ACAUS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Director With CrossCountry Consulting
Alan was appointed CAW Network USA Treasurer in March 2021.
Alan is a Director with CrossCountry Consulting in New York, leading their FinTech offering as part of the Financial Services practice. Alan works with Fintech companies at all stages of funding and growth from Series A through IPO and beyond on a range of topics including Finance Transformation, IPO Readiness, Process Optimization and Automation, Technology Solutions, Risk, Internal Audit and Accounting policy. Alan also leads CrossCountry's Regulatory Compliance practice in New York covering topics including AML, CCAR, Operational Resiliency and LIBOR transition.
Alan is a Chartered Accountant (ACA) with Chartered Accountants Ireland.
When Andrew Demery CA left the UK for Australia, he set a new path for his life and career. Rachel Ingram speaks to the BikeExchange CFO about the transition from practice to industry and expat life.
Digitalisation is supercharging business practice, but it must not happen at the expense of accessibility and equality, Baroness Lane Fox tells Laurence Eastham. Baroness Martha Lane Fox is one of the UK's leading voices in technology and digital transformation. It's a reputation that has been well earned, not only from co-founding Lastminute.com in 1998, but also from a decade's worth of public service. From 2009 to 2013, she was the UK's digital champion, creating the Government Digital Service that sits within the Cabinet Office.
Job Titles:
- Member Organization Liaison
Barry has been Chief Executive of Chartered Accountants Ireland since 2017 and was appointed by Chartered Accountants Worldwide to represent their member institutes on the Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA Board. Barry took over this role in April 2021.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Southern Florida
Becky is a Partner of Grant Thornton LLP, a global organization of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. Becky believes passionately in client service and brings extensive experience to the industries she serves. These include asset management, mortgage banking, specialty lending, broker-dealers and other financial services companies. Becky serves both public and private companies and is well-versed in SEC rules and requirements. Becky provides her clients with guidance and insights based on an understanding of their strategy, culture, industry and business objectives, in a manner consistent with Grant Thornton and professional standards.
Becky is both a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW. She received her BA Hons in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford in England.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development / Director of Podcasts
Qualified Auditor and Tax Consultant - VP of Sales with Propylon, based in New York. With CAW Network USA Breiffni is Director of Podcasts and also Director of Business Development.
Chris is CEO of Applied Logic Software, a privately held company based in Boston specializing in enterprise software technologies and platforms including AI, Blockchain, RPA, SaaS, ERP, BPM, Cloud, and Mobile.
Chris is a CPA and a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).
Chris stepped back into the position of President when Conall McGonagle took up the ‘Past President' Board position in October 2020. Chris had been serving as Vice President. Chris is focused on creating and building the strategic value of the organization. Previously, Chris also served as President (October 2018- April 2019) and was CAW Network USA representative to CA ANZ. As of the CAW Network AGM on October 25th 2022, Chris stood down as President and took on the voting board position of ‘Past President'.
Job Titles:
- Member Organization Representative - Chartered Accountants Ireland
An experienced finance professional, Claire has worked across multiple finance disciplines in large and small groups within Intel. Claire leads Intel's datacenter business strategy finance organization with responsibilities including financial strategy development, profitability and portfolio management.
Claire is the CA Ireland representative for CAW Network USA, and also sits on CA Ireland's Member Council. Claire has over 20 years of strategy, financial and operational leadership experience. She graduated from University of Limerick, Ireland with a bachelor's degree in business.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive at RDA Company LLC
- Director of Corporate Governance & Chapter President - Washington DC Metro
David Freeman is an Account Executive at RDA Company LLC, a privately held digital consultancy based in Hunt Valley, Maryland. RDA provides advisory, design & build and optimization services through its digital sales, marketing & commerce and application development & modernization practices to help its clients achieve successful business outcomes with technology. David has been with RDA since his arrival in the United States in 1995 and served in various management capacities with RDA during this time.
Prior to RDA, David spent sixteen years at Arthur Andersen's London office in the firm's Audit and Business Advisory Practice. After starting out in the audit arena, David spent much of his tenure leading a variety of business and information technology consulting engagements in areas that included computer risk management and IT strategy. As Director of Audit Computer Services, David was also responsible for audit automation.
David is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, having qualified 1982 and is also a Member of the British Computer Society.
David serves as a Washington DC area contact member for ICAEW members and is also President of the DC Metro Chapter of CAW Network USA.
David lives in Potomac, MD with his wife and two children.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Minneapolis
Dave is a Principal and is the Founder of Excelsior Business Advisors, LLC. He has over 15 years of experience partnering with clients to provide valuation advisory, technical accounting, and transaction support services.
He has provided valuation advisory services in relation to equity, debt, hybrid, and derivative securities, as well as intangible and other financial assets. Dave has performed valuation analyses for a wide range of purposes including financial reporting, tax compliance, litigation and other dispute resolution, as well as transaction opinions (i.e., fairness and solvency opinions) and transaction feasibility analyses. Prior to founding Excelsior, Dave was a Director in the valuation advisory group at Stout, a global investment bank and advisory firm, and was based in their New York City office. Prior to Stout, he worked in the corporate finance and valuation advisory groups of mid-tier accounting firms based in New York City and Sydney, Australia.
Dave is a graduate of the Australian Catholic University where he obtained a Bachelor of Business degree, with a major in Accounting. He is a Chartered Accountant qualifying with what is now Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Dave is also a Certified Public Accountant licensed in New York and Minnesota and is Accredited in Business Valuation through the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Dave also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation issued by the CFA Institute.
I integrate technology (SAP, Microsoft, Oracle), accounting/controllership, and tax requirements to increase the efficiency and robustness of E2E business processes, with experience across multiple industry sectors and geography. The business case justification for addressing tax requirements in a holistic manner extends across the organization to include treasury (cashflow enhancement), FP&A (profitability insights), finance operations (process efficiency), internal audit (enterprise risk mitigation), supply chain/logistics, and IT strategy. Many organizations already faced substantial challenges in the execution and tax reporting of their transactions, but following U.S. tax reform (bringing a significant increase in data granularity required to meet planning, compliance, and monitoring goals) those same organizations are actively considering their ability from both an IT systems and controllership process perspective to meet these obligations. The opportunity to address this, given that so many companies currently are replatforming their ERP systems and at the same time trying to optimize their value chain under new tariff/customs scenarios could never be more timely. I can help you navigate this landscape. Home Institute:ICAEW
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Chief Executive of Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA
David Powell is Chief Executive of Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA (CAW Network USA), based in Boston MA. This organization is also known as the Association of Chartered Accountants in the USA (ACAUS). David had previously been president of ACAUS 2015 - 2018 and before that Chapter President of its New England chapter. The focus of the organization is on networking and education for Chartered Accountants living / working in North America. David is a thought leader on the future of the finance profession, working with major accounting bodies and professional firms on the impact of technology on future talent and skills requirements. Has lived and worked in multiple countries/cultures and has been both a consultant and a ‘customer'.
David was born and raised in Swansea, Wales. He attended Cardiff University and earned a degree in Accounting and Management Studies. He did further professional studies and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte Haskins and Sells. He spent 10 years with DH&S / Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte. Here. he focused on selling / implementing /supporting / training clients and internal staff on financial consolidation and management reporting solutions. David is an FCA of the England & Wales Institute.
David has significant experience in hotel software management and accounting systems, having worked at senior levels at Holiday Inn Worldwide (now Intercontinental Hotels Group) in Brussels, Belgium and Starwood Hotels (now part of Marriott) in Braintree, MA. He moved from Brussels to the USA in 1998 as the worldwide process owner for accounting for JD Edwards (ERP software), in Denver.
After leaving Starwood David was recruited by Cognos at the start of 2007, to build a North American specialist services practice for Cognos's Consolidations software. Cognos was later acquired by IBM and David moved into Global Business Services as a Finance Leader in the Business Analytics Global Center of Competence. He was responsible for Finance focused solutions using IBM software assets. He then moved into a Global Brand Manager / Finance leader role for IBM's Outsourcing division (Cognitive Process Transformation), until January 2018, when he started working as an independent financial transformation consultant. David took on what became his current role with ACAUS / CAW Network USA, in February 2019.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Pacific Northwest ( Seattle )
With over 20 years in senior finance and fintech operator roles, Derek leads the Fractional CFO practice at Buchanan CFO. His resume includes Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Willis Towers Watson, Amazon, Resolve and numerous CFO and advisory roles at early-stage technology businesses. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and holds an MBA from IMD business school in Switzerland.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Associate Professor of Accounting at Sacramento State University
Dr Ros Roberts is an Associate Professor of Accounting at Sacramento State University, California. Ros holds a Ph.D. in Accounting from The University of Sydney, Australia and her research interests are on accounting education, integrated reporting to convey value creation, goodwill impairment, and business value impairment as a result of climate change
Ros is an active proponent of reducing carbon emissions and conveying those reduction activities through sustainability reporting. A Chartered Accountant (CAANZ), she also holds a Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) credential issued through the IFRS Foundation. In addition, she serves as part of an advisory bodies within Sacramento county to implement a climate and sustainability plan that identifies and integrates current and future actions necessary to transition to countywide carbon neutrality by 2030 and beyond.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Arizona
Duncan grew up in South Africa and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte before moving to the US and obtaining his CPA license. He has 30 years of public and corporate experience. In addition to CAW Network USA, he is also an active member of the AICPA, the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. Duncan is an alumnus of the University of Colorado, Oxford University Saїd Business School, and the University of the Witwatersrand. Duncan held our first ‘Arizona chapter meeting ‘ in February 2023.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director in BDO 's Corporate Tax Practice
Geoff is a Managing Director in BDO's Corporate Tax Practice, and leader of the Chicago inbound tax practice. A commercial tax professional with over 17 years' experience, he has extensive corporate planning and compliance experience (with regard to tax returns and provisions (under US GAAP and IFRS)). As his clients' main point of contact, Geoff also coordinates advice to clients with regard to other areas of U.S. tax reporting (e.g., Forms FinCEN 114, W-8BEN-E, 1099, etc.) and other tax services such as sales and use, transfer pricing, R&D credits, etc.
Geoff's clients are typically global businesses, and he has extensive experience of cross border tax structuring, financing and tax due diligence. In particular, Geoff focuses on assisting foreign owned businesses with their U.S. tax needs.
He is a Chartered Accountant, Enrolled Agent, and holds an undergraduate Degree from the University of Bristol and post-graduate degree from the University of Warwick.
Geoff is a soccer player and fan and lives with his family in Wilmette.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Northern Florida
Graham is Business Process Services practice lead with Withum Advisory, based in Tampa/ St. Petersburg FL. Graham is an ICAEW member and was previously active with the CAW Network USA chapter in Greater New York. Graham moved to the USA (Princeton NJ) with Bristol-Myers Squibb. He has also held senior positions with Sandoz, McGraw Hill and Tyco, where he was Finance and IT transformation leader, before moving to head up BPS - Finance and Accounting for North America with Tata Consulting.
Graham Russell CA went to Jamaica, aged 23, for a two-year work placement. Decades on, his itchy feet have seen him live throughout the world, now settled down in Manhattan with WPP. Businesses can only become more global, he explains.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director With CrossCountry Consulting
- Chapter President - New England
Greg is an Associate Director with CrossCountry Consulting. He is a CPA and Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in finance transformation, FP&A and controllership. In his last role, Greg was Head of Africa IT Finance (senior manager) at Africa's largest banking group and before that he was a manager at KPMG.
Greg has over thirteen years of experience working in financial services and public accounting which includes finance transformation, financial reporting, interim management, risk and internal controls. Greg is highly analytical and has a successful track record for enhancing and automating financial processes. He excels at building, directing, and empowering teams to realize their full potential.
Greg's core competencies includes finance transformation, financial reporting, interim management, risk management and internal controls.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Vancouver
Mr. Inder qualified as a Chartered Accountant (Institute of Chartered Accountants India (ICAI) in 2004. He started his practice in India in 2005. In 2008 he qualified as an Information systems auditor with ICAI. He has 19 years experience in the field of accounting and assurance. He also qualified as a certified concurrent auditor of banks with ICAI. He has experience of concurrent audits, statutory audits, stock audits, information system audits of India's largest banks and co- operative societies. He has ample experience in audit for retail stores and manufacturing units in India. He migrated to Canada in 2015. In Canada he has worked for Insurance brokerage companies, retail jewelry stores and taxi companies, as an independent controller and financial advisor. He is also director for the Vancouver Chapter of ICAI since 2020. In 2022, he qualified for the Associate Chartered accountant designation with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. In 2023, he joined the non-profit organisation Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA to run its Vancouver chapter.
Job Titles:
- Corporate VP and Chief Digital Officer, Microsoft US, Tell
Jacky Wright, Corporate VP and Chief Digital Officer, Microsoft US, tells Laurence Eastham why business and society thrive at the intersection of technology and ethics, and why we've now hit a critical juncture. As Corporate VP and Chief Digital Officer, Microsoft US, Jacky Wright has a pivotal role in the digital revolution. In fact, driving innovation at one of the world's tech giants is why she's just been named the most influential black Briton by Powerlist.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Member Advocacy - West
- Director in Connor Group 's Technical Accounting
Jagdish is a Director in Connor Group's Technical Accounting and IPO Services practice, providing assistance to clients with technical accounting issues and helping clients achieve IPO readiness. She has experience with revenue recognition, including ASC 606 adoption, lease accounting adoption under ASC 842, stock-based compensation, business combinations and worked on a number on biotech IPOs including financial statement preparation and S-1 filings.
Prior to joining Connor Group, Jagdish worked as an audit professional at EY Redwood Shores, California, for 6 years as a senior manager serving both public and private companies with a focus in the biotech industry and started her career with EY Reading, UK.
Jagdish is a is a Certified Public Accountant (California - Active) and a Chartered Accountant (Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales). She graduated from the University of Southampton, UK with a Bachelor of Science, Joint Honors in Accounting & Law
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Charlotte
- Principal Consultant With Cential
Jannie is partner and principal consultant with Cential. He is a Chartered Accountant CA (SA), and a thought leader in Risk Transformation and Integrated Risk Management technologies. Jannie advises clients on the use of technologies to reduce the complexities, manage risk and minimize the compliance cost.
Jannie specializes in enterprise and integrated risk services which include teaming with many of the top analyst rated GRC vendors.
Job Titles:
- CFO USA of Commonwealth Bank of Australia ( CBA ) Americas
- Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand
- Member Organization Representative - CA ANZ CA ANZ International Council Member
Jayson is CFO USA of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) Americas, based in New York. Having worked in public practice with BDO in Melbourne, he has spent much of his professional career internationally in financial services, with roles at MF Global and CBA in London, before relocating to New York.
He is registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) as a Financial and Operations Principal and holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Majoring in Accounting and Business Law.
Jayson is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CA ANZ) and is on the CA ANZ Council representing Rest of World Members. He has held various positions on committees and advisory bodies of CA ANZ, including Education Team Leader on the UK Overseas Member Committee and as the New York Tri-state Link Member Representative.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Atlanta
Accomplished CFO and financial leader with deep international business and private equity portfolio company experience. Often hired by Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies as initial CFO to rapidly create, overhaul, or professionalize, accounting, finance, tax, treasury, legal, IT and HR functions. Bi-lingual in US and UK accounting (CPA and Chartered Accountant).
Have managed acquisitions and divestitures, including carve-outs and achieved over 50% IRR for private equity investors from a successful sale. Like to operate as strategic partner to the CEO / senior team, flexible, hands-on, high energy, good attention to detail and highly networked (so know who to bring to the table to assist). Block and tackle well (many 13-week cash forecasts) and also adept at negotiating and working with investors, bankers and analysts. Enjoy improving financial performance and helping hit home runs. Experienced in managing growth and turnaround situations.
Multi-national, middle-market, private equity backed and start-up company experience. CFO for public, private, and private equity owned companies. Big firm trained CPA and Chartered Accountant with strong international business and multi-currency treasury experience. Deep understanding of technology sectors (hardware, software, SaaS, FinTech) and technology issues, including cyber security and call centers. Substantial consumer products and consumer facing, business services, financial services, government services, aerospace and defense, construction and infrastructure related equipment and services (including Wireless and Telecom), healthcare, hospitality, e-tail, retail and distribution. Dual UK / US citizen. French language skills. US Federal Government security cleared.
Job Titles:
- Member Organization Representative - ICAS
Ken Croarkin, a graduate of the University of Dundee in the UK, is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Accountant and is the Partner in charge of Insurance Industry Services at EisnerAmper. He currently leads the external audit engagements for a number of property & casualty and life and health insurance companies as well as brokers and MGA's. Ken also provides internal audit consulting services.
Ken meets monthly with ICAS contacts representing CAW Network USA and is also a member of ICAS's committee focusing on ICAS members in the USA.
Lord Michael Hastings tells Laurence Eastham how far business has come in recognising its responsibilities to society - but why the journey has really only just begun. Business has incorporated a new language. It's one that gives values and purpose equal rank alongside revenue and profit. And it's a shift that reflects a growing consensus that the priv09ate sector must exist to serve planet and society, rather than solely shareholders. Profit still carries critical importance, but it is no longer king.
As well as wider structural changes to the world around us, Hastings is a keen proponent of the influence of the World Economic Forum (WEF), founded by Klaus Schwab in 1971. He sees the organisation as a necessary platform for discourse and debate - giving politicians and business leaders space to tackle those big issues that transcend party politics and national borders. Hastings attended the WEF's annual meeting in Davos for each of his 13 years with KPMG - he jokes about the effects of freezing outdoor temperatures and stuffy hotel rooms - and took up various posts at the organisation between 2009 and 2014.
"If there's one organisation that did more than anyone to bring all this effort into focus, it's the World Economic Forum," he says. "Klaus Schwab wrote a seminal article in 2008 in which he talked about the role of companies as corporate citizens. Every business, every company, every commercial entity is a citizen of its community, let alone the stakeholder, wider-world community."
Job Titles:
- Member Organization Representative - ICAEW ICAEW Council Member - USA East ICAEW Board Member
Mark is a private equity investor, CFO and advisor with experience in strategy, managing operations, corporate & project finance, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, financial reporting and taxation. Mark is a Managing Director and Partner at Jade Invest. He is based in New York.
Mark's industry expertise includes energy, power generation, infrastructure, real estate and aerospace & defense.
Mark is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Public Accountant.
Mark is a Member of ICAEW Council representing the United States Constituency and is also a Member of the ICAEW Board. He is a Past President and former New York Chapter Head of CAW Network USA.
Mark is part of the CAW Network USA team working with the ICAEW to pursue the MRA with NASBA.
Mark works with ICAEW executives, officeholders and the global engagement team to develop the ICAEW's US and international platforms and support for members, arrange US events and tours and provides member input and support.
Mark Spiers CA was destined to be an entrepreneur, just not in the way he had imagined. Rachel Ingram discovers how moving to Brazil helped the GrupoFabri CEO make his dream a reality.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Pittsburgh
Matt is CEO of Veritrove; a tech-enabled ESG & sustainability firm helping organizations drive business value beyond compliance. Matt is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) and has around two decades experience including CRO & VP leadership roles (revenue generation, strategy, change and P&L responsibility) in Fortune 500 and private-equity businesses.
Notably, Matt spent around 10 years in various positions at Centrica Plc / Direct Energy prior to the British utility selling the US brand to NRG for $3.6bn, and was part of the leadership of an energy technology business that successfully exited to a Huron/Blackstone backed private equity platform. Prior experience includes Grant Thornton, Exxon Mobil and Roffe Swayne (now Azets UK).
Job Titles:
- Director - Young Professionals
Based in New York City, Matthew is a regional head of finance and FP&A lead for EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants. Having spent several years working as a forensic accountant in public accounting and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with ICAEW, Matthew jumped into industry and now specializes in finance and FP&A within the insurance and financial services space. Matthew volunteers with a number of industry committees (with a focus on helping young professionals), is a keen traveler (55 countries to date) and is currently working his way towards an MBA, part-time, with the University of Cambridge.
Michael is CFO for the Americas for Collinson Group. Michael is based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and is a results driven finance professional with experience across a variety of industries and in public accounting. He has served in senior positions in managing Accounting and Finance, Operations, HR and IT departments, and consolidating and automating systems and processes and improving efficiencies. Experience with mergers, setting up new companies from incorporation to General Ledger implementation and establishing of Accounting policies and procedures, managing Banking and other professional relationships as well as ensuring Group wide GAAP compliance.
In May 2021 Michael took on the Director of Alliances volunteer position with CAW Network USA, as well as offering to assist our local chapter head with events and activities. The Director of alliances position chairs a committee of CAW Network members who are with leading Accounting Practices in the US. Target is to promote our activities and share information with Chartered accountants who work for with these firms in the USA, resulting in increased participation in and awareness of CAW Network USA activities.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Las Vegas
Michael is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) in the UK, who spent eight years with Big 4 firms in audit in South Wales, London and Los Angeles before moving client side. He spent over 15 years as a Controller at US public companies and in the NFL, and as a pre-IPO CFO in the SF Bay Area before pivoting into the recruitment sector. He currently resides in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and also has an extensive business network in the SF Bay Area where he lived for over 20 years. His focus is on searches for CFO / Controller / VP Finance and positions with an emphasis on SEC Reporting and Technical Accounting skills. He has a long history of working with Chartered Accountants in the US looking to make a career change and is excited by the opportunity to be part of the CAW team.
Michael's interests are diversified, ranging from captain of the University Chess team at Cardiff University, to playing American Football (Helmets and Pads Version) in London, appearing in a National Championship game (Budweiser Bowl). He also has an abiding passion for Swansea City Football Club, and life permitting, tries to make an annual pilgrimage back to South Wales for the annual derby match against Cardiff City.
Having recently (2023) bought a home in Las Vegas, he is hoping through his local church and through networking, to become involved in the community as a volunteer. He has as a special needs parent, previously been active as an advocate and fundraiser for autism charities.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Vice President, Chapter President - Indianapolis Chapter
Nancy is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and Internal Controls Director - International advisory for Cummins Inc, in Indianapolis. She is a self-motivated, visionary and transformational leader, with a passion for coaching and people development. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with solid multiple stakeholder management and business partnering skills. Nancy has an entrepreneurial mindset and high technical proficiency in risk management, business process improvement and corporate governance, she provides sustainable and innovative business and finance process solutions. She is also a Top 35 SAICA Finalist and award winner. She presented at our Beyond Accounting events with SAICA in 2021 and 2022 and moderated our in-person conference in 2023.
Job Titles:
- Financial Services Audit Partner at Deloitte
- Member Organization Representative - South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Natasha is a Financial Services Audit Partner at Deloitte in their New York office. With 20 years at the Firm, she has served clients across multiple industries and geographies. While she currently leads the Family Office Audit Practice within the Investment Management Industry, she has experience in all aspects of the Industry. She has a particular emphasis on family offices, wealth management and advisory corporate entities; as well as various investment products such as hedge funds, private equity funds, fund-of-funds, ETFs, registered investment companies and commodity pools. She has extensive experience auditing internal controls, both for public and non-public companies, including SOX reporting matters. She has also served clients in the retail, manufacturing and Japanese trading sectors.
Natasha organized the roadshows for SAICA held in several US cities in February 2020 as well as a subsequent ‘virtual roadshow' in July to address key matters of interest to US based members. In particular to provide an update on SAICA's MRA with NASBA/AICPA. Natasha is also a member of SAICA's Council representing members in the USA, Canada, Bermuda and Cayman Isles.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Northern California
A CPA and Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) offering a wealth of experience in financial accounting, with a specialty in risk assessments and internal auditing.
Responsible for execution of risk-based audit plans and keeping current with emerging issues in the internal audit profession.
Job Titles:
- Strategic Pursuits Leader
Nicola is a Strategic Pursuits Leader in the Consulting and Accounting Solutions Team (CAST) at CLA. CLA focuses on creating opportunities for our clients, for our CLA family, and for our communities. Her role entails developing relationships with financial management, chief executives, and officeholders across a wealth of industries, both in New York and nationally, and being a trusted advisor in times of change. In addition, Nicola serves as a technical expert for CLA LLP and CLA Global on ISQM 1 implementation. Nicola's previous positions include Senior Vice President within Internal Audit at Citigroup, and Senior Manager within the Global Assurance Quality group, and Assurance Banking & Capital Markets group at PwC.
I am a licensed CPA in the State of Utah, a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants using the designation CA (SA) in South Africa and a Chartered Global Management Accountant using the designation CGMA.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Denver ICAEW Council Member - USA West and Central / South America
I originally qualified as a Chartered Accountant in the UK before emigrating to the US and obtaining my CPA license. After leaving the "Big 4" as an Audit Manager, I deployed the wide ranging experience gained in the audit environment to improve operations in internationally focused companies in more than 20 countries. Roles have included CEO, CFO (including NASDAQ and NYSE listed companies), Operating Partner for Private Equity, and Board Member.
Based on my restructuring experiences, in 2012 I authored the book "Failure Is Not An Option", from which I developed a Master's Capstone Class which I delivered at the University of Northern Colorado, as well as derivative courses at professional conferences.
I am a strong proponent of ethics and believe that the FCA qualification is the absolute best preparation for a senior executive role, as it enables us to understand the business holistically, and ensure that revenue growth is profitable growth. It is because I believe that it is ethics which define who we are as Chartered Accountants, that I decided to become an ICAEW Council Member.
In my business life, I focus on creating cost efficiencies through financially focused operational and strategic plans to achieve aggressive profit targets.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Houston
Experienced professional and manager with a demonstrated history of working in the accounting industry. Strong analytical skills coupled with experience in Accounting & Auditing Standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Accounting, Management Reporting and Teamwork. Current member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Member Advocacy - East
CAW Network USA appointed Renai to the role of Assistant Director of Member Advocacy - East in March 2021.
Currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, Renai is a senior finance professional with over 20 years' experience in both professional service firms and in-house finance roles in large listed and duel listed multinational corporations covering operations across Australia, the UK, Asia and the US.
Renai's recent experience has focused on Board, Audit Committee and Australian Securities Exchange reporting as well as restructuring, outsourcing, investment acquisitions and divestiture, systems implementation, policy & process improvement projects and managing onshore and offshore shared services functions.
Renai is a graduate from Macquarie University in Sydney BEc(Accounting & Finance), is a Chartered Accountant qualifying with what is now Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and currently completing the USCPA-Now IQEX program.
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Southern California
A CFO with 30 years experience, Rob has held C-level financial and operating responsibilities in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and United Kingdom. He was professionally trained by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Rob Ellis has a track record - across three continents - of bringing financial discipline, operating efficiency and cost savings to employers, clients and customers. Early in his career he learned that overcoming resistance and gaining buy-in were keys to achieving operating efficiency and cost savings - that people will embrace improvement when they feel that the effort is theirs. He has worked throughout his career to hone his ability to achieve results through people and not in spite of people.
Rob has presented to external and internal audiences on Disaster Recovery, Financial Reporting Systems, Audit, and Management.
Rob was a LA Business Journal "CFO of the Year" nominee in 2017.
Job Titles:
- Head of Finance at Merlin Entertainments Japan
Diligence, resilience and diversity are the holy trinity when faced with a global crisis. Robert Galbraith CA, Head of Finance at Merlin Entertainments Japan, tells Nick Scott how the theme-park giant weathered the storm to get hearts racing again
Job Titles:
- Chapter President - Dallas, CPE Director
Robert is a results-oriented Fortune 500 strategic finance leader with international experience. He successfully partners and collaborates externally with business partners and vendors and internally with cross functional teams, to support and drive Treasury and business strategy, efficiencies and controls. Specializing in Corporate Treasury with strong leadership, team development, management and organizational skills including negotiation, problem solving, planning and project management. Robert heads up CAW Network USA's Dallas chapter and has previously been both secretary and treasurer on the executive team. He is also our CPE director and led on obtaining CPE accreditation for group live and group internet education with NASBA.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director at the Siegfried Group
- Director of Member Advocacy - East
Ryan is an Associate Director at The Siegfried Group, where he works to create compelling relationships with leading financial executives, serving as a Leadership Advisor, to help them become more successful leaders in their organizations. He is also responsible for partnering with clients on important accounting and finance projects.
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Cape Town and Honors in Accounting from the University of South Africa. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. Before taking on this role in July 2020 he was co-chapter head of the CAW Network USA New York Metro chapter.
Sasha Raichand has over two decades of experience across industries - from aviation, professional services, banking and consumer packaged goods to real estate. Having worked across the US, UK, UAE and Asia, he has helped organizations grow their business and expand internationally. His recent focus has been on real estate which encompassed two years structuring real estate debt at Anglo Irish Bank and eight years at Brookfield Asset Management, which included establishing their India business. He currently works for Compass as a Real Estate Broker covering the tri-state area.
Sasha has a Masters in Finance from the University of Birmingham, UK and qualified as a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). He is also the ICAS Ambassador representing the Institute and the interests of its members in the Greater New York Area.
Shane is a transformational leader with global experience in Investment Banking - supporting Sales, Trading and Capital Markets, Asset Management, and Insurance / Reinsurance businesses. As an experienced Chartered Accountant and Chief Audit Executive, he has global experience managing teams of professional accountants and internal auditors in Europe, as well as North and South America. A proven leader and agile audit expert, he adds value to executive management as a trusted advisor, by assessing risk ownership and culture, internal controls design and operational effectiveness. Shane is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has an MBA in Finance and International Business from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.
Shingi was appointed CAW Network USA Assistant Treasurer in March 2021. Shingi is based in New York and is a Senior Associate with BDO. She has a B.Comm PGDip in Tax, Law, PGDA and Accounting and is a CA (SA).
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Director of Member Advocacy - West
Sid is Managing Director / Partner - M&A Advisory with HCVT in Los Angeles. Prior to this Sid spent just under 7 years with Houlihan Lokey initially in New York, then Los Angeles. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte in Sydney, Australia. Sid is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Director of Technical Accounting at BrightNight
Stuart is the Director of Technical Accounting at BrightNight. Stuart is a Chartered Accountant, a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and recently qualified as a Texas CPA. Stuart specializes in interpreting USGAAP and IFRS accounting standards for different BrightNight Companies across the globe. Prior to BrightNight, Stuart led technical accounting for ENGIE North America and Centrica for its subsidiaries in North America.
Tim Clackett was part of the executive committee of ACAUS for six years. He served as treasurer and then as secretary. He was also a partner at BDO in Los Angeles for many years. Having experienced his fair share of the business world, Tim is now a full time adventurer.