Withum is proud to announce that Forbes has named six of the Firm’s partners to its inaugural Best-In-State CPAs list. This list honors CPAs who have demonstrated exceptional excellence in the accounting profession. The Firm leaders acknowledged on this inaugural list underpin Withum’s position as a leading national advisory, tax and audit firm.
With roots stemming from Princeton, NJ, in 1974, Withum boasts five partners from the Garden State: Pat Walsh, Managing Partner and CEO; Bill Hagaman, Immediate Past Managing Partner and CEO; Jim Bourke, Managing Director – Advisory Services; Brad Caruso, Practice Leader – Not-for-Profit and Education Services and Government Services; and Ed Mendlowitz, Emeritus Partner.
With the Firm’s expansion to the West Coast half a decade ago, Chris Passmore, Partner-in-Charge – Los Angeles, earned accolades for the West Coast market. These leaders rank among 1000 of the nation’s finest CPAs as determined by Forbes editorial staff based on their “achievements, honors, influence on the profession, performance, thought leadership and community service.”
- Pat Walsh received recognition for his professional achievements and philanthropic contributions. Forbes highlighted the Edward Walsh ’87 Endowed Scholarship Fund that Pat established in memory of his late brother, as well as his instrumental role in creating Withum’s CPA Pathways Apprenticeship program, which helps address the accountant pipeline shortage and eases the financial barriers for students entering the profession.
- Bill Hagaman was recognized for his leadership tenure at Withum, during which the Firm tripled in size and expanded into non-traditional advisory services. Forbes also highlighted Bill’s philanthropic efforts, including his role on the Executive Committee of the Board for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and establishing the First-Generation Student Endowed Scholarship at Stockton University.
- Jim Bourke was honored for his previous board and leadership roles at both the NJCPA and AICPA. The publication also acknowledged his recurring recognition on Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting list, particularly for his knowledge of technology’s role in the profession.
- Brad Caruso was recognized for his professional and philanthropic achievements. He is a thought leader in the nonprofit accounting space and speaker at the AICPA National Not-for-Profit Conference. He also volunteers as the Vice President/2nd Lieutenant for the Montgomery Township Volunteer Firefighter Department.
- Chris Passmore was recognized for his leadership in joining his previous firm with Withum. Forbes also noted Chris’s involvement with executing on Firm initiatives and connection to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.
- Ed Mendlowitz earned honors for bringing the next generation of accountants to the profession as an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He also garnered attention for ranking on Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting list and his authorship of 30 books.
Walsh, Hagaman, Bourke and Mendlowitz also appeared on the inaugural America’s Top 200 CPAs list by Forbes in 2024.
CPAs play a vital role in helping companies and individuals navigate compliance issues and guiding them toward better business solutions. This inaugural list highlights CPAs with impressive track records in their specialties who have overcome barriers to emerge as leaders in their field.
The entire Best-In-State CPAs list is available on Forbes.