What is Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA?
On 19 November 2020 ACAUS (The Association of Chartered Accountants USA) and Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW) joined together to form Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA.
Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA is the first regional network to be established by Chartered Accountants Worldwide to support over 7,000 Chartered Accountants who are living and working in the USA and to help us raise the profile and reputation of our profession in the world’s largest economy.
Chartered accountancy is a global profession, and never has it been more important for us to think and act together, as a connected global community. CAW Network USA will provide access to a wide range of relevant Continuing Professional Development courses and events, both live and on-demand and networking opportunities. It will also help to increase the strength and visibility of the Chartered Accountancy brand in the USA.
Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA is committed to ensuring all Chartered Accountants working in the USA continue to stand apart – defining excellence throughout their career, throughout the world.
What benefits do Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA get?
CAW Network USA will provide a number of benefits including:
» Access to a broader network of Chartered Accountants in the USA and globally, connecting our 7,000 members in the USA and the CAW Network of 1.8m members and students worldwide;
» Access to broader range of relevant CPD and events, online and in person;
» Enhanced support for members, including a helpful platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration, in particular at these challenging times, to keep economies moving;
» Access to on-line training targeted at Chartered Accountants who want to take advantage of Mutual Recognition Agreements to become US CPAs, and
» Increased visibility and strengthening of the Chartered Accountancy brand/profession in the USA.
Chartered Accountants Worldwide
Chartered Accountants Worldwide
Chartered Accountants Worldwide brings together the leading institutes of Chartered Accountants from around the world to support, develop and promote the vital role that Chartered Accountants play throughout the global economy.
Chartered Accountants have been a mark of excellence across all aspects of business and financial life for over 150 years. Today, Chartered Accountants advise organisations, lead major companies, shape economic policy and deliver effective financial management and reporting.
Together, we’re committed to ensuring that our members continue to stand apart, defining excellence throughout their career, throughout the world.
Connecting hundreds of thousands of members and students, we:
» promote the commitment of our global membership to the highest standards of professional and ethical practice
» create greater opportunities globally for those seeking to become or develop as Chartered Accountants – and those looking to train or employ them
» share expertise and innovation to maintain Chartered Accountancy’s position as the preeminent qualification for those in accountancy, finance and business.
Our Mission
Founded in 1980 as the Association of Chartered Accountants in the United States, ACAUS rebranded in 2020 to become Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA. CAW Network USA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting qualified accountants from fifteen Chartered Institutes with members who reside in the U.S.
Our mission is to facilitate the professional success of our members, promote the business community’s recognition of, and respect for, these professionals. Since our founding in 1980, we have worked to achieve this by focusing on achieving increased:
Leadership
Board Members
Shane Rogers
PresidentShane 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.
Home Institute:Chartered Accountants Ireland
Nancy Chakabuda
Vice PresidentNancy 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.
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Alan Fagan
TreasurerAlan 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.
Home Institute:Chartered Accountants Ireland
Shingirai Gwindingwi
Assistant TreasurerShingi 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).
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Ros Roberts
SecretaryRos is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Sacramento State University and has lived in California since 2017. Ros holds a Ph.D. in Accounting from The University of Sydney, Australia and her research interests are on integrated reporting, intangible assets, goodwill impairment, and business value impairment as a result of climate change.
Prior to entering academia, Ros spent 10 years in management rights, before moving into compliance auditing in the Queensland accommodation industry. In addition, Ros has held Director and Management roles in family owned entertainment and internet-hosting companies.
Ros is a Chartered Accountant (CAANZ) and is currently studying for the FSA credential with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board.
Home Institute:CA ANZ
David Freeman
Director of Corporate Governance & Chapter President - Washington DC MetroDavid Freeman is an Account Executive at RDA, a privately held boutique digital consultancy based in Hunt Valley, Maryland. RDA provides advisory, design & build and optimization services through its digital sales & marketing and application modernization & integration practices. 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 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
David Powell
Chief ExecutiveDavid stepped down from the Board in March 2019 to take on the executive director position. At our Board meeting on 6th July 2020, he was appointed Acting Chief Executive, and confirmed as Chief Executive at the October 2020 Board meeting. David had previously been working as an independent financial transformation consultant. Prior to this until January 2018 he worked with IBM Global Business Services as Global Brand Manager / Finance leader for IBM’s Outsourcing division (Cognitive Process Transformation), based near Boston, MA. Before this he was in a global role as a Finance Leader in the Business Analytics Center of Competence, with responsibility for Finance focused solutions using IBM software assets. David joined Cognos, which was later acquired by IBM Software Group, at the start of 2007, to build a North American specialist services practice for Cognos’s Consolidations software.
David has significant experience in Hotel software management and accounting systems, having worked at senior levels at Holiday Inn Worldwide (now Intercontinental in Brussels, Belgium) and Starwood Hotels (Now part of Marriott) (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.
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. David is an FCA of the England & Wales Institute. Prior to his 3-year term as ACAUS president 2015 – 2018, he served as President of the New England Chapter.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Chris Easton
Past PresidentChris 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’.
Home Institute:CA ANZ
Mark Coles
Member Organization Representative - ICAEW; ICAEW Council Member - USA East; ICAEW Board MemberMark 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Jayson Poulton
Member Organization Representative - CA ANZ; CA ANZ International Council MemberJayson 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.
Home Institute:CA ANZ
Natasha Holbeck
Member Organization Representative - South African Institute of Chartered AccountantsNatasha 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.
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Ken Croarkin
Member Organization Representative - ICASKen 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.
Home Institute:ICAS
Claire Iball
Member Organization Representative - Chartered Accountants Ireland, Chapter President - PortlandAn 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 also heads up CAW Network USA’s Portland OR chapter. Claire has ~20 years of strategy, financial and operational leadership experience. She graduated from University of Limerick, Ireland with a bachelor’s degree in business.
Home Institute:Chartered Accountants Ireland
Sylvia Tsen
Member Organization Representative - CPA CanadaAgile senior management leader who combines strategy development, governance process, relationship building, and operational IT to implement programs that build value, improve stakeholder satisfaction, and increase organizational effectiveness.
Adaptable to new situations and new teams, Sylvia has an established history of leading and re-aligning groups for new initiatives. Some of her most rewarding experiences have been working with talent to develop their strengths and mentoring them for their next career opportunity.
Home Institute:CPA Canada
Barry Dempsey
Member Organization LiaisonBarry 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.
Home Institute:Chartered Accountants Ireland
Ryan Clacher
Director of Member Advocacy - EastRyan 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.
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Renai Venables
Assistant Director of Member Advocacy - EastCAW 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.
Home Institute:CA ANZ
Murray Buckman
Director of Member Advocacy - WestThe Board approved Murray taking on the Director of Member Advocacy – West position on March 9th 2021. Murray is a Chartered Accountant – qualifying with what is now Chartered Accountants Australia / New Zealand. Murray has led global tax teams, and is a pro-active communicator and driver of strategic change. He was formerly head of Tax for Synnex Group, and before that head of Tax for Advanced micro Devices. He is also a adjunct professor at Golden Gate University (Master of Science program in Taxation).
Murray’s specialties include: United States federal taxation – cross border and international, with extensive experience of the taxation regimes in Singapore and New Zealand, together with experience of the tax regimes in Australia and several Asian and European countries. Extensive VAT/GST experience from 1986 to date. Extensive experience in tax accounting for public corporations, external reporting and SOX compliance.
Home Institute:CA ANZ
Position Open
Assistant Director of Member Advocacy - West
Nicola Bain
Chapter Team - Greater New York areaNicola 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.
Nicola is a graduate from Lancaster University, UK (BSc Business Studies) and spent one year at City University of Hong Kong. She is an Associate Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and a Certified Internal Auditor with the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Christine du Toit
Chapter Team - Greater New YorkChristine is an Associate Director & Team Leader at the Siegfried Group, where she provides excellent client service and builds compelling relationships to help people become better leaders.
Christine has a Bachelor of Commerce and Honors in Accounting from the University of Pretoria. She is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. Christine is obtaining a master’s in liberal arts at Johns Hopkins University, progressing with her goal to run all the World Marathon Majors, and enjoys baking layer cakes to enhance celebrations.
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Sasha Raichand
Chapter Team - Greater New York areaSasha 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.
Home Institute:ICAS
Geoff Aldridge
Chapter President - ChicagoGeoff 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Greg Franz
Chapter President - New EnglandGreg 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.
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Neil Kapur
Chapter President - Northern CaliforniaA 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.
Manage internal audit and SOX engagements from inception to completion.
Specialties: Expertise in Internal Audit, Risk Management for financial institutions and high-tech clients.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Robert Ellis
Chapter President - Southern CaliforniaA 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.
Home Institute:CA ANZ
Robert McDonald
Chapter President - Dallas, CPE DirectorRobert 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.
Home Institute:CPA Canada
Position Open
Chapter President - Pacific Northwest
John Kahn
Chapter President - AtlantaAccomplished 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Owen Power
Chapter President - UtahI 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.
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Philip Varley
Chapter President - Denver; ICAEW Council member - USA West and Central / South AmericaI 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.
In addition to my ICAEW and CAW Network USA roles, I am Chairman of the Ken-Caryl Water District.
My education includes an MBA from the University of Denver, and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Pranita Fernandes
Chapter President - HoustonExperienced 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).
Home Institute:CA ANZ
Becky Linnett
Chapter President - Southern FloridaBecky 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Graham Kitching
Chapter President - Northern FloridaGraham 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Ellen Makitka
Chapter President - PhiladelphiaEllen is the Accounting manager for Ditech Financial LLC, based near Philadelphia. Ellen heads up CAW Network USA’s Philadelphia chapter. Ellen is a CPA Canada member and studied Accounting at McGill university.
Home Institute:CPA Canada
Matt Wheatley
Chapter President - PittsburghMatt 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).
Home Institute:ICAEW
Position Open
Chapter President - Austin
David Nickson
ProjectsCommercially focused partner with over 20 years tax, financing transactional and technology experience. Chartered Accountant (Fellow, ICAEW), Chartered Tax Adviser (CIOT), Six Sigma Black Belt and IRS Enrolled Agent
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
Michael Brassil
Director of AlliancesMichael 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Breiffni Ó Domhnaill
Director of Business Development / Director of PodcastsQualified Auditor and Tax Consultant now working in Payroll tech. Interested in Global Payroll Management, Payroll Automation, RPA & Machine Learning, Data Analytics. With CAW Network USA Breiffni is Director of Podcasts and also Director of Business Development.
Home Institute:Chartered Accountants Ireland