GHJ’s Melanie Horowitz, Gina McLeod and Maria Pearman were honored as Women of Influence in Accounting by the Los Angeles Business Journal. 

LOS ANGELES, CA – GHJ, a national advisory, tax and accounting firm, is proud to announce that Melanie Horowitz, Gina McLeod and Maria Pearman have been named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2026 Women of Influence: Accounting list. The award recognizes Los Angeles’ top female accountants that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to their clients, community and the profession as a whole. 

“Melanie, Gina and Maria bring unique, often hard-to-come-by approaches to client service,” GHJ Managing Partner Tom Barry said. “They never just provide a service and move on. They mentor clients – coaching them through their most difficult business decisions and partnering with them through their victories.”

ABOUT MELANIE HOROWITZ

Melanie Horowitz, CPA, is a principal in GHJ’s Audit and Assurance Practice and currently serves on its leadership and strategy team. In her role, she applies years of audit, accounting and financial reporting expertise to support nonprofit and for-profit organizations with their audit requirements. She works with business leaders and nonprofit executives throughout the year, rather than just during an audit cycle, to serve as clients’ trusted advisor during all of their operational challenges.

“I have been fortunate enough to work a diverse range of clients, from social services organizations to waste and recycling companies,” Melanie said. “This unique perspective has enabled me to expand my knowledge and experience in ways far greater than I thought imaginable – an honor like this from the Los Angeles Business Journal is humbling.” 

Melanie is also passionate about mentoring and teaching the next generation of accountants. As head of the Audit and Assurance Practice’s Learning and Development initiatives, Melanie supports the client service team’s training and professional development. These initiatives enable the Firm to better serve clients through accounting, audit and assurance obligations and opportunities.

ABOUT GINA MCLEOD

Gina McLeod, J.D., LLM, is the leader of GHJ’s Tax Practice and a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. In both leadership capacities, Gina directly impacts the strategy and client service model provided to businesses and organizations across the Firm’s footprint. Further, she and the tax team strive to deliver tailored strategies to businesses, high-net-worth individuals, cross-border companies and tax-exempt organizations.

“At the end of the day, my goal as the Tax Practice leader is to enhance the value we bring to clients,” Gina said. “I am successful only when my team is – and they are successful when their clients are. This means the guidance we provide to clients is exceedingly intentional and centered around addressing their challenges.”

Gina’s previous Big Four experience lends itself to vast tax strategy and consulting expertise, as she not only leads the team of tax professionals at GHJ but advises clients, as well. She closely serves clients in entertainment, food and beverage, manufacturing and distribution, and media and advertising. This is the third year Gina has appeared on this list.

ABOUT MARIA PEARMAN

Maria Pearman, CPA, CGMA, is GHJ’s Food and Beverage Practice leader. Her expertise in advisory services, forecasting and financial strategy helps organizations and their leaders adapt to change and scale operations. Maria is also a well-respected figure in the beverage alcohol industry, often speaking at or moderating leading industry conferences, webinars and roundtables to share her insight.

“The industries I work in are constantly being met with new challenges and change,” Maria said. “Helping my clients face disruption and grow stronger because of it is what inspires me today. To be recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal for this is an honor.” 

Maria is also on the Finance Committee for the Brewers Association, the nation’s largest industry organization for craft brewers. Within this organization, she has published a top-rated book, Small Brewery Finance, to help small businesses run more successful breweries. Her second book, Distillery Finance, was published by the American Distillers Institute and is considered a must-read for leaders in the industry. This is Maria’s second year receiving this honor.

This prestigious recognition honors the women of GHJ supporting complex, dynamic clients across industries in Los Angeles and beyond. At the Firm, GHJ’s Women’s Empowerment Cohort and various other strategic initiatives continue to serve as platforms for advocacy and empowerment among minority populations. These formalized opportunities are designed to provide tools and resources to advance the careers of women throughout the Firm and nurture an equitable environment. 

About GHJ

GHJ is a national independent advisory, tax and accounting firm that partners with businesses and nonprofit organizations to deliver clarity and confidence. Since 1953, GHJ has combined deep industry expertise with an entrepreneurial spirit to help leaders achieve their strategic goals.

GHJ is headquartered in Los Angeles and serves clients nationwide, backed by its own dispersed workforce. With nearly 300 professionals and 26 partners, the Firm provides senior-level expertise with deep industry capabilities in food and beverage, media and advertising, entertainment and nonprofit. 

GHJ is a top-ranking firm in the U.S. and member of HLB International. Through this global network, GHJ offers seamless access to resources in over 150 countries while remaining fiercely focused on client success.

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