LOS ANGELES, CA (May 5, 2018) – GHJ (GHJ) Partner Anant Patel and Principal Anita Wu were recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as “Most Influential Minority CPAs."
“I am proud of the amazing work accomplished by both Anant and Anita at our firm and in the accounting industry as a whole,” GHJ Managing Partner Tom Barry said. “They are respected leaders at the firm, and I am delighted their hard work is being recognized.”
Published in the April 30, 2018 Los Angeles Business Journal, this is the paper’s first year presenting the “Most Influential Minority CPAs” awards. Nominated individuals are reviewed by a selection committee that is looking for strong leadership, mentorship and professional advocacy both inside and outside of their firm.
About Anant Patel, Partner, Head of Consulting and Transaction Advisory Practice
With more than 20 years of public accounting experience, Anant is a force to be reckoned with in the accounting industry. He advises in the area of mergers and acquisitions and provides financial due diligence consulting for clients.
Under his leadership, GHJ’s Consulting Practice and Transaction Advisory Practice have launched new services lines and brought on new high-level talent. His clients hold him in the highest regard, and his dedication to providing superior accounting and advisory services is demonstrated through his business development and practice growth.
“Anant’s emphasis on business development has truly shaped our growth strategy,” Barry said. “But his leadership extends beyond bringing in new clients. He is an inspirational mentor for those starting out in accounting, and his guidance has helped grow many leaders to achieve success at GHJ.”
Anant is a trailblazer, not only at GHJ, but on an international level. His reach goes far beyond his leadership at the firm as he is Global Chair of the HLB International Transaction Advisory Services Group, a global accounting firm network ranked as the 12th largest network worldwide.
About Anita Wu, Principal, Participation Audits
Anita Wu has more than 20 years of auditing experience within the entertainment industry. Her specialty includes profit participation audits on behalf of talent, investors and co-producers.
Anita is also proud to be part of the committee that created the GHJ Women’s Empowerment Initiative, which launched prior to the #MeToo movement. This Initiative is focused on helping women achieve success at the Firm by providing training to advance women into leadership positions. GHJ’s Women’s Empowerment Speaker Series invites women who have achieved top roles in their field to discuss their path to leadership and offer insights into the journey’s challenges and opportunities.
Additionally, as part of the Women’s Empowerment Initiative, Anita regularly writes blogs about how women can #BeMore in the workplace and is a thought leader in the space.
“Anita is a champion for other women at GHJ,” Barry explained. “The initiatives she has sponsored and the programs she has backed have helped with recruiting and retaining talent at the firm. Her focus on both diversity and inclusion at the Firm has made her an inspiration for her colleagues and those looking to enter the accounting field.”
Overall, these three practitioners are trusted advisors dedicated to achieving financial and business success for their clients.
About GHJ
Founded in 1953, GHJ is a Los Angeles-based accounting firm that specializes in nonprofit, food and beverage, entertainment and media and health and wellness companies. Recipient of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce 2018 Employee Champion For Life Work Harmony Award and named a “Best Places to Work” by the Los Angeles Business Journal eight times since 2008, GHJ is passionate about helping clients and its people #BeMore by focusing on building thriving businesses and creating a better future.
The firm works as a business advocate for its clients — providing personalized service and building long-term relationships to help position our clients for growth. Also ranked as a top-20 largest accounting firm on the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Book of Lists, the firm has 12 partners and approximately 150 staff members that serve over 3,000 clients. The firm is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the AICPA Governmental Audit Quality Center (GAQC), the California Society of CPAs and the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofit).
