About Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA
In a complex global economy, talented, ethical and committed professionals have never been more highly valued and in demand
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. In 2023 we started expanding our coverage to include Chartered Accountants living / working in Canada and the Caribbean and have added chapters in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. In October 2024 we added a chapter for Grand Cayman and launch our Bermuda Chapter in June 2025.
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 North America.
Chartered Accountants Worldwide Network USA is committed to ensuring all Chartered Accountants working in North America continue to stand apart – defining excellence throughout their career, throughout the world.
Benefits
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 North America and globally, connecting our 7,000 members in the USA, members in Canada and the Caribbean, and the overall 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 North America.
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. In 2023 we are expanding our coverage to include members in Canada and the Caribbean.
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 President, Chapter President - Indianapolis chapterNancy is a Senior Director in Cummins Inc’s Global Center of Accounting and is a Chartered Accountant (SA). Prior to that, she was with RSM and was a Top 35 under 35 Chartered Accountants (SA) finalist in 2020 with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), where she won the Lead category award. She has extensive experience in leading and building global and diverse teams, and influencing organizational change across different regions and cultures. Nancy is a transformational and visionary leader who has expertise and a passion for coaching, people and leadership development – she carries out formal and informal mentorships and initiatives to develop talent, in and outside her organization, extending her expertise to non-profit organizations.
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Shingirai Gwindingwi
TreasurerShingi was appointed CAW Network USA Assistant Treasurer in March 2021 and took over as Treasurer in November 2024. Shingi is based in New York and is a Senior Associate with Cross Country Consulting. 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
Alan Fagan
Assistant TreasurerAlan was appointed CAW Network USA Treasurer in March 2021 and stepped down in November 2024. He continues to support CAW Network USA as Assistant Treasurer.
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
David Freeman
Secretary/Director of Corporate Governance & Chapter President - Washington DC MetroDavid Freeman is a Senior Account Executive at RDA Company LLC, a privately held digital consultancy based in Hunt Valley, Maryland. RDA provides strategic advisory, design, build, implementation, and optimization services to help 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 line and 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Position Open
Director of Engagement
David Powell
Chief ExecutiveDavid 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.
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 Council MemberJayson serves as the CFO of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) Americas, based in New York. His career began in public practice with BDO in Melbourne and has since built a career in international financial services, including roles at MF Global and CBA in London, before moving to New York. He is a qualified Financial and Operations Principal accredited by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
As a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), Jayson represents CA ANZ on the board of CAW Network USA and serves as the Rest of World Representative on the CA ANZ Council. He has also held various leadership roles within CA ANZ, including Education Team Leader for the UK Overseas Member Committee and New York Tri-state Link Member Representative..
Home Institute:CA ANZ
Ryan Wheeler
Member Organization Representative - South African Institute of Chartered AccountantsRyan is CAW Network USA’s Member Organization representative for the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). He is a well-informed and people-focused leader, with a passion for lifelong learning and value creation. He strives to create ever-strengthening teams that collaboratively innovate, disrupt the status quo, and lead change. His core values are accountability, transparency and recognition. He loves seeing individuals, teams and peers succeed due to either his direct or indirect involvement and influence in their professional lives.
Being an experienced strategic leader, with a very multicultural and diverse background, Ryan specializes in providing clients and stakeholders with high quality service and results, utilizing his more than 15 years of global & broad audit, accounting, digital upskilling, automation tools, project management and financial industry experience. He is a South African qualified CA(SA) and US CPA, having obtained his US CPA license for the State of New York, after passing the IQEX with a score of 97.
He is currently a Director and Assistant Treasurer within the Fund Administration & Oversight Group with Franklin Templeton, focusing on the FT mutual funds. He also serves as a Strategic Advisor for various US based private entities (usually with a strong business link with South Africa). Previous roles include audit-related leadership roles with PwC in both New York City and South Africa.
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 the ICAS Members Board.He is also a member of the NY Area ICAS Committee.
Home Institute:ICAS
Claire Iball
Member Organization Representative - Chartered Accountants IrelandAn 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.
Home Institute:Chartered Accountants Ireland
Position Open
Member Organization Representative - CPA CanadaHome 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 a 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
Matthew Williams
Assistant Director of Member Advocacy - East and President New York ChapterBased in New York City, Matthew is a Finance Director at 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, is a keen traveler (57 countries to date), and is currently working his way towards his Executive MBA, part-time, with the University of Cambridge.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Sid Chitnis
Director of Member Advocacy - WestSid 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.
Home Institute:CA ANZ
Jagdish Sohal
Assistant Director of Member Advocacy - WestJagdish 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, lease accounting, stock-based compensation, business combinations, debt/equity transactions and worked on a number of biotech IPOs including financial statement preparation and S-1/S4 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 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
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
Robert McDonald
CPE Director, Chapter Team - DallasRobert 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 used to head up CAW Network USA’s Dallas chapter and has previously been both secretary and treasurer on the executive team. He is currently part of the Dallas chapter team and He our CPE director. Robert led on obtaining CAW Network USA CPE accreditation for group live and group internet education with NASBA.
Home Institute:CPA Canada
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
Breiffni Ó Domhnaill
Director of Business Development / Director of PodcastsQualified 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.
Home Institute:Chartered Accountants Ireland
Chapter Heads
Duncan Torrance
Chapter President - ArizonaDuncan 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.
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
John Kahn
Chapter President - AtlantaJohn is a Partner with CFGI, a global independent accounting advisory and consulting firm backed by Carlyle and CVC. He is an 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 or interim CFO to rapidly create, overhaul, or professionalize, accounting, finance, tax, treasury, legal, IT and/or HR functions.
Manages acquisitions and divestitures, including carve-outs and de-SPAC transactions. Has achieved over 50% IRR for private equity investors from a successful sale. Likes to operate as strategic partner to the CEO / senior team, and is highly networked, so knows who to bring to the table to assist. Blocks and tackles well (many 13-week cash forecasts) and is also adept at negotiating and working with investors, bankers and analysts. Enjoys improving financial performance and helping hit home runs. Experienced in managing both 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 (California) and Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) with strong international business and multi-currency treasury experience. Holds a bachelor’s degree obtained at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology. Deep understanding of technology sectors (hardware, software, SaaS, FinTech) and technology issues, including cyber security and call centers. Substantial consumer products and consumer facing (eSports, eCommerce, retail and distribution), business services, financial services, government services, aerospace and defense, construction and infrastructure related equipment and services (including Wireless and Telecom), life-sciences (biotech, healthcare, and healthcare supplies) and hospitality.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Simone Walsh
Chapter Team - AtlantaSenior finance leader with a strong track record of strategic partnership across a broad range of business and operational disciplines, with experience in growth and transformational environments. Proven ability to drive process improvements to achieve financial objectives while maintaining operational discipline.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Brian Titus
Chapter President - AustinBrian is an accomplished and dynamic professional powered by a proven record of success in managing cash flow and liquidity positions to ensure the balance sheet is efficiently and adequately funded. He has extensive experience in building treasury risk management policies, hedging strategies, internal control environment, and long-term funding strategies, optimising cash management and forecasting efficiency. Brian possesses strong analytical and commercial acumen, and qualifications in implementation of the organisations’ treasury system, leading best practice approach and process improvement.
Home Institute:SAICA
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
Tim Clackett
Chapter Team - Southern CaliforniaTim attended the University of Leicester from 1979-1982 receiving a degree in Economics and Economic History. After graduation he joined BDO in London and became a Chartered Accountant
in 1985.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1989 and working in the private sector as a corporate vice president and controller, Tim rejoined BDO in 2005 and became an audit partner working with a wide variety of national and international public and privately held clients in the online media, manufacturing, cleantech, distribution, technology, entertainment, and service industries.
Tim is a Board member with the British American Business Council and the former treasurer of the Association of Chartered Accountants in the United States. After having retired from BDO in 2020 he now performs consulting work for non-profits and is also currently restoring a 1959 Morris Minor.
Home Institute: ICAEW
Hugh Judge
Chapter Team - Southern CaliforniaHome Institute:ICAS
Wilmie Vosloo
Chapter Team - Southern CaliforniaHome Institute:SAICA
Stacy Khaing
Chapter Team - Southern CaliforniaStacy is a Seasoned Finance Professional with over 15 years international experience. She held leadership positions in Multinational Corporations and big 4 consulting firms, at Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC) and Deloitte Touche as a head of finance & accounting with key expertise in Financial Management, Financial and Management Reporting & Analysis, Internal Control, Taxation and Corporate Governance. She has a unique passion to embrace new technologies and innovate business and financial strategies to transform an organization to next level, data and technology driven organization. She has a wide range of industrial knowledge and experience in various industries.
She is a member of Chartered Accountant Worldwide, ASEAN Chartered Professional Accountant, Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountant (ISCA), Certified Practicing Accountant of Australia (CPA Australia), Qualified Corporate Secretary (QI) of Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority in Singapore (ACRA).
Home Institute:ISCA
Rudolph Irmscher
Chapter Team - CalgaryAn experienced qualified CA(SA), CPA Alberta Accounting Manager, with more than 8 year experience and a demonstrated history of working in the Capital Markets Accounting Advisory Services sector, External Audit and Corporate Accounting.
A young professional with experience in retail, manufacturing, construction, consulting, education, technological, oil and gas, etc. industries.
Skilled in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Alteryx, Tableau, Accounting, Audit software, Microsoft Office, JDE, SAP S4HANA and client service.
A Strong professional with a Bachelor of Commerce Honors (B.Com. HONS) degree, majoring in Accounting, Financial Management Accounting, Audit and Tax.
Home Institute:SAICA
Gayshree Moodley
Chapter Team - CalgaryGayshree is currently a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada.
She previously worked in assurance at PricewaterhouseCoopers CI LLP and went on a 2 year secondment with her husband and daughter.
Gayshree moved out of the external audit delivery team to the Service Delivery Centre in 2017 and in 2021 her team converted to a Centre of Excellence.
She has been an audit manager for Medical Schemes, Retirement funds, University, Pharmaceutical and manufacturing clients.
Home Institute:SAICA
Jannie Wentzel
Chapter President - CharlotteJannie, CA(SA) is a partner with Cential and a thought leader in Risk Transformation for Integrated Risk Management processes and technologies. He advises clients on developing risk and compliance processes, including a holistic approach to ERM and the enablement through technologies, like Artificial intelligence, to reduce the complexities and minimize the risk and compliance cost. He is a frequent speaker at regional and national conferences and events.
Geoff Aldridge
BDO, Chapter President - ChicagoGeoff is a Principal in BDO’s Corporate Tax Practice, and leader of the Chicago inbound tax practice. A commercial tax professional with over 20 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
Michael Brassil
Chapter President - DallasMichael 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Robert McDonald
CPE Director, Chapter Team - DallasRobert 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 used to head up CAW Network USA’s Dallas chapter and has previously been both secretary and treasurer on the executive team. He is currently part of the Dallas chapter team and He our CPE director. Robert led on obtaining CAW Network USA CPE accreditation for group live and group internet education with NASBA.
Home Institute:CPA Canada
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
Graham Kitching
Chapter President - Northern FloridaHome Institute:ICAEW
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
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
Stuart Studsrud
Chapter Team - HoustonStuart 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.
Home Institute:ICAS
Nancy Chakabuda
Vice President, Chapter President - Indianapolis chapterNancy is a Senior Director in Cummins Inc’s Global Center of Accounting and is a Chartered Accountant (SA). Prior to that, she was with RSM and was a Top 35 under 35 Chartered Accountants (SA) finalist in 2020 with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), where she won the Lead category award. She has extensive experience in leading and building global and diverse teams, and influencing organizational change across different regions and cultures. Nancy is a transformational and visionary leader who has expertise and a passion for coaching, people and leadership development – she carries out formal and informal mentorships and initiatives to develop talent, in and outside her organization, extending her expertise to non-profit organizations.
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
Nicolette Tavares
Chapter President - NashvilleNicolette Tavares (CA) SA, is an Accounting Leader at a Fortune 200 company. She has varied work experience including external audit, controls, risk management, accounting and operational integration and improvement. Nicolette values diversity and inclusion, and is dedicated to creating the right environment to support and motivate teams to succeed. Having relocated to the US two years ago, Nicolette resides in Nashville with her husband and two children.
Home Institute:South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
David Kaye
Chapter President - MinneapolisDave 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.
Home Institute:CA ANZ
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
Jarrod Sudholz
Chapter Team - New EnglandJarrod is a Senior Director at Neiman Marcus Group, now part of SAKS Global, where he leads two accounting teams within the department. He focuses on driving process improvements, enhancing efficiencies, and building strong relationships with internal stakeholders. Additionally, Jarrod plays a key role in projects with financial implications.
Before relocating to the US in 2020, Jarrod served as the Head of Accounting at National Car Parks Ltd in the UK. Prior to his time in the UK, he worked for five years at a small public accounting firm in Melbourne.
Jarrod holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree from the University of Melbourne and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Home Institute:CAANZ
Matthew Williams
New York Metro Chapter Team President and Assistant Director Member Advocacy - EastBased in New York City, Matthew is a Finance Director at 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, is a keen traveler (57 countries to date), and is currently working his way towards his Executive MBA, part-time, with the University of Cambridge.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Nicola Bain
CLA, Chapter Team - New York MetroNicola is the Managing Principal of the New Jersey & New York offices at CLA. CLA is a Top 10 public accounting firm offering audit, tax, consulting & outsourcing, digital and wealth advisory. Nicola has supported a multitude of international clients with matters ranging from market entry consulting to internal and external audit. 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
Sasha Raichand
Chapter Team - New York MetroSasha 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
Liza Tan
Chapter Team - New York MetroLisa is a Chartered accountant with more than 10 years relevant experience within financial services, manufacturing/trading, shared services, e-commerce/startup, private equity and IPO. Strong background in internal controls, capital markets (IPO/pre-IPO), PCAOB, USGAAP and IFRS.
Home Institute:CAANZ
Position Open
Chapter President - Philadelphia
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 - Portland, OR
Derek Watson
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.
Home Institute:ICAS
Matt Dobson
Chapter Team - TorontoMatt Dobson is a Senior Manager in Freed Maxick’s Audit Practice. Matt joined the firm in 2013 and has several years of experience in public accounting. Before joining Freed, Matt worked in the British Isles for KPMG, where he obtained the Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). On moving to the USA, he obtained the CPA designation.
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
Inder Marwaha
Chapter President - VancouverMr. 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
Jade Fester
Chapter Team - VancouverJade is a CA (SA) and Senior Manager F&A / Corporate Development with the Universal Group in Vancouver. Jade was previously with PwC in Cape Town, then Vancouver.
Home Institute:SAICA
David Freeman
Secretary/Director of Corporate Governance & Chapter President - Washington DC MetroDavid Freeman is a Senior Account Executive at RDA Company LLC, a privately held digital consultancy based in Hunt Valley, Maryland. RDA provides strategic advisory, design, build, implementation, and optimization services to help 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 line and 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.
Home Institute:ICAEW
John McCourt
RSM US LLP and Chapter Team - Washington DC MetroJohn is a Partner of RSM US LLP, a leading provider of consulting, audit and tax services focused on the middle market, with 14,700 professionals in 82 U.S. cities and six locations in Canada. We are the U.S. member of RSM International, a global network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms with 51,000 people across 123 countries.
John leads the Ireland Practice in the US and with his other Country Practice leaders, is responsible for helping our globally active middle market clients navigate the regulatory, business, economic and geopolitical climate wherever they currently operate or seek to do business. John believes that the Chartered Accountant designation aligns with the global needs of our clients we serve.
A Chartered Accountant (FCA) with Chartered Accountants Ireland, John is also a Certified Public Accountant (Virginia) (CPA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and certified in financial forensics (CFF) and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Economics and Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from Queens University, Belfast.
Home Institute:Chartered Accountants Ireland
Ros Roberts
Chapter President - SacramentoDr 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 was our secretary until November 2024. when she stepped down, but continues as chapter president for Sacramento.
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.
Home Institute:CA ANZ
Alison Palmer
Chapter Team - CaymanAlison is Vice President of Finance and Operations at +ND Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in disruptive technologies across the life, physical and data sciences, and is based in the Grand Cayman office.
Alison has extensive experience in the financial services industry, with a focus on private equity and hedge funds. She spent 8 years working in fund administration and 5 years in investment management and funds audit working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Grand Cayman and for KPMG in Cape Town.
Alison qualified as a chartered accountant in South Africa and is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants. She holds a Bachelor of Business Science (Finance Honours) and Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, both obtained from the University of Cape Town. Alison is also chair of the SAICA Cayman committee.
Home Institute:SAICA
Ronan Guilfoyle
Chapter Team - CaymanRonan is a Co-Founder of Calderwood, a fund governance firm founded in March 2016. Our services include the provision of Independent Directors to Investment Funds. With a combined experience of 25 years of serving on boards and other fiduciary appointments, and in excess of 45 years combined experience in Financial Services, we are well positioned to offer some of the most experienced Independent Directors in the governance industry.
Home Institute:Chartered Accountants Ireland
Emily Nooruddin
Chapter Team - CaymanHome Institute:ICAEW
Lawrence Suter
Chapter Team - CaymanLawrence is an Associate Partner with EY in the Cayman Islands. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with ICAS after studying at the University of Toronto and University of Nottingham.
Home Institute:ICAS
Paul McKechnie
Chapter Team - CaymanPaul is an Associate Partner with KPMG in the Cayman Islands. He has been with KPMG since 2011 firstly in London and since 2020 in the Cayman Islands. In London he was a member of the CAANZ UK Committee for 9 years and chaired the UK Members group for 2 years. He studied at the University of Adelaide and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2010.
Home Institute:CAANZ
Stewart Ritchie
Chapter Team - BermudaHome Institute:ICAS
Julia Nigrini (nee Mitchell)
Chapter Team - BermudaJulia qualified with Deloitte in South Africa before transferring to their Bermuda office. She is currently working in the Ceded Finance Team at renaissance Re.
Home Institute:SAICA
Ailish Byrne
Chapter Team - BermudaChief Compliance Officer at the Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) with 25 years of international stock exchange and financial services experience. As part of the senior leadership team at the BSX, Ailish leads the team responsible for listing and compliance activities. Her role also involves developing and executing strategic initiatives designed to grow the BSX’s business and enhance its international presence. Prior to this at the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE), Ailish led communications and regulatory functions, collaborating with teams across the Exchange and managing relationships with Irish and international stakeholders. Ailish is a PWC-trained Chartered Accountant, is strategic, energetic and results focused, with a proven track record of implementing projects that transform voice and brand and deliver operational and industry change successfully.
Home Institute:Chartered Accountants Ireland