Governmental Accounting and Auditing Conference (VIRTUAL)

George Rafael

George Rafael is associate deputy director at CCM.

He has over 30 years of experience in economic and fiscal analysis and policy development. In addition, George has over 20 years of experience in association management and operations. He has held positions in the public, private, and non-profit sectors and had the opportunity to work in a number of states across the country.

George has a BA in economics from Central Connecticut State University and an MS in planning from the University of Tennessee.

Philip Marciano

Phil is a partner in the firm’s New York City office and is recognized as a national resource for government and not-for-profit accounting and federal single audits (Uniform Guidance). He has audited various types of governmental entities such as towns, counties, villages, schools, libraries, other special purpose entities and component units, and various types of not-for-profit organizations.

Prior to Citrin Cooperman, Phil was a shareholder at national financial and employee business services provider where he served as the Government Services Practice Leader for the firm’s Metro New York Not-For-Profit and Government Practice.

Suma Chander

Suma Chander has over 25 years of experience, with an expertise in driving high-level technology strategy for organizations of all sizes, including start-up initiatives.

Before joining the Firm, Suma held various “C-Suite” leadership roles and led technology and operations at two different hedge funds. She was responsible for building public and private partnerships, negotiating partnership agreements, fundraising, securing government grants and proposing technological solutions for infrastructure projects that help drive innovation and profitability.

Suma is also skilled in budgeting, product management, software development and revenue maximization. She is recognized for strong project management and team building proficiency.

Suma is very passionate about impact and advocacy initiatives and has worked with various social enterprises and philanthropic organizations that promote skill training and employment amongst disadvantaged populations.

Tony Boras

Tony is a partner in Crowe’s National Office. As a member of the National Office, Tony provides technical guidance on governmental accounting and auditing matters to the firm’s professionals and clients. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences on topics related to the Yellow Book, Uniform Guidance Auditing, GASB Statement Implementation and AICPA Standards. Prior to joining Crowe’s National Office, Tony served as a senior manager in the public sector services audit practice providing auditing and consulting services to governmental and not-for-profit organizations. Tony has experience with many types of governmental entities, including municipalities, school districts, public 4-year universities, community colleges, state and local pension & other postemployment benefit plans, transportation and other business-type activity entities. Tony currently serves as the Chair of the AICPA State and Local Government Expert Panel and has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from Marquette University.

Alan Skelton

Alan Skelton was named director of research and technical activities of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), effective April 1, 2021. In his role as GASB director, he leads the staff and serves as the principal advisor to the chair and Board.

Immediately prior to joining the GASB, Mr. Skelton was the state accounting officer for the state of Georgia, a position he was initially appointed to by the governor in 2012. He was reappointed to the role in 2019. As state accounting officer, Mr. Skelton provided accounting leadership for the state of Georgia, including oversight of statewide financial reporting, issuing accounting policy and application interpretations of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and implementing business process improvements. He served as deputy state accounting officer from 2009 to 2012. Previously, Mr. Skelton had more than a decade of experience in public accounting, primarily with Ernst & Young.

Mr. Skelton served on the GASB’s advisory council—the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council—from 2015 to 2021, including as its vice chair since 2018. He is a graduate of Florida State University and a certified public accountant.

Tony Boras

Tony is a partner in Crowe’s National Office. As a member of the National Office, Tony provides technical guidance on governmental accounting and auditing matters to the firm’s professionals and clients. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences on topics related to the Yellow Book, Uniform Guidance Auditing, GASB Statement Implementation and AICPA Standards. Prior to joining Crowe’s National Office, Tony served as a senior manager in the public sector services audit practice providing auditing and consulting services to governmental and not-for-profit organizations. Tony has experience with many types of governmental entities, including municipalities, school districts, public 4-year universities, community colleges, state and local pension & other postemployment benefit plans, transportation and other business-type activity entities. Tony currently serves as the Chair of the AICPA State and Local Government Expert Panel and has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from Marquette University.

Alan Skelton

Alan Skelton was named director of research and technical activities of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), effective April 1, 2021. In his role as GASB director, he leads the staff and serves as the principal advisor to the chair and Board.

Immediately prior to joining the GASB, Mr. Skelton was the state accounting officer for the state of Georgia, a position he was initially appointed to by the governor in 2012. He was reappointed to the role in 2019. As state accounting officer, Mr. Skelton provided accounting leadership for the state of Georgia, including oversight of statewide financial reporting, issuing accounting policy and application interpretations of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and implementing business process improvements. He served as deputy state accounting officer from 2009 to 2012. Previously, Mr. Skelton had more than a decade of experience in public accounting, primarily with Ernst & Young.

Mr. Skelton served on the GASB’s advisory council—the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council—from 2015 to 2021, including as its vice chair since 2018. He is a graduate of Florida State University and a certified public accountant.

Jonathan Marks

Jonathan has over 35 years of experience collaborating with his clients, their boards, senior management, and law firms on global fraud and misconduct investigations, including bribery, corruption, compliance, and other matters requiring governance, risk, and compliance expertise.

Jonathan specializes in complex and high-stakes internal and regulatory investigations, governance matters, risk assessments, the design and implementation of compliance programs, internal audits, global fraud risk management programs, compliance coordination, monitoring, and technical accounting and disclosure matters for the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. He assists his clients in mitigating potential issues by conducting root-cause analysis, developing remedial procedures, and designing or enhancing governance and compliance systems along with internal controls, policies, and procedures, continuous auditing and monitoring strategies, as well as customized training.

He has led high-profile financial, accounting, compliance, and regulatory investigations worldwide relating to allegations of accounting irregularities, improper financial disclosures, fraud, non-compliance, bribery, corruption, kickbacks, money laundering, price-fixing, terrorist financing, cyber-fraud incidents, and whistleblower matters.

Jonathan has provided expert testimony on accounting, economic damages and lost profits, financial and internal control issues in commercial litigation, and criminal matters. He has appeared before the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulation Authority (FINRA), and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to present his findings. Jonathan has also served as a neutral for business disputes and led global compliance initiatives, fraud (including money laundering) risk or vulnerability assessments, internal audits, third-party risk management initiatives, and due diligence teams.

He is a well-regarded author and speaker who has gained international recognition for developing thought leadership that has enhanced the profession, including the Fraud Pentagon, the Business Fraud Risk Framework, the Advanced Meta-Model of Fraud, and the Enterprise Resilient Ecosystem. He regularly presents on various fraud, ethics, compliance, governance, and forensic accounting topics. He was a candidate for the Innovator of the Year Award in 2021, according to Compliance Week.

Jonathan serves clients in many sectors, including manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, pharmaceutical, professional services, software, technology, and the telecommunications industry. He previously held leadership positions at a national accounting and global disputes and investigations professional services firm. He has educated and advised some of the world’s largest companies on highly complex issues.

Sly Atayee

Sly Atayee specializes in helping nonprofit organizations, government contractors, and higher education institutions with fraud investigations and forensic analyses, particularly those related to the False Claims Act. Sly has led numerous investigations both within the United States and internationally in regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Additionally, Sly also provides clients with services such as fraud risk training, internal control and risk assessments, redesigning financial processes, conducting complex cost recovery calculations, and developing policies and procedures. Sly is experienced in supporting litigation by gathering documentation to substantiate costs and performing data analytics to calculate and quantify losses and damages for legal proceedings.