How Great Government Auditors Make Audits Effective and the Benefits for Federal Agencies
In the world of federal oversight, audits are often viewed as a disruption, something to endure, defend against, or get through. But great government auditors know that when done right, an audit does more than just check a box or find faults. It becomes an iterative process that strengthens programs, builds trust, and ultimately helps agencies meet their mission more effectively [1}.
At Williams Adley, we’ve seen how impactful it can be when auditors bring not only technical expertise but also professionalism, emotional intelligence, and a spirit of transparency to each client interaction, no matter the client engagement. By cultivating strong interpersonal skills and well-defined expectations of the auditor/auditee relationship as described below, great government auditors can help agencies achieve better outcomes.
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Williams Adley Awarded $150 Million BPA to Provide Accounting and Financial Management Services to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Williams Adley, a Washington, DC-based small business CPA firm with over 40 years of experience serving Federal agencies, was recently awarded a $150 million Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to provide comprehensive Accounting and Financial Management Services to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Williams Adley’s service delivery will be supported by teaming agreements with Crowe LLP, NextStep Technologies, and Summit Consulting, each bringing notable and relevant expertise and a proven track record in Federal contracting.
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Spotlight: Daniel Kirkness, Audit and Assurance Supervisor
As both the challenges and the opportunities in the Federal contracting space continue to evolve, securing exceptional talent and leadership must be a priority for firms wishing to remain competitive. With this in mind, Williams Adley is dedicated to identifying and cultivating those individuals on our team with leadership potential. As a member of our Future Leaders Program, Audit and Assurance Supervisor Daniel Kirkness has demonstrated excellence and integrity in leading his team to go beyond client expectations. Read our interview with Daniel below to learn how his leadership style consistently guides his team to success.
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Artificial Intelligence in Government Auditing – Benefits and Challenges
AI tools have advanced considerably in recent years, with systems like ChatGPT and Copilot that integrate with Microsoft 365. These tools offer capabilities such as writing, editing, researching and synthesizing information, creating charts and graphs, and assisting with PowerPoint presentations, to name just a few. As AI continues to push the boundaries of real-time machine learning, it is essential to stay informed about its evolving ethical and regulatory considerations, as well as the opportunities that AI technology presents.
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SPOTLIGHT: Van Ha Le, CYBERSECURITY RISK SERVICES (CRS) Manager
As an industry-leading firm that has provided Federal agencies with financial and cybersecurity services for over 4 decades, Williams Adley understands that providing excellent service begins with cultivating an excellent team of professionals with the knowledge and dedication to meet and exceed the needs of our clients. We take pride in supporting the career goals of our many bright and motivated personnel, and we are committed to fostering the next generation of leaders. Van Ha Le, recently promoted to Manager withing our Cybersecurity Risk Services (CRS) Practice, is one such leader who has been a critical part of our success since joining the firm in 2018. Read our new interview with Van below to learn more about her cybersecurity expertise as well as her growth as a Future Leader.
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Williams Adley Is A Best Place to Work in 2025, According to Our Employees on Glassdoor
Williams Adley is pleased to announce we are among the winners of the annual Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Awards, a list of the Best Places to Work in 2025.
Our firm ranked #15 out of 50 Small to Mid-Sized Businesses, with a 4.8 overall rating, 99% CEO approval rating, and 99% of respondents saying they would recommend us as an employer.
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Audit Anywhere, Succeed Everywhere: How to Excel in a Virtual Environment
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, hybrid and remote work became common; a trend that persists in many fields even after the pandemic’s end in 2023. This is particularly true in the accounting industry, with 12.7% of full-time employees working from home and 28.2% working in a hybrid arrangement in 2023. Recent graduates with an accounting degree, who are keen on pursuing a career in auditing, can now embrace the opportunity to work primarily or even entirely from home. While a virtual work environment offers a plethora of advantages, it also presents distinct challenges for those entering the professional world without the traditional in-office experience. Drawing from our own journeys as auditors who started careers in fully remote roles, we’ve compiled essential advice to help you navigate this new landscape with confidence.
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SPOTLIGHT: EUGENIE ZUMGANG, CYBERSECURITY RISK SERVICES (CRS) SUPERVISOR
Williams Adley is dedicated to recognizing and investing in up-and-coming talent, and we take pride in the enormous potential of the future leaders we are cultivating. One of our most recent additions to our Future Leaders Program (FLP), Cybersecurity Risk Services (CRS) Supervisor Eugenie Zumgang, is an accomplished FISMA auditor with nearly a decade of experience supporting the Department of Education, and a true cybersecurity expert.
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Embracing a New Path: Suzanne Bongiovanni Finds Her Calling as an Auditor
In today’s dynamic professional landscape, the notion of a linear career trajectory has become increasingly rare. After spending 10 years working in the public school system with special needs 4th and 5th graders, Suzanne Bongiovanni craved the opportunity to make an impact on a larger scale. Having successfully transitioned into a rewarding second career in audit, her journey proves that it is never too late to pursue passions and make a meaningful difference.
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Spotlight: Elizabeth Lainhart, Audit and Assurance Manager
Williams Adley’s greatest asset is our people, and our firm’s remarkable growth over the last few years has been driven by our phenomenal team of experts who support our clients every day. Elizabeth Lainhart, Audit and Assurance Manager, is one such professional. Since joining Williams Adley in 2018, Elizabeth has made tremendous contributions to our success and firmly established herself as an up-and-coming leader. Whether she is leading large and complex engagements for clients like DFAS, moderating sessions at SDFM PDI, or cultivating Williams Adley’s next generation of talent, Elizabeth consistently plays a valuable role for our team and for our clients.
Today, we are pleased to interview Elizabeth as a Future Leader of the firm and offer a close look into not only her strategies for success, but also her vision for navigating the future.
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Get to Know CRS Senior Manager Edwen Delcid
Possessing over a decade of experience in cybersecurity and IT auditing, Senior Manager Edwen Delcid plays a key role in developing the service line of our Cybersecurity Risk Services (CRS) Practice and is an integral member of the CRS leadership team.
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Cybersecurity Risk Services Debuts First Episode of New Pdocast: CyberStorm
Cybersecurity Risk Services (CRS) is proud to announce the inaugural episode of our new cybersecurity podcast: CyberStorm!
CyberStorm is the official podcast of Williams Adley's CRS Practice and is produced by our team of highly experienced cybersecurity experts. Hosted by CRS Senior Manager Kieran Hennessy, each episode invites new, industry-leading guest speakers to dive deep into the latest cybersecurity developments that are shaping the Federal space—and the world of tomorrow.
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Get to Know CRS Senior Manager Kieran Hennessy
As a Senior Manager in the Cybersecurity Risk Services (CRS) Practice, Kieran Hennessy has played a central role in developing Williams Adley’s premium cybersecurity expertise and in providing quality client services.
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Get to Know CRS Partner Tony Wang
As Partner of Williams Adley’s newly renamed Cybersecurity Risk Services (CRS) Practice, Tony Wang has crafted an innovative approach to cybersecurity that offers clients the insights they need to protect their data and optimize their protection against cyber threats. This approach is informed by his extensive background in IT audits and his proven record as a thought leader in the cybersecurity field, and is supported by his notable credentials that include Cybersecurity Maturity Model Registered Practitioner (CMMC RP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and Project Management Professional (PMP).
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Announcing the Rebrand of Our Cybersecurity Risk Services (CRS) Practice
Williams Adley is pleased to announce that we have rebranded our Information Technology Risk Management (ITRM) practice to Cybersecurity Risk Services (CRS). Motivated by industry trends, this update reflects the purpose of our core service offerings as well as our commitment to our clients: minimizing risk through comprehensive, value-added cyber insights. Our CRS team provides cybersecurity expertise to our clients in the form of audit and advisory services with a focus and foundation built on risk management skills. By helping clients assess their cybersecurity posture, identify potential vulnerabilities and threats, and develop strategies to minimize and mitigate risks, our focus on risk management enables clients to proactively safeguard their systems and data and maintain effective cybersecurity programs.
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IT Expert Shares 5 Cybersecurity Tips for Accountants
Williams Adley’s Cybersecurity Risk Services Partner Tony Wang has just been featured in a new interview with Software Advice! As a leading expert in cybersecurity, Tony highlights how safeguarding against data breaches and cyber crime is crucial for all businesses, and especially for accounting firms that work with large volumes of client data. To protect against the threat of data breaches, Tony outlines a valuable People, Process, and Technology (PPT) approach for optimizing cybersecurity by centering an organization’s people, establishing robust security processes, and strategically leveraging effective software tools.
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Things You Need To Know To Optimize Your Company’s Approach to Data Privacy
Tony Wang, CRS Partner at Williams Adley, has recently been featured in a new interview with Authority Magazine. In this interview, Tony describes the beginning of his career and his path to success as CRS Partner at Williams Adley. From his prominent vantage in the field of information technology, Tony offers key insights on current trends and challenges in cybersecurity and shares his valuable advice for companies looking to enhance their data privacy practices.
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Why Accounting Automations Are Crucial for Enhancing Efficiency
Advancing technologies such as accounting software, cloud computing, and robotic process automations have rendered transformative change in the financial industry, empowering organizations and firms while simultaneously presenting them with new challenges. While the use of such automated tools might challenge finance professionals to develop new expertise and implement new or unfamiliar processes, these automations also equip them to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness at reduced cost, ultimately allowing them to expand their role and develop new approaches for providing value. Read on to learn where and how automations can be implemented to improve your organization’s efficiency.
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40th Anniversary Open House
Our 40th Anniversary Open House was a chance to commemorate Williams Adley’s long history of success and celebrate all those who have helped build the legacy that we are so proud of today. This momentous event, held in our DC office on September 8th, invited the employees, alumni, and clients who have supported us through the years to come together and share in everything that has made our firm exceptional. Check out our slideshow to see photos from the night and partake in our celebration with us!
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5 Secrets For Effective Leadership
As the world continues to change rapidly, effective leadership is critical for cultivating a firm’s success. In light of this, Williams Adley’s Managing Partner Kola Isiaq has discovered that Culture, People, Strategy, Technology, and Relationships are vital for achieving and maintaining a competitive advantage. Here is a closer look at Kola’s secrets to successful leadership.
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