BUSINESS SERVICES
WHO'S WHO Profiles of key executives at some of the largest accounting firms in Ottawa-Gatineau. See page seven for a complete list of the sector’s largest firms in the region. Profiles by Mike Rogoff
Deanna Monaghan Office managing partner Ernst & Young LLP Deanna Monaghan began working at Ernst & Young (at the time under the name Clarkson Gordon) in 1983 after finishing her Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Ottawa. She has worked her entire career with the company in previous roles, which include serving on Ernst & Young’s audit staff, an audit manager and a partner before settling into her current role in 2004. As a managing partner, her key responsibilities include developing strategies to address administrative and personnel matters. She refuses to describe her job as challenging, instead looking for what can be rewarding about the businesses and people with whom she interacts. One such interaction led to a career highlight of hers, when she helped mentor a fellow
Carol Devenny Office managing partner PwC For Carol Devenny, serving as a managing partner at PwC is about being both a quarterback and a cheerleader. “My goal is to be challenged and learn something new everyday,” she says, noting that she is always being exposed to new experiences by being involved with different clients and facing digital changes in the auditing world. Her key responsibilities include meeting with clients and also mentoring her team in order to drive engagement. Ms. Devenny believes PwC’s experience in the technology
employee who would go on to become a partner and eventually took on a leadership role in the firm. “Helping develop her leadership skills was instrumental to helping her,” she says, “and that’s really fulfilling.” Throughout Ms. Monaghan’s long career at Ernst & Young, she has found many opportunities to aid those around her on both professional and personal levels. “It’s rewarding because you get to help companies achieve their objectives,” she says. Aside from striving to help her colleagues, she is also involved with the community. She has focused on being involved with healthcare and educational organizations by being a member of the board of governors and chair of the audit committee of the University of Ottawa and a board member of the Royal Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
and public sector industries helps set it apart from other accounting firms. As well, she notes the importance of PwC’s core values of excellence, teamwork and leadership – all qualities that she displays when acting as a mentor for younger employees in the firm. “I’m championing and encouraging the people on our side and I love watching that develop,” she says. “They are happy dealing with clients, and the clients are happy too.” Her favourite part of the job is being a part of her employees’ personal growth. “I’m so proud of what our people have done both in the firm and outside of it,” she says, noting that the employees that move on from PwC go on to have large impacts on the National Capital Region. Ms. Devenny is involved in the Ottawa community by serving on the Ottawa Community Foundation’s board of governors. She’s previously served as the treasurer for the CHEO Foundation.
Alan Tippett Director of U.S. tax advisory services Welch LLP Engaging clients and helping them with their ongoing business needs is at the heart of Welch LLP’s objectives. Alan Tippett plays a key role in making sure that happens. As a CPA, his key responsibilities include structuring business sales for his clients and advising as well as providing compliance to clients who do business in the United States. “You never know what’s going to come at you and we just try to alleviate as much stress for our clients as possible,” he says. Mr. Tippett has held his current position
for less than a year at Welch, but views the company as a good entrepreneurial space where the changing day-to-day duties make it a fun place of work. His career highlights include a particular case where he helped one of his clients settle an issue with the IRS which could have seen the client pay a couple of million dollars in penalties. With Mr. Tippett’s help, the client only had to pay a few thousand dollars. For him, the most rewarding part of the job is the satisfaction of the clients. “I do it to make sure my clients are happy and can sleep at night,” he says. His educational background is from the University of Indiana where he received his Bachelor of Business degree in accounting. Since his move to Ottawa in 1999, he has grown to love the city and gives back to the community through his involvement with the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa Charitable Foundation.
Ottawa Business Journal obj.ca
BOOK OF LISTS 2017
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