Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting Conference (VIRTUAL)

Robert Durak

Bob Durak is the Director of A&A Technical Services and the CPEA. He is the AICPA’s lead staff person on accounting and attest matters affecting private companies. Bob also oversees the AICPA Technical Hotline, and the PCPS Technical Issues Committee (TIC) and is a co-host of the AICPA’s A&A Focus monthly webinar series. Bob led the AICPA’s development of the Financial Reporting Framework for SMEs and was a staff member of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Standard Setting for Private Companies.

Earlier in his career at the AICPA, Bob was the director of the Accounting & Auditing Publications department, where he supervised the development and publication of a wide portfolio of audit and accounting guides, alerts, and practice aids.

Prior to joining the AICPA, Bob was an audit manager with Deloitte.

Andrew Merryman

Andrew Merryman joined the Center for Plain English Accounting as a Senior Manager in December 2022. At the CPEA, Andrew’s main responsibilities include responding to technical inquiries, assisting with webcasts, and preparing monthly reports. He is also the co-host for the AICPA’s A&A Focus monthly webinar series.

Before joining the AICPA, Andrew spent his entire 12-year career in public practice, with the last 8 years at Bumgardner Morrison (BMC). As a Partner at BMC, Andrew was responsible for the firm’s A&A and Peer Review Practices and his main industry areas of expertise were Defined Contribution 401(k) Plans, non-profits, nonpublic companies, and financial institutions.

In addition, Andrew performed peer reviews from 2018-2022 and was a member of the Texas Peer Review Committee from 2020-2022.

Michael Westervelt

Michael A. (Mike) Westervelt is a principal with CLA with over 30 years of experience and chair of the AICPA’s Accounting and Review Service Committee (ARSC). In addition, Mike is a past Chair of the AICPA’s PCPS Technical Issues Committee (“TIC”). Mike is a National Assurance Principal and Construction Industry Assurance Leader. Mike specializes in thought leadership, financial reporting, client service and accounting consulting for U.S. and international clients. He has managed relationships nationally and internationally for entities in the construction, manufacturing, hospitality, commercial service, and healthcare industries. Mike also volunteers as a mentor for American Corporate Partners (ACP). Mike graduated from Iona College with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the states of North Carolina and New York. Mike lives in Charlotte, NC and enjoys spending time with his family, practicing Jiu Jitsu and an avid member of F3 who’s credo is “Leave no man behind, but no man where you find him.”

Scott Ehrlich

Scott Ehrlich started Mind the GAAP in 2002 to develop the highest quality, best-in-class U.S. GAAP and IFRS training. Training and personal development has always been one of Scott’s passions. He is an expert at taking complex concepts and making them understandable to all. Having facilitated courses for more than 30 years, Scott is very comfortable instructing in large or small group settings. He also understands the benefits and constraints of e-Learning, and has worked with leading organizations to maximize the outcomes from this form of training.

Shortly after delivering one of Mind the GAAP’s first training sessions, Scott recognized that some companies were looking for a “sounding board” – someone with whom they could discuss technical accounting and regulatory questions before forming conclusions and presenting them to the auditors. This observation led to the development of Mind the GAAP’s consulting and advisory service offering. Scott thoroughly enjoys breaking down complex technical issues and trying to find solutions that are faithful to the underlying economics of a transaction, compliant with GAAP regulations, and operational. Recent topical areas that Scott has discussed with clients include lease accounting, share-based payment arrangements, revenue recognition and debt versus equity classification.

Beyond training and consulting, clients trust Scott to perform other important projects, including helping build national offices and accounting centers of excellence.

Prior to founding Mind the GAAP, Scott was a senior manager at Arthur Andersen, spending his final three years in the firm’s professional standards group. Scott graduated from Bucknell University as class valedictorian and was awarded the Gold Medal Award in the state of Connecticut for the highest score on the November 1993 CPA exam.

In his free time, Scott enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife, Deb, and their two children.

Kenneth Heaslip

Kenn is a top-rated instructor who has been leading dynamic, interactive and informative accounting programs for over 20 years.

He has extensive experience teaching all levels of accounting, auditing, ethics, fraud, SSARS, and other practice-related subjects, and has presented to groups at all levels, from students to seasoned professionals.

Kenn’s presentations focus on practical applications and include discussions among participants, examples, and case studies.

He consistently receives high ratings and evaluations in his presentations.