Post-Audit Playbook Summit: Turning Lessons into Leverage

As an Audit Director in Cherry Bekaert’s Assurance practice, Jonathan leads audit and consulting engagements, focusing on private middle-market companies with U.S. and international operations. Jonathan is a Certified Public Accountant with more than a decade of experience in public accounting, concentrating on the technology, healthcare, and professional services industries. In addition to traditional audit and consulting services, Jonathan helps clients on a number of special projects related to revenue recognition, mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity transactions, and lease accounting.

Jonathan began his career as an intern with Cherry Bekaert and has now been with the firm for over a decade. In his time with the Firm, he has gained significant experience working with a wide range of both large and small companies across various industries.

Jonathan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of South Carolina and a Master’s degree in Accounting from North Carolina State University.

Elliott Benator is a seasoned financial leader with a demonstrated history of success in progressively responsible roles. Currently, VP, Controller at Cardlytics, he previously served as Senior Manager in Financial Reporting at Invesco Ltd. His career also includes significant experience in public accounting, having held positions at EY, including Manager in Strategy & Transactions and Audit Manager, and at KPMG. Elliott is a CPA and holds an MBA in Finance from Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management, a Master’s of Accountancy from Vanderbilt University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the College of Charleston.

Matt Fisser, CPA, is a Principal in Financial Advisory Services at Embark. His focus is on complex technical accounting and the adoption of new standards, including ASC 842 Leases, ASC 606 Revenue Recognition, ASC 805 Business Combinations, acquisitions and divestitures, and Cash to GAAP.
Before joining Embark, Matt worked at Riveron and KPMG, concentrating on complex technical accounting, large-scale integrations, carve-outs, M&A activity, alternative asset managers, trusts, and the energy sector. Earlier in his career, he gained experience with single audits, government grants, taxes, valuation, and advisory services at a regional public accounting firm in Texas.”

Matt’s industry experience includes financial services (alternative investments), non-profit, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and manufacturing.

At Embark, Matt is committed to delivering exceptional experiences and results to their clients.

Jake joined FinQuery as the Controller following a distinguished 9-year tenure with Cherry Bekaert. In his role at FinQuery, he collaborates closely with the CFO and the accounting team, spearheading the implementation of best-practice processes and controls. This strategic approach aims to yield tangible results while offering valuable insights into the company’s operations, enabling informed and effective decision-making.

Furthermore, Jake currently serves on committees for the GSCPA’s Young Professional Advisory Board and the GSCPA’s Leadership Council. He maintains an active membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a dedicated member of the UGA Alumni Association.

Taylor Guthrie is an Accounting Manager at FinQuery. Prior to FinQuery, Taylor earned a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Lynchburg College and then transitioned to a public auditor role at Brown Edwards. As a former audit senior, he assisted in the audits of various entities in various niches. This background includes implementation and maintenance of ASC 842, GASB 87, and GASB 96. Today, Taylor helps FinQuery’s customers understand and implement the new lease standards as well as navigate intricacies of the software.

Rachel Reed is a Lead Senior Technical Accounting Consultant at FinQuery. Rachel’s experience includes working in the audit practice at Ernst & Young (EY), where she served clients across a wide variety of industries in both the public and private sectors. Rachel graduated from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting.