The top people in public accounting — 2024

As part of our annual Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting list, Accounting Today asks candidates to name who they think are the most influential people in the field, and here they are, ranked by the number of votes they received from the 139 candidates.

The top nine are listed below, and you can see Accounting Today's full list of the Top 100 here.

No. 7: Erik Asgeirsson (tie)

Erik Asgeirsson addressing the 2018 Digital CPA conference
CPA.com president and CEO Erik Asgeirsson was lauded by this year's Top 100 People contenders for his leadership in the American Institute of CPAs' Town Halls, his work on the Dynamic Audit Solution, and his continued promotion of technology and CAS education.

No. 7: Mark Koziel (tie)

Mark Koziel at Engage 2018
Mark Koziel entered this year's ranks of the influencers' most influential after being tapped as the next CEO of AICPA, to succeed Barry Melancon following his retirement at the end of this year. But it's not just his appointment to lead the profession's largest membership body that won him votes; as one contender put it, he "has dedicated his 20-year career as a leader and advocate for accountants."

No. 7: Jennifer Wilson (tie)

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ConvergenceCoaching co-founder and partner Jennifer Wilson earned praise from her peers for her knowledge and dedication to the profession, which includes her sought-after insights on the next generation and work on the vital National Pipeline Advisory Group.

No. 5: Kimberly Ellison-Taylor (tie)

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thomas strand
KET Solutions CEO Kimberly Ellison-Taylor received votes for being "a trailblazer as a professional, business owner and past chair at the AICPA," and, in a time when the profession's branding is critical, "making accounting look like a cool, profitable, tech-forward profession."

No. 5: Erica Williams (tie)

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Steve Ridzon
PCAOB chair Erica Williams garnered accolades for leading the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's ambitious standard-setting agenda, modernization of existing audit standards, and the significant impact that will have on the profession moving forward.

No. 4: Tom Hood

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Tom Hood, EVP of business engagement and growth at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, once again amassed T100 mentions for his change leadership and all-important empowerment (and upskilling) of young accountants.

No. 3: Sue Coffey

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Another perennial top vote-getter, Sue Coffey, CEO of public accounting at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, was praised for her leadership on the National Pipeline Advisory Group and Dynamic Audit Solution, while she "strategically directs and navigates the AICPA's mission of driving quality, relevance and vitality of the accounting profession."

No. 2: Allan Koltin

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Koltin Consulting Group CEO Allan Koltin retained his second-place position from last year — no surprise as his dealmaking has only seemed to accelerate and sweep up more than just mergers and acquisitions, but private equity infusions, anointing him, as one T100 contender put it, as "undoubtedly the north star for firms looking to grow through M&A and PE investments."

No. 1: Barry Melancon

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Barry Melancon continued his reign as the most influential person to the Top 100 Most Influential People contenders, with his role as AICPA head making him "the leading voice of the profession and focused on the future of the profession." While Melancon announced his impending retirement this year, that did not dissuade T100 voters from placing him atop the ranks, with one voter explaining "he will leave an impressive legacy."
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