The American Institute of CPAs recognized 25 top female leaders in the accounting profession with the 2020 Most Powerful Women in Accounting Awards during the AICPA’s Women’s Global Leadership Summit, held virtually this year.
Now in their ninth year, the awards were created by CPA Practice Advisor and are jointly administered by the AICPA. The awards highlight female leaders and their contributions to the accounting profession. Winners are selected by a group of independent judges. Criteria for award recipients include:
- Demonstration of innovation and excellence;
- Contributing to the success of their own organizations and the profession as a whole;
- Providing guidance and leadership to the profession; and
- Representing the profession via civic and community outreach.
“This year has reminded us of the importance of strong leadership, the need for steady guidance and the willingness to embrace innovation in the face of disruption,” said Jacquelyn Tracy, chair of the AICPA Women's Initiatives Executive Committee, in a statement. “These women exemplify these qualities and represent the very best of our profession.”
The 2020 Most Powerful Women in Accounting Awards recipients, in alphabetical order, are:
- Karen Abramson — CEO, Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting
- Lara Abrash — chairman and CEO, Deloitte & Touche
- Tommye Barie — EVP of leadership development, Succession Institute
- Arianna Campbell — director, Boomer Consulting, Inc.
- Lynne Doughtie — former chairman and CEO, KPMG US
- Sarah Elliott — executive leadership coach and co-founder, Intend2Lead
- Kimberly Ellison-Taylor — executive director – finance thought leadership, Oracle
- Janet Foutty — executive chair of the board, Deloitte US
- Tasha Fox — controller, The Osage Nation
- Tracey Golden — audit partner, Deloitte
- Kelly Grier — U.S. chair and managing partner, Americas managing partner, EY
- Phyllis Ingram — partner, Carr, Riggs & Ingram
- Scharrell Jackson — principal/COO, BPM
- Alexandra Kessler — partner, Aronson
- Shannon King Nash — chair, National Society of Black Certified Public Accountants, Inc.
- Tamera Loerzel — partner, Convergence Coaching
- Carla McCall — managing partner, AAFCPAs
- Elizabeth Pittelkow Kittner — vice president of finance and human resources, International Legal Technology Association (ILTA)
- Kelly Richmond Pope — associate professor of accounting, DePaul University
- Lindsay Stevenson — CEO/founder, Origin Evolution
- Amy Vetter — CEO/founder, The B3 Method Institute
- Tracey Walker — VP, national senior director of government affairs and culture, diversity and inclusion, RSM US
- Tifphani White-King — principal, National Tax Practice Leader, Mazars USA
- Sandra Wiley — president, Boomer Consulting Inc.
- Jennifer Wilson — partner and co-founder, Convergence Coaching
