Michelle began her public accounting career with Maher Duessel in 2002. As a Partner of the firm, she has extensive experience managing a wide variety of non-profit audit/tax engagements include human service agencies, foundations, and religious organizations. On the governmental side, her audit clients include counties, local authorities, and municipalities. With her broad area of focus and 24 years of experience serving public sector entities, Michelle is particularly adept at providing quick and responsive guidance in helping address her clients' questions.
One specific area of focus for Michelle is service to agencies operating Intellectual Developmental Disability programs. With her years of experience working closely with these agencies, she recognizes their importance in meeting critical community needs, and she is sensitive to developing an audit approach that keeps staff mission focused. Michelle is committed to staying on top of the latest Office of Developmental Programs, Health and Human Services, Office of Management and Budget, and Treasury announcements and regulations to help her clients stay compliant. Michelle also specializes her practice to leading engagements for foundations, so she is well versed in audit procedures for a wide range of investment portfolios along with the intricacies of donor advised funds, scholarships, and endowments.
With a significant number of Michelle's clients receiving federal funding, she is very knowledgeable in all facets of Single Audit and Uniform Guidance compliance. Michelle also serves on the Government Finance Officers Association's (GFOA) Special Review Committee for Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (ACFRs), and with this experience can assist clients in all facets of ACFR preparation. She has taken a leadership role in various state and national level accounting committees focused on non-profit issues including the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)'s Not-For-Profit Thought Leadership Committee. Within the firm, Michelle helps direct the scheduling of engagements to ensure the effective allocation of resources to best serve our clients.
Professional Affiliations
- Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Special Review Committee for Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports – Technical Reviewer
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) – Member
- Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) – Member
- PICPA Not-For-Profit Thought Leadership Committee – Member
- PICPA Professional Ethics Committee - Member
- TEGE Exempt Organizations Council Practitioner Round Table – Member
- AICPA Tax Exempt Organization Technical Resource Panel – Past Associate Member
- AICPA & CIMA Not-For-Profit II Certificate Recipient
Community
- Leadership Shenango – Graduate
- YWCA of Butler County – Board Treasurer
"Working at Maher Duessel has been a fulfilling career. The company strives to achieve their core values each and every day. These core values allow employees the opportunity to maintain a healthy work-life balance, while providing top quality client services."
Education
B.S., Accounting, Grove City College
