“Let’s run the numbers.” It’s a direction that precedes a lot of important business decisions. Leaders want to know, to greatest extent possible, the potential costs and benefits of their actions. Later, they want to know exactly how their decisions affected the bottom line. And the professionals who deliver the data are usually accountants.
The profiles on these pages demonstrate that accountants are, in fact, skilled numbers crunchers. But the best – the individuals listed here – are more than that. They are trusted advisors who are counted upon to provide sound guidance on every facet of an organization’s operations. They are experts on valuation issues, mergers and acquisitions, state and federal taxation, bankruptcy and restructuring, employee benefits, corporate finance and many other subjects. A good accountant can help save a company in trouble and propel a healthy business to greater success.
Not all of the individuals listed here work at accounting firms. Some are corporate executives, key members of their companies’ leadership teams. Others are educators, training the next generation of professionals and helping experienced accountants hone and expand their skills. And some serve in nonprofit organizations, working to influence public policy for the benefit of the profession and the clients its members serve.
So as you read through the profiles, take note of the variety of expertise represented. And let us know what you think of our choices and rationale.
As always, the top ten individuals are ranked numerically, the rest are listed alphabetically.
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