PRESS RELEASE
LANCASTER, PA (March 1, 2017) – RKL LLP today named four partners to service line leadership positions. Steven E. Fisher, CPA, has been named Audit Services Group Leader; Robert M. Gratalo, CPA, MST, has been named Tax Services Group Leader; Bethany A. Novis, CPA/ABV, CVA, CFE has been named Business Consulting Services Group Leader; and James H. Ostrowski, CPA, has been named Small Business Services Group Leader.
“Our focus on a service line approach is a key strategy identified in RKL’s 2020 Strategic Plan,” RKL CEO Edward W. Monborne said. “Our cross-firm operational structure will allow the service line leaders to develop approaches to hiring, growth, performance and innovation that benefit the entire firm.”
In their newly defined roles, Fisher, Gratalo, Novis and Ostrowski will be responsible for the leadership, growth and management of their respective service lines. Working in collaboration with partners from across the firm, RKL’s industry group leaders and firm management, each service line leader will drive efforts related to service offerings, client satisfaction, workforce development and quality control.
In addition to his new role of Audit Services Group Leader, Steven E. Fisher, CPA, will continue to oversee operations for RKL’s Reading office as its Managing Partner. He joined RKL in 2011, and for more than 25 years he has served the accounting and auditing needs of family owned businesses as well as private equity and venture capital-backed companies. Fisher is an active member of the firm’s Manufacturing & Distribution Industry Group, due to his deep industry expertise and experience serving these privately owned commercial clients. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Penn State University, and resides in Bernville with his wife.
Robert M. Gratalo, CPA, MST, most recently led the Tax Department in RKL’s York office. Since joining RKL in 2011, his focus has been on providing tax and business advice to privately held businesses in a variety of industries and their owners. With more than 20 years’ experience in public accounting, Gratalo helps clients resolve issues, tackle challenges and seize opportunities in areas like mergers and acquisitions, entity structure, tax accounting method optimization, succession planning, tax credit utilization, depreciation and capital recovery, business sales and divestitures and more. He earned a B.S. in Accounting from Elizabethtown College and a M.S. in Taxation from Widener University. Gratalo lives in York with his wife and three children.
Bethany A. Novis, CPA/ABV, CVA, CFE, is a highly credentialed consultant with 25 years’ experience in fraud and forensic accounting, business valuation, risk management and litigation services. Since joining RKL in 2000, she has assisted clients with technical and sensitive matters including reconstruction of financial records, employee theft investigation, damage calculations for litigation purposes and valuation of stock for gifting, buyouts and marital settlement. Novis also served as Managing Partner of RKL’s Lancaster Office from 2011 to 2016. She holds a B.S. in Accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and resides in Lancaster with her husband and son.
James H. Ostrowski, CPA, is responsible for driving firm wide growth and managing client service and team member development for RKL’s Small Business Services Group. Throughout his more than 30-year career in public accounting with RKL, Ostrowski has experience serving the tax and assurance needs of clients in various industries including trucking, construction, wholesale, retail and service companies. He holds his B.S. in Accounting from Drexel University and resides in Lancaster with his wife.
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