Accounting has always been more than balance sheets and compliance. It is a profession built on trust, problem-solving, and leadership. At Ace Cloud Hosting, we have seen firsthand how the profession is evolving, with technology, client expectations, and global challenges reshaping what it means to lead.
The women featured in this year’s Top 25 list reflect that change. They are CEOs guiding global firms, educators preparing the next generation of CPAs, advisors influencing policy, and entrepreneurs building tools that improve how accounting gets done. Each one has carved a path that shows personal dedication and a commitment to the profession’s future.
In this article…
Let’s meet these women leaders who are reshaping the future of accounting.
1. Geni Whitehouse
Geni Whitehouse is a CPA, author, and speaker who brings humor and clarity to accounting and technology. As founder of The Impactful Advisor and President of the Information Technology Alliance, she helps CPAs communicate financial insights in ways clients can truly understand. Named among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, she continues to shape the profession with creativity and connection.
Recommended Reading: How CPAs Can Become Business Advisors
2. Amy Vetter
Amy Vetter, CPA, is the founder of The B3 Method Institute and a sought-after keynote speaker, consultant, and board director. With more than 25 years of experience in accounting, fintech, and leadership, she helps organizations build cultures rooted in balance and purpose. A seven-time Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting and five-time Top 100 Most Influential, Amy is recognized worldwide for her thought leadership and impact.
3. Kelly Phillips Erb
Kelly Phillips Erb, widely known as Taxgirl, is a tax attorney, writer, and speaker who makes complex tax issues understandable for the public. She writes for Forbes and hosts the Taxgirl podcast, covering everything from tax controversies to financial crimes. Recognized among the Global Tax 50 and honored by the National Association of Enrolled Agents, Kelly combines legal expertise with a passion for tax education and advocacy.
4. Nancy McClelland
Nancy McClelland, CPA, MAFM, is the founder of The Dancing Accountant and co-host of the She Counts podcast. With over 30 years of experience supporting small businesses through accounting, tax, and advisory services, she blends technical expertise with a passion for education and outreach. Recognized as a Top 10 ProAdvisor and Top 50 Women in Accounting, Nancy is also known for her engaging blog that simplifies complex financial topics.
Recommended Reading: Women in Accounting: Stories of Success and Resilience
5. Angela Meharg
Angela Meharg is the founder of Datisfy Inc., where she helps businesses escape the frustration of QuickBooks’ limited reports by creating custom solutions tailored to manufacturing, wholesale, job costing, and more. Known as the “Crystal Reports Goddess,” Angela has been recognized as a Top 100 and International ProAdvisor. Her mission is to eliminate wasted time and give leaders the reports they actually need to make faster, smarter decisions.
Recommended Reading: Who Inspires You in the Industry?
6. Rachel Barnett
Rachel Barnett has been working with QuickBooks since 1995 and became a ProAdvisor in 2012, later earning her QBO Advanced ProAdvisor certification. She founded Gentle Frog to help businesses and bookkeepers learn and manage QuickBooks with confidence. Named the 2024 Top QuickBooks Author/Educator ProAdvisor by Insightful Accountant, Rachel is known for turning complex bookkeeping into approachable learning.
Recommended Reading: How to Attract Accounting Clients
7. Dr Sangeeta Chhabra
Dr. Sangeeta Chhabra is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Ace Cloud Hosting, where she leads strategic initiatives and daily operations for one of the industry’s leading cloud solution providers for accountants. With over 30 years of experience spanning research, teaching, and entrepreneurship, she has authored more than 20 publications. She is a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, driving diversity and inclusivity within the workplace.
Follow Dr Sangeeta on LinkedIn
Recommended Reading: Why Now is the Right Time to Modernize Client Accounting Services
8. Marie Torossian
Marie Torossian, CPA, CGMA, is a financial advisor, performance coach, and founder of the Profit Lab. With more than a decade of experience in accounting, auditing, and CFO leadership, she guides entrepreneurs to scale beyond eight figures. Through her proprietary VALUEATION-MT methodology, she blends financial strategy with business coaching to help clients increase company value, improve cash flow, and achieve lasting growth.
Follow Marie on LinkedIn
9. Samantha Bowling
Samantha Bowling, CPA, CFE, CGMA, is the Managing Partner at GWCPA and a recognized leader in bringing AI into accounting practice. Honored as a 2025 Forbes Best in State CPA and a 2024 Top 50 Women in Accounting, she is known for her forward-looking approach to audit and advisory services. A mentor and frequent speaker, Samantha combines technical expertise with a passion for shaping the profession’s future.
10. Jeannine K. Brown
Jeannine K. Brown is the CEO of Everyday Lead, where she empowers leaders to create inclusive, psychologically safe workplaces. An executive coach, speaker, and author of Unstuck and Unstoppable, she was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting by AICPA & CIMA in 2023. With a background in public accounting and executive leadership, Jeannine champions diversity, equity, and belonging across industries.
11. Danielle Supkis Cheek
Danielle Supkis Cheek is SVP of AI, Analytics, and Assurance at Caseware and a faculty lecturer at Rice University. A CPA, CFE, and CVA, she represents the U.S. on the IFAC Small and Medium Practitioners Committee and serves on several global advisory groups. Recognized as a four-time Most Powerful Woman in Accounting, she is widely respected for advancing technology, assurance, and education.
12. Natasha Schamberger
Natasha Schamberger, CPA, is Chief of Staff and Strategic Alignment at AICPA & CIMA, where she helps connect strategy with execution to shape the profession’s future. With nearly a decade in public accounting and extensive association leadership experience, she focuses on building solutions that keep CPAs and firms future-ready. Twice named one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting, Natasha is recognized for her commitment to advancing the profession.
13. Avani Desai
Avani Desai is the CEO of Schellman, one of the world’s most significant cybersecurity and compliance assessment firms. She guides organizations through complex frameworks from SOC and ISO certifications to AI governance. Featured in Forbes and The Wall Street Journal, Avani is also a strong advocate for women in tech and responsible innovation. Her leadership blends technical expertise with a passion for trust, diversity, and community impact.
14. Misty (Megia) Schachtell
Misty (Megia) Schachtell is the CEO of Theatre of Public Speaking and a globally recognized trainer who helps executives and teams communicate with confidence. With more than three decades of theatre, speaking, and corporate leadership experience, she has guided Fortune 500 leaders and accounting professionals alike. A former Global Leader for Intuit’s ProAdvisor Program, Misty has been named one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting.
15. Angie Grissom
Angie Grissom, MBA, owns The Rainmaker Companies, where she helps professional services firms strengthen leadership, culture, and growth strategies. Recognized as one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People for more than a decade, she is also the voice behind the He Said, She Said column. A sought-after consultant and speaker, Angie is known for guiding managing partners and firm leaders to reach their full potential.
16. Orumé Hays
Orumé Hays, CPA, CGMA, is the founder and CEO of Hays CPA LLC, where she supports small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups with tax, finance, and advisory services. Recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Top 200 CPAs and honored multiple times as one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting, she is also an educator, mentor, and advocate dedicated to inspiring the next generation of CPAs.
17. Yvonne L. Hinson
Yvonne Hinson, PhD, CPA, CGMA, is the CEO of the American Accounting Association, where she leads efforts to advance accounting education and research. She previously served as Academic in Residence at AICPA and spent nearly two decades at Wake Forest University in faculty and leadership roles. Widely published and active in professional boards, Yvonne is dedicated to strengthening the link between academia and the accounting profession.
18. Ebonie Jackson
Ebonie Jackson, CPA, CGMA, MBA, is a senior finance executive and board advisor with a proven record of leading organizations across the ESG spectrum. She currently serves as SVP in the CFO Group at Bank of America and was named among the 2024 Most Powerful Women in Accounting. With experience spanning public, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, Ebonie is known for transforming financial processes and driving measurable impact.
19. Guylaine Saint Juste
Guylaine Saint Juste is the President and CEO of NABA, Inc., where she leads efforts to educate, empower, and mobilize more than 200,000 Black business and accounting professionals. With over 25 years in financial services and nonprofit leadership, she has driven measurable impact in workforce development and advocacy. Recognized as a Woman Worth Watching, Guylaine continues championing equity, belonging, and representation across industries.
20. Lexy Kessler
Lexy Kessler is a Partner at Aprio and Chair of the American Institute of CPAs and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. With 40 years in public accounting, she has advised government contractors and business leaders while mentoring the next generation of CPAs. Recognized as one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People, Lexy is known for advancing leadership, inclusivity, and professional growth.
21. Stacie M. Kwaiser
Stacie M. Kwaiser, CPA, is the first female CEO of Rehmann, a top-ranked financial services and advisory firm. Since joining the company in 1996, she has progressed through key leadership roles, including COO, while developing mentorship and professional development programs. Recognized as one of the 2024 Most Powerful Women in Accounting, Stacie is known for championing innovation, culture, and inclusion to strengthen the firm and its people.
22. Kelly Mann
Kelly Mann, CPA, is the Co-Founder and CEO of AuditMiner, a firm bringing technology-driven solutions to employee benefit plan audits. With more than a decade of experience as a senior audit manager, she launched AuditMiner to streamline processes and uncover opportunities for efficiency in auditing. Named one of the 2024 Most Powerful Women in Accounting, Kelly continues to shape the industry with innovation and leadership.
23. Carla McCall
Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA, is the Managing Partner of AAFCPAs and Immediate Past Chair of the AICPA. With over 40 years in public accounting, she has expanded AAFCPAs’ services beyond audit and tax into technology, wealth management, and advisory solutions. Recognized among the Most Powerful Women in Accounting and Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People, Carla is a strong advocate for leadership development.
24. Jessica E. McClain
Jessica E. McClain, CPA, CITP, CISA, PMP, CGFM, is the CFO of the American Staffing Association and a 2024–2025 Obama United States Leader. Previously CFO at Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital, she has been widely recognized with honors, including CPA Practice Advisor’s Most Powerful Women in Accounting and AICPA’s Outstanding Young CPA Award. Jessica is dedicated to advancing financial leadership, diversity, and impact across the profession.
25. Michelle (Golden) River
Michelle Golden River is the CEO of Fore LLC and creator of Advanced Pricing Methods, a nationwide framework adopted by CPA firms to shift from time-based billing to worth-based pricing. A strategist, facilitator, and author, she has guided more than 200 firms toward sustainable growth and stronger client relationships. Recognized as one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People, Michelle continues to shape the profession’s future.
Final Thoughts
The 25 women honored here remind us why accounting remains such a powerful profession. Their work spans corporate boardrooms, classrooms, nonprofits, and emerging tech, and each of them is helping redefine what leadership looks like in today’s business world.
At Ace Cloud Hosting, we believe accounting progress depends on leaders who challenge limits, support inclusion, and bring new ideas to life. By celebrating their journeys, we also recognize the impact accountants can have when they combine expertise with vision and a willingness to open doors for others.
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