Accounting Advisory Council

Providing Strategic Guidance to the Accounting Area

Accounting Advisory Council members represent a variety of accounting firms, corporations, and government entities.

To increase the community's participation in the development of future accounting professionals, the accounting area in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University maintains a strong tradition of building partnerships through the Accounting Advisory Council. The council's mission is to advise and assist the accounting area so graduates are prepared to be successful contributors to an increasingly global accounting profession, and to ensure the College's undergraduate and masters programs to the needs of the accounting profession.

Council Chair

Shabinaaz Mahdi, '12
Principal, Baker Tilly

Shabinaaz Mahdi is a prinicpal at Baker Tilly US, LLP. She has over 11 years of experience providing tax and advisory services primarily to law firms in the professional services industry as well as REITs and other commercial businesses.

Vice Council Chair

Nicole M. Stroud
Assurance Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

Nicole Stroud is an Assurance Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP focusing in the Asset Management industry.

Past Council Chair

Michelle Montes, '96
Assurance Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

Michelle Montes is the East RHC Assurance Leader at EY with over 27 years of experience in public accounting and as an Assurance partner, also serves a variety of industries, currently focusing on real estate, hospitality, private equity and consumer products.

Council Members

Samim Ardeishar, '92
Partner, Grossberg Company LLP

Samim Ardeishar is a partner with more than 27 years of experience providing audit, accounting, tax and business consulting services to clients of various sizes across a broad range of industries including real estate, not for profit, and professional services.
Nazanin Azarian, '03
Tax Managing Director, Deloitte Tax LLP

Nazanin Azarian is a managing director in the Global Employer Services (GES) group at Deloitte in McLean, Virginia. Ms. Azarian is responsible for managing many clients with expatriate and inpatriate assignees.
Phillip Buchanan
Associate Professor Emeritus of Accounting

Phillip Buchanan joined the George Mason University faculty in 1981 after spending 8 years at Penn State University and 2 years in the New York office of Arthur Andersen & Co. He retired from George Mason in 2013.
Andrew Clements
Partner, Audit Services, Grant Thornton, LLP

Andrew Clements is a Partner in Grant Thornton’s Mid-Atlantic audit practice.
Matthew Cromwell, '94
Partner, BDO USA LLP

Matthew Cromwell is a partner with BDO’s Assurance Division with extensive experience working with large non-profit organizations, with a specialized focused on international operations, multiple complex revenue streams and large endowment portfolios.
Samantha Doe, '14
Principal, KWC

Samantha Doe is a Principal at KWC CPAs' office in Alexandria, VA. Her technical areas are in tax, accounting, and consulting services for closely held business and individuals.
A.J. Eschle, '08 '12
Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Chair, Accounting Advisory Council

A.J. is a principal with CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP and joined in 2007.
Michael Griggs
Assurance Partner, RSM US LLP

Michael Griggs, CPA, is an assurance partner at RSM US LLP focused on government contracting.
Charles "Chip" F. Helme, III, '85
Managing Principal, Thompson, Greenspon & Co., PC

Chip Helme is the managing principal of Thompson Greenspon and has been with the firm since 1986.
Jenny Herrera, '95
Citrin Cooperman & Company LLP

Jenny Herrera is a partner at Citrin Cooperman & Company LLP's D.C. Metro office.

College of Business Members

Phillip Buchanan
Associate Professor Emeritus of Accounting

Phillip Buchanan joined the George Mason University faculty in 1981 after spending 8 years at Penn State University and 2 years in the New York office of Arthur Andersen & Co. He retired from George Mason in 2013.
Long Chen
Area Chair, Accounting
Additional Roles: Associate Professor, Accounting

Long Chen is an associate professor and accounting area chair in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University. She conducts empirical archival research on issues concerning financial reporting, auditing, corporate governance, and international accounting.
Ajay Vinzé
Dean, George Mason University Costello College of Business

Additional Roles: Professor, Information Systems and Operations Management

Donald G. Costello College of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé is a Fulbright Senior Specialist and global citizen, having lived, worked or traveled through more than 70 countries over the past three decades. He is fast positioning the Costello College of Business among leading business schools regionally, nationally, and globally. The Costello College of Business and Dr. Vinzé are recognized for impactful research and credited with a number of forward-thinking innovations in business education, including Modular Education through micro-credentialing and stackable certificates, Inclusive Entrepreneurship, and the development of a proactive global presence.
Kerry A. Willigan
Assistant Dean, Office of Career Services

Pronouns: She/Her

Kerry Willigan is the Assistant Dean, Career Services in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.