Schellman, a leading provider of cybersecurity assessment services, announced today its CEO, Avani Desai, has been named one of the 2023 Most Powerful Women in Accounting by AICPA & CIMA and CPA Practice Advisor Magazine. The award was created by CPA Practice Advisor and is jointly administered with the AICPA & CIMA to promote and support the success of women leaders as part of its broader mission of sustaining the profession.
Desai’s exceptional leadership was on full display in 2022 as she deftly steered Schellman through a period of remarkable growth and innovation. Under Desai’s guidance, the company successfully expanded its core services, introduced new service lines in the digital and crypto realms, and significantly bolstered its global presence. Furthermore, Desai’s unwavering commitment to her team yielded an impressive employee retention rate of 90%.
The impact of Desai’s leadership and Schellman’s employee-centric approach became evident in 2023 when the company secured an impressive #8 ranking on Glassdoor’s highly esteemed Best Places to Work list. This outstanding achievement stands as a testament to Desai’s unwavering dedication to fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes the well-being and professional growth of Schellman’s workforce, thereby cultivating a culture that is truly best-in-class.
Passionate about philanthropy, Desai sits on boards of several organizations, including Arnold Palmer Medical Center, Philanos, and the Central Florida Foundation, where she’s Audit Committee Chairwoman. As part of her enthusiasm for supporting and advancing women in the workplace, she participates in the Executive Women’s Forum’s mentorship program, working to increase the number of women in the accounting profession who reach the management level. She is also co-chair of 100 Women Strong, a female-only, VC-based giving circle focused on solving community-based problems specific to women and children with data analytics and big data.
Desai passionately declares, “The future of the accounting profession lies in creating a space that not only recognizes and appreciates the vital contributions of women, but also ensures they have equal opportunities to thrive and make a significant impact. I am deeply honored to be counted among this exceptional group of women who are driving our profession forward, championing diversity, and making remarkable strides toward inclusivity.”
Award recipients were nominated by their peers and selected by a group of independent judges based on the following criteria:
- Her active role in innovation and excellence within her own organization, with that role carrying over to the accounting profession at large
- She is one of the top leaders in the accounting profession or in an organization that serves the accounting profession, and her leadership has had a demonstrable effect upon the accomplishments of the organization during the past year
- She is a mentor, a sponsor and/or a role model, and someone who stands out in her ability to encourage and help those around her thrive and flourish
- She contributes to the future of the profession, is influential, and has a positive impact on the accounting profession as a whole. She is visible within the profession, through writing, speaking, educating and any other ways of extending herself beyond her own organization
- She represents the accounting profession outside of her day-to-day job through participation in her community and outside organizations
Desai was honored alongside 24 fellow winners at AICPA & CIMA’s ENGAGE conference held this week in Las Vegas, where she also spoke on a panel about What are Power Skills and Why are they Important for Women.
To learn more about the innovation Desai is driving at Schellman, visit schellman.com.
About Schellman:
Schellman stands as a leading global provider of attestation, compliance, and certification services. Operating under two distinct entities, Schellman & Company, LLC (a top 100 CPA firm) and Schellman Compliance, LLC (a globally accredited compliance assessment firm), the organization offers a comprehensive range of services. These encompass acting as a CPA firm, an ISO Certification Body, a PCI Qualified Security Assessor Company, a HITRUST assessor, a FedRAMP 3PAO, and being among the pioneering CMMC Authorized C3PAOs.
Renowned for its professionals’ expertise combined with practical experience, Schellman delivers superior client service while upholding steadfast independence. The company’s approach fosters successful, long-term relationships, enabling clients to achieve multiple compliance objectives through a single trusted third-party assessor. For further information about the services provided, please visit schellman.com.
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