Edward Hirs

Chicago-based BDO USA (FY17 net revenue of $1.4 billion) named Edward Hirs as a natural resources fellow. In this new role, Hirs will serve as a strategic advisor to BDO’s natural resources practice and work in close collaboration with the national and global practice leaders.

Hirs is a current managing director of Hillhouse Resources, an independent exploration and production company with a portfolio of onshore conventional oil and gas discoveries and prospects.

Prior positions in the energy industry include serving as partner and CFO of DJ Resources, an independent oil and gas company. Hirs began his career at Mobil Oil and later worked at the U.S. Department of Energy at the office of conservation and solar energy. He also ran Hirs & Company, a corporate finance advisory firm, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions.

“Ed is a well-known voice in the Houston oil and gas market and a prominent energy economist,” says Clark Sackschewsky, national leader of BDO’s natural resources practice and tax managing principal for BDO’s Houston office.

“Ed is at the cutting edge of the international energy market. Beyond mastering today’s geopolitical complexities, Ed has an eye on the future,” says Charles Dewhurst, global leader of BDO’s natural resources practice. “Ed will be a valuable advisor to BDO, as the natural resources practice continues to help clients anticipate future challenges and address them head on.”

New York-based Deloitte (FY16 net revenue of $17.5 billion) and the Deloitte Foundation hosted the 2018 National Audit Innovation Campus Challenge (AICC) at Deloitte University, awarding students of the University of Arizona first place for its idea to develop and use a proprietary artificial intelligence application to conduct audits of corporate sustainability reports.

Guided by faculty advisors and Deloitte subject matter leaders, students were challenged to find new ways to bring audit and assurance services to the marketplace using technology. Student teams from 52 colleges and universities participated in the event, with 12 teams advancing to the final round.

“The nature of many professions is rapidly shifting. Technology, innovation and process improvement continues to disrupt and redefine the way an audit is conducted at an unprecedented rate,” says Erin Shannon, managing director, change management.

“It’s our people, however, that are our most valuable resource and it is critically important that the next-generation of talent possess proficiency with emerging technologies and data analytics, as well as help bring new innovative solutions to stakeholders,” says Shannon. “This competition provides opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and creativity to real challenges facing today’s auditors and this year’s winners showed innovative thinking.”

The University of Arizona team’s winning submission focused on a recommendation to enter the market of auditing corporate sustainability reports in anticipation of potential regulatory guidance in the coming years. The submission cited Deloitte’s position to conduct a sustainability audit and introduced an artificial intelligence tool, “Deloitte Danni,” that could help auditors measure an array of environmental metrics and compare those readings to sustainability guidance.

“The Deloitte Foundation’s approach to helping prepare students for careers is twofold,” says Erin Scanlon, audit and assurance partner and Deloitte Foundation board member. “In addition to initiatives like the ground-breaking AICC that engage students, longstanding programs such as the Trueblood seminars provide educators with insights and rich case examples they can bring to the classroom to help develop students’ technical, research and critical thinking skills, and help better prepare the next generation of leaders.”

Gillie McCreath

New York-based Mazars USA (FY16 net revenue of $187 million) welcomed Gillie McCreath as a principal in the health care consulting group. McCreath has 25 years of health care experience, having advised numerous payer and provider organizations on strategic, operational and technological effectiveness. He will be focusing on expanding the firm’s current offerings in IT strategic planning, technology maturity assessments, optimization of existing investments and operational redesign transformation for a spectrum of health care industry clients.

Prior to joining Mazars, McCreath held senior management consulting positions at a Big 4 firm and held leadership positions at major New York-area hospitals.

“In this time of unprecedented change for the health care industry, we know that Gillie’s focused experience in improving IT systems and operational capabilities for payers and providers will be of significant benefit to our clients,” says Debra Bornstein, health care consulting practice leader.