives them to that part of the firm's intranet.
NEW YORK
KPMG, New York, announced that Jeff Payne, professor in the Von Allmen School of Accountancy at the University of Kentucky, is the latest KPMG James Warwick professor-in-residence. (Read the full story .)
NORTH CAROLINA
Bill Reeb, chief executive of Succession Institute, was elected chair of the American Institute of CPAs, Durham. Reeb was elected to the one-year volunteer post by the AICPA governing council. (Read the full story .)
OHIO
Rea & Associates announced it will host a Client Advisory Services’ Technology Education Day to help business owners more effectively manage their finances and promote growth. The event will be hosted May 30 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wooster Chamber of Commerce at 377 W. Liberty Street in Wooster.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Elliott Davis, Greenville, launched BRAINTRUST magazine, a custom, biannual publication that will be published by the firm and will cover a range of business challenges, opportunities and trends impacting a variety of industries.
SWITZERLAND
Testaris AG, Basel, joined global network Nexia International.
TEXAS
Kathy Kelly is leaving the position of executive director at TXCPA Fort Worth, and will be replaced by Michelle Barton, the association announced. Barton, who has been in a management role with the association since 2014, will assume the executive director role June 1, 2019.
UNITED KINGDOM
Claritas Tax Limited, Birmingham, a collaborating firm of Andersen Global, opened a new office location in Deansgate.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Center for Audit Quality awarded five new grants to fund independent academic research on audit topics. (Read the full story .)
The American Institute of CPAs named James Leisenring the recipient of the Gold Medal Award of Distinction for 2019. The award, the highest honor granted by the AICPA, was presented at the spring meeting of AICPA’s governing council. (Read thefull story. )
The American Institute of CPAs named James Leisenring the recipient of the Gold Medal Award of Distinction for 2019. The award, the highest honor granted by the AICPA, was presented at the spring meeting of AICPA’s governing council. (Read the
