Michael Cesternino

Teal Becker & Chiaramonte (FY16 net revenue of $13.2 million) of Albany, N.Y., admitted two audit managers to partners. Joining the ranks of partner are Michael Cesternino and Ryan McEvoy. Both partners will be directly responsible for client account management in their new roles. Cesternino joined the firm in 2006 and McEvoy has been with TBC since 2009.

Cesternino’s main responsibilities include managing and supervising a large client base, which includes commercial entities, including automotive dealerships, wholesalers as well as not-for-profit organizations and governmental units including colleges.

Ryan McEvoy

McEvoy joined TBC after working for a large international accounting firm, and works with clients in a wide range of commercial industries including manufacturing, distribution, construction, retail, health care and technology.

“When it comes to exemplifying the values of hard work, integrity and honesty, these two individuals are driven to meet the goals of our company and keep our clients’ best interests in mind at all times,” says James Drislane, MP of TBC.

Gregory Garrett

Chicago-based BDO USA (FY17 net revenue of $1.4 billion) named Gregory Garrett as head of international cybersecurity in the firm’s technology and business transformation services practice.

With more than 30 years of compliance and operations experience in information technology and cybersecurity, Garrett advises organizations on governance, risk and compliance frameworks, as well as cyber threat assessment tools and cyber incident response plans. Through an integrated suite of cyber products and services, he helps clients identify their biggest cyber pain points with a focus on organization education and employee training, and conducting truly independent assessments of risk portfolios and governance.

“As organizations become more dependent on data-sharing capabilities, they face growing cyber and data privacy risks, particularly when it comes to cross-border interactions,” says Stephanie Giammarco, partner and national leader of BDO’s technology and business transformation services practice. “Often, whether intentional or not, the biggest threats to an organization originate from current or former employees. Gregg’s wide-ranging experience in cyber threat assessment and employee education will help our clients identify often overlooked cyber risks, respond to incidents in real time and keep ahead of emerging risks.”

“The biggest cybersecurity challenge facing organizations today is the education and training of company employees,” says Garrett. “A successful cyber risk management program needs to integrate top-down organization education with robust information governance, threat detection and monitoring, and an incident response plan that is ready not if, but when, an attack strikes. BDO understands this and integrates cybersecurity products, services and educational tools holistically, from both a proactive and reactive point of view.”

Hector Aguililla

Miami-based Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants (FY16 net revenue of $51.2 million) has promoted two firm members to director.

Hector Aguililla is a director in the audit and attest practice and Anthony Gutierrez is a director in the tax services practice.

Aguililla focuses his practice on auditing, accounting services, litigation support and business consulting for real estate, construction, manufacturing and distribution clients. Gutierrez has 20 years of experience providing tax planning and compliance services to high-net-worth individuals, families, closely held corporations and family limited partnerships. He is one of the firm’s experts in tax withholding, foreign trusts and FATCA.

Anthony Gutierrez

“We are proud to recognize Hector’s and Tony’s outstanding consulting skills and ability to find creative solutions to complicated engagements. Their ability to lead teams and manage complex client matters are valuable assets to our firm. We are especially pleased that both of them grew up in the firm and we have been able to watch them build outstanding careers,” says Joseph Saka, CEO.

Ron Honka

Fort Worth, Texas-based Weaver (FY17 net revenue of $115.2 million) announced the expansion of its services on the East Coast. Ron Honka joins Weaver as an assurance partner in the firm’s financial services industry practice. The firm also announces its new office in New York City at 350 Park Ave.

Honka will work with the financial services team to grow Weaver’s investment company business, focusing primarily on hedge funds in Manhattan and the greater New York City area.

“Our presence in California and Texas, combined with our expansion into New York, gives Weaver a significant advantage in growing our national alternative investment fund practice and bringing our expertise to more funds across the U.S.,” says MP and CEO John Mackel.

“Being in the major financial markets on the West and East Coasts, as well as in Texas, makes Weaver more accessible to the alternative investment funds across the country, and we feel that Weaver brings a fantastic value proposition to the investment fund arena,” says Kevin Sanford, PIC, financial services. “Being in these strategic markets enables relationship development opportunities with major participants in the financial services industry and enhances our brand recognition with institutional investors, current and prospective investment fund clients, referral sources and other market players.”

Honka has more than 25 years of experience in audit, consulting and due diligence at Big 4 and other national accounting firms, specializing in the asset management and alternative investments industry. He has knowledge and experience dealing with a diverse group of financial instruments for a variety of entities, including on- and off-shore investment partnerships, commodity pool operators, funds of funds, master-feeders, private equity firms, venture capital firms and broker dealers.

New York-based Mazars USA (FY16 net revenue of $187 million) announced that Victor Miesel has joined the firm as a partner and national transfer pricing practice leader and chief economist. Miesel has more than 25 years of transfer pricing and consulting experience in Big 4 and large, regional accounting firms.

Miesel has led global economic consulting practices in New York, Boston and Europe. He has performed and defended transfer pricing studies for some of the largest multinational companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, life sciences, technology, automotive, energy, consumer goods and private equity investments.

“His expertise on transfer pricing matters and a history of providing high-quality service to top-level clients will help us continue to build on our first-rate capabilities in this area,” says Chairman and CEO Victor Wahba.

“The firm’s recent name change, to a single global brand of Mazars, signals its ongoing commitment to an international outlook and I believe my experience will add significant value for our clients moving forward,” says Miesel.

Ana Coscia

Plano, Texas-based Montgomery Coscia Greilich LLP (FY16 net revenue of $51.7 million) has announced that Ana Coscia has recently joined as a tax partner in its Fort Worth, Texas, location.

Coscia has significant tax practice leadership and client service skills and will oversee the Fort Worth location’s tax practice. With more than 15 years of comprehensive federal tax services practice, Coscia has served domestic and large multinational companies in the North Texas market, including U.S. inbound companies.

“Ana’s experience in federal, multi-state and cross-border taxation, as well as corporate compliance and accounting for income taxes will be an asset to MCG, our clients and our Fort Worth office,” says MP Gary Boyd.