Please join us in congratulating Shanté George on being named to Crain’s New York Business Notable Women in Accounting and Consulting list. Honorees are selected based on career accomplishments, mentorship and community involvement.

Shanté is a Principal in Baker Tilly’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice and leads large teams in conducting complex forensic and financial analyses relating to the evaluation potential causes of action, reasonably equivalent value, Ponzi schemes, asset misappropriation and tracing, earnings manipulation, and other forensic accounting matters.

She leads engagements in the development and implementation of engagement strategy; challenging and developing business plans and comprehensive, long-term multi-divisional financial models; conducting claims analyses; and assessing feasibility issues.

Congratulations Shanté!

In New York the fields of accounting and consulting offer unlimited opportunities for talented professionals to play important roles in the deals, transactions and business developments that shape finance, entertainment, technology, real estate and other major industries. The 77 women on the Crain’s Notable Women in Accounting and Consulting list are at the heart of the action, advising their clients on critical financial matters—and often having an impact that extends far beyond the city’s borders.

This year’s honorees were identified through Crain’s internal research and nominations by major firms in the metropolitan area. They were selected based on their career accomplishments in accounting or consulting, their mentorship of others and their involvement in nonprofits and community organizations.

Why has Crain’s focused a report on notable women in accounting—and not simply notable accounting professionals? Someday women might be well represented at major firms’ top tiers, but that day has not yet come. Although more than half the workforce in accounting is female, only about 22% of firms’ partners are women, according to the American Institute of CPAs. The stories of women who have made it to the top rungs of the field hold many lessons for those who are looking to scale obstacles—and leaders who are looking to speed their company’s progress.

Fortunately many leading firms are committed to attracting, sponsoring and promoting talented women. A number of the honorees on this list have launched or championed such efforts.

— Brendan O’Connor Managing editor