Cherry Bekaert Adds Five Professionals to Partner Group
May 30, 2019
Growth-focused and nationally acclaimed public accounting firm Cherry Bekaert LLP (“the Firm”) congratulates the following professionals on their promotions to the Firm’s Partner Group effective May 1, 2019: Megan Hutchinson, CPA; Jonathan Kraftchick, CPA; Eric Pilcher, CPA; Nick Stone, CPA, CISA; and Matt Urbizo, CPA. Megan and Eric will serve as Tax Partners, Jonathan will serve as Innovation Partner, Matthew will serve as Assurance Partner, and Nick will serve as Risk Assurance and Advisory Partner.
“I am proud to welcome these accomplished professionals as Partners in our Firm. All five are excellent representatives of our Firm values,” said Michelle L. Thompson, CPA, Cherry Bekaert’s Chief Executive Officer and Firm Managing Partner. “Cherry Bekaert is grateful for their commitment to maintaining operational excellence, enhancing the client experience and focusing on the services we provide.”
Starting her career as an intern with Cherry Bekaert and most recently serving as a senior Tax manager, Megan Hutchinson helps clients maximize profits through proactive tax planning for tangible property management, inventory calculations and credit opportunities. She serves public and private corporations as well as owner-managed businesses through tax compliance and planning projects, including tax provisions and FIN 48 analysis. Megan is also a member of THInc, Cherry Bekaert’s specialty practice catering to the innovative needs of clients in the technology and health & life sciences and industrial manufacturing sectors. She is based in the Firm’s Raleigh office.
Also located in the Raleigh office is Jonathan Kraftchick. He is a founding member of Cherry Bekaert’s Innovation Group and previously served as the Firm’s Managing Director of Training and Development for the Assurance & Accounting Services group. He has spent over 15 years conducting audit engagements for numerous companies and industries throughout the country, and has written and delivered courses both inside and outside of the Firm. Jonathan has been recognized by organizations like the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants for his leadership and excellence in public speaking.
Eric Pilcher has more than 14 years of tax experience serving clients in the technology, health and life sciences, industrial, real estate and construction industries. Clients ranging from privately-held to large publicly-traded companies rely on Eric for domestic and international tax planning, compliance in federal, state and local taxes, state income tax consulting and financial statement reporting reviews with a focus on tax provision (ASC 740). He is located in Cherry Bekaert’s Tampa office and was a senior Tax manager prior to his promotion.
Previously Director of Risk Assurance and Advisory Services, Nick Stone is based in the Firm’s Raleigh office. He helps businesses implement sustainable enterprise risk management programs by optimizing internal control systems and elevating actionable enterprise data. In addition, Nick provides advisory and assurance services such as financial system process design and implementation, business intelligence solution delivery, internal audit co-sourcing, internal control assessment including information technology (“IT”) general controls, IT Audit and post-acquisition integration. He possesses over 15 years of accounting, finance and operations experience.
Matt Urbizo is a member of Cherry Bekaert’s Assurance practice and serves as a Firm technical resource in complex accounting matters and SEC regulations. He guides public and private middle-market companies with a focus on technology, health and life sciences organizations. Matt works with clients to ensure the completion of general audit procedures, coordinates audit closing communications, drafts client correspondence, and resolves any open-ended issues. Before his promotion, Matt was a senior manager in the Firm’s Atlanta office.