AAFCPAs Continues Expansion to Meet Growth Momentum
Boston, MA (May 30, 2024)—AAFCPAs, a preeminent 325+ employee CPA and consulting firm specializing in tax, assurance, accounting, wealth management, business process and IT advisory solutions, is pleased to announce expansion of its key practice areas. As part of this, the company welcomes Patricia Taub as Senior Accountant; Shannon Sargent and April Winward as Consulting Controllers; Russel Maddox as Business Process & IT Consulting Manager; Sarah Flischel as Director, Audit Transformation & Training; Julie Steckel as Consulting CFO; and Keith Kenez as Tax Manager.
Patricia Taub, CPA, MSA
Patricia joins AAFCPAs as Senior Accountant in Audit, where she supervises financial statement audits for sophisticated nonprofits including multi-service human & social services providers, charter schools, and charter management organizations (CMOs). Prior to joining AAFCPAs, she gained extensive experience at both regional and national public accounting firms.
Patricia resides in Wildwood, New Jersey and appreciates AAFCPAs’ Work from Anywhere, flexible work policy. As a huge true crime and Disney fan, she was thrilled to attend CrimeCon for the first time in 2023 and tries to visit Disney World with her daughter annually.
Shannon Sargent, CPA, MSA
Shannon joins AAFCPAs as Consulting Controller in the firm’s Outsourced Accounting & Fractional CFO (OAFC) practice, where she provides outsourced, cloud-based finance and accounting support to nonprofit organizations and private foundations. Shannon helps new clients improve their financial processes and update infrastructure and systems to better adapt to dynamic conditions and meet organizational objectives. She advises on set up, modernization, and accounting systems integration while working with clients to enhance business process performance with an eye toward efficiency, effectiveness, and internal controls.
Shannon holds a master’s degree in accounting from Nichols College and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Worcester State University. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and escaping into a good book.
April Windward, CPA, MBA
April joins AAFCPAs as Consulting Controller in the firm’s Outsourced Accounting & Fractional CFO (OAFC) practice. She provides cloud-based financial and accounting services to nonprofits and private foundations on a managed services basis. April assists new clients in refining their financial processes and upgrading their infrastructure to achieve organizational goals and respond to evolving needs. She advises on the setup, modernization, and integration of accounting systems, providing strategies to improve business processes with a focus on efficiency, effectiveness, and internal controls.
April holds a Master of Business Administration in Accounting from Fitchburg State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting and Finance from Worcester State University. Apart from her work in outsourced accounting, April loves to travel. She once took part in a community of volunteer travelers, where she donated her time at a veterinary clinic in Guatemala and a kindergarten in Fiji. She saw the world in a responsible way, learned from different cultures, and helped communities in need of support.
Russell Maddox, CPA
Russell joins AAFCPAs as Manager in the firm’s Business Process & IT Consulting practice, where he assists clients with business process assessment, system selection, and implementation. Prior to joining AAFCPAs, Russell led the accounting software implementation team at his previous company, concentrating on harnessing cloud platforms to enable employees to easily access data and tools from anywhere, enhancing flexibility and collaboration. A proven accounting manager, he brings a strong background in finance, accounting, and client management along with Intacct, gross profit/general ledger analysis, and lean logistics principles.
Russell holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in both accounting and finance from the University of Louisville. He currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been recognized for his leadership and team motivational skills since his years as his high school’s swim and cross country coach.
Sarah Flischel, CPA
Sarah joins AAFCPAs as Director in Audit Transformation & Training, where she leads the firm’s ongoing initiatives to elevate operations and processes. As part of this process, Sarah is leading the implementation of a cloud-based audit solution that enhances our audit procedures with an advanced, technology-driven risk assessment process. AAFCPAs’ goal is to deliver more precise and efficient audits by leveraging real-time data and analytics, ultimately enhancing the client experience and providing greater value through tailored insights and proactive risk management. Beyond this, Sarah will lead employee training programs on new solutions, helping our audit teams master technology and processes while elevating their command of advanced skills in rethinking methods for conducting audits.
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in accounting cum laude from the University of Central Florida. In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family along with skiing, travelling, reading, and crafting. A resident of Denver, Colorado, she is often found cheering for the Denver Broncos and the UCF Knights.
Julie Steckel, MBA
Julie joins AAFCPAs as Consulting CFO in the firm’s Outsourced Accounting & Fractional CFO (OAFC) practice, where she offers specialized CFO consulting services, strategic financial guidance, and management support that is seamlessly integrated with client teams. Julie brings decades of experience in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She has overseen various facets of operations including finance and accounting, HR, IT, and facilities management. She has served as a respected member of leadership teams, supporting CEOs and acting as a trusted sounding board. She provides expertise in financial planning and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, cash flow management, strategic planning, cost control, and contract negotiations—nurturing strong board and banking relationships and driving process improvements. Additionally, Julie has led annual audits, overseen IRS compliance requirements, and provided guidance on debt negotiations.
Residing in Connecticut, Julie appreciates AAFCPAs’ flexible Work from Anywhere model and the firm’s commitment to the nonprofit community. Fun fact: She is an avid Wordle player.
Keith Kenez, CPA
Keith joins AAFCPAs as Tax Manager, where he provides tax compliance and advisory solutions to high-net-worth individuals and their families, closely held businesses, business owners, and entrepreneurs along with estates, trusts, and private foundations. Keith is recognized for his exceptional insight into complex tax laws and regulations, providing an integrated tax planning approach that balances the interdependent needs of businesses and individuals. He considers opportunities to minimize tax liabilities and increase available cash, helps clients avoid double taxation, streamlines compliance and reporting, and helps clients strategically plan for a tax-efficient business exit and succession.
Keith holds an MBA and MSA from Suffolk University. Located in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Keith is passionate about punk and indie rock, thrives in social music collaboration spaces, and has offered pro-bono support to the RVRB community of music-makers and music-lovers since 2022.
