Marcum Search LLC, the executive recruiting and temporary staffing affiliate of New York-based Marcum LLP (FY16 net revenue of $449 million), is launching a new division focused exclusively on recruiting for human resources. The division will be headed by Nancy Zucker, who joins Marcum Search as vice president.

“Human resources has become a highly complex and strategic C-suite function, responsible for many of the most nuanced aspects of corporate operations,” says Richard Paris, president of Marcum Search. “The demand for experienced, talented HR professionals at the corporate policy level continues to escalate, and our new division, under Nancy Zucker’s leadership, is very well positioned to meet this growing need.”

“Whether a company is recruiting its first HR executive, seeking advice at the CHRO level on strategic hiring, or building an entire HR team, the right candidate must be able to function as a business partner,” says Zucker. “Skill-set, corporate culture, diversity and many other factors, in addition to professional and leadership experience, must all be taken into consideration to ensure the right match.”

Zucker joins Marcum Search from Nancy Zucker Associates, a boutique human resources executive search firm headquartered in New York City. As a former HR practitioner and a member of the Society of Human Resource Management, she has more than 20 years of experience as a specialist in human resources recruitment.

New York-based Grassi & Co. (FY17 net revenue of $59.6 million) is offering additional consulting services through their new cyber and information security (CIS) practice, which will be spearheaded by Karl Kispert.

Karl Kispert

The new practice helps clients understand risk profiles, recognize potential threats, determine risk tolerance, and create a cyber and information security roadmap and program. The professionals of CIS will assist in three areas: strategy, implementation and remediation, and support.

Kispert, principal of CIS, has more than 28 years of experience in selling, managing and delivering information risk management, internal audit, regulatory and compliance programs, and information security and technology risk management projects across many industry verticals for both domestic and international clients. Kispert, a former chief information security officer, has helped design and sustain information and cybersecurity programs.

“In keeping with our commitment as success consultants, we understand the growing need company owners have to secure their data, and the data of their clients and customers,” says Louis Grassi, CEO. “By adding this new service line, and bringing someone with Karl’s expertise to the firm, we can service yet another important aspect of our clients’ and prospects’ businesses, ensuring their continued success.”

Services will include full security programs, compliance, 3rd party vendor risk assessment, threat management and managed security services. Kispert and his team will be based out of the New York office and are available to service clients throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Chicago-based Baker Tilly Virchow Krause (FY17 net revenue of $546.6 million) launched Baker Tilly Advantage, a CFO outsourcing and business advisory service that leverages technology to bring greater insight and value to clients.

“We provide comprehensive financial management and outsourcing services so clients can focus on what matters most – running their business,” says Wade Huseth partner and Baker Tilly Advantage leader. “Our solution is unique to each client and features a powerful combination of technology, data, analysis and insight with business advisory services that deliver results.”

Strategic partnerships with leading technology providers enable Baker Tilly Advantage to streamline accounting and financial management functions. Clients have access to real-time data and easy-to-use dashboards anytime, anywhere from any device.

“More companies are making the strategic decision to outsource their finance function so they can focus on their core business,” says Huseth. “That’s where we come in. We have the expertise and resources to provide accounting, operational, and strategic support to help clients achieve their goals.”

New York-based Marcum (FY16 net revenue of $449 million) launched a new service utilizing “bot” technology to automate repetitive manual processes and streamline many data-driven functions for its clients. Marcum’s new robotic process automation (RPA) service leverages the firm’s internal experience utilizing bot technology, to help clients reduce their operating costs and improve efficiency.

RPA can be implemented across a wide variety of applications and systems, deploying a “virtual workforce” of bots to perform tedious functions that are time-consuming and prone to human error. Some of the functional areas well-suited to process automation include accounts payable processing, data entry, human resources onboarding, inbound lead processing, report generation and distribution, and web data retrieval.

“In addition to eliminating manual tasks that employees would otherwise spend hours to complete, RPA frees valuable staff to be deployed to other functions requiring human judgment and innovation. It is also a practical and cost-efficient alternative to outsourcing,” says Robert Drover, a principal in the advisory services division and leader of the national process improvement practice. “RPA has limitless scaling capabilities and delivers real and measurable return on investment. In some cases, clients can recoup their initial investment in as little as a few months.”

Marcum’s robotic process automation services cover all stages of development and implementation, including:

• Robots as a Service
• Business Process Improvement
• Robotic Process Development
• RPA Consulting Services

“Robotic process automation is a must-have in any forward-looking digital portfolio. The continual acceleration of functionality in RPA solutions and the convergence with robust application programming interfaces, or APIs, enables significantly greater efficiency in today’s digitally driven office,” says Peter Scavuzzo, chief information officer and partner. “Given our success with robotic automation and other new technologies in Marcum’s business, the next logical step is to share our expertise with our clients to assist in their own digital transformation.”

“Robots operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and never take breaks, vacations or sick days. They can be executed by a scheduler at pre-determined times, or they can be triggered to execute in response to defined events such as the arrival of email or text messaging and, soon, voice-activated commands,” says Drover. “In addition, we can simulate user interaction to enable bots to ‘read’ error messages and adapt to ‘fix’ problems presented on-screen, to keep processes moving. Continued advancements in cognitive computing will only further enhance this capability.”

O’Connor Davies Administration, a subsidiary of New York-based PKF O’Connor Davies (FY16 net revenue of $146.6 million), launched a new administration service offering for cryptocurrency hedge funds.

“O’Connor Davies Administration has deep experience and expertise in alternative investments, including valuing cryptocurrency assets and providing timely and accurate financial reporting,” says Marc Rinaldi, PIC of the financial services practice. “Three cryptocurrency hedge funds already rely on our team to provide fund administration services, and we’re eager to expand our impact in this area with a formalized approach and established offering.”

O’Connor Davies Administration manages cryptocurrency valuation on a fund-by-fund basis based on the fund’s private placement memorandum and specific valuation policies. It provides core services in helping cryptocurrency funds with a variety of holdings successfully manage and value their assets.

Princeton, N.J-based WithumSmith+Brown (FY17 net revenue of $175.4 million) formed WithumPlatinum, a new integrated private client services strategy designed to serve the financial planning and management needs of high-net-worth individuals and families. The services span family offices, estate and trust planning, cybersecurity, privacy and identity protection, wealth management, insurance advisory, charitable planning, special needs planning, private business advisory and income-tax planning.

“WithumPlatinum marks the formal fusion, so to speak, of the collective and objective deep advisory services for which Withum has become known and recognized nationally,” says Bill Hagaman, MP and CEO. “WithumPlatinum’s consultative and advisory services offer a holistic, independent perspective free of ties to any proprietary products. Our clients’ interests and financial health are our foremost concerns, all based on their unique situation.”

“A recent Withum study indicated cybersecurity is the paramount concern of high-net-worth individuals, eclipsing both terrorism and major illness,” says Hagaman. “We have an extremely talented team dedicated solely to this area who address the exposure of high-net-worth individuals and their families, who are at highest risk due to their profile, wealth and level of activity.”

WithumPlatinum manages what information, if any, is in cyberspace and how it’s related to personal safety as well as the integrity of financial and personal affairs. Services range from an online footprint risk assessment, evaluation of home-network vulnerabilities, standard cybersecurity protocols and a cyber and identity theft insurance review.

“Clients connected to a business as an owner or executive have the option to share WithumPlatinum with key executives to ensure the business – a material consideration in proper management of family affairs – runs efficiently and smoothly,” says Hagaman.