Partner

Owen Bailitz, CPA, CGMA, CFE

Operations

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Bio

Meet Owen

As a partner in Risk & Quality Management, Owen brings a unique, multidisciplinary perspective and diverse industry experience in client service, operations and risk management leadership roles in Big Four and large professional services firms.

Prior to joining Armanino, Owen provided risk management and quality control consulting services to Top 100 accounting firms across the United States and Canada as a Managing Principal with Lemme Insurance Brokers & Consultants.

Before his role at Lemme, Owen was a Partner with RSM US LLP, where he played a key role in the formation of the firm’s National Office of Risk Management and led numerous firmwide risk and quality initiatives while also serving as the risk management partner for the firm’s assurance practice.

Owen’s prior experience also includes leading teams of audit and forensics professionals responding to fraud and regulatory investigations for Fortune 500 clients as a member of PwC’s Fraud Risk & Controls practice. Prior to joining that practice, Owen led the delivery of audit services for public, private and nonprofit entities and employee benefit plans, including multiple debt and equity securities offerings as a manager in PwC’s middle market assurance practice.

Experience

Professional History

Associations

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
  • Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS)
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)

Community

  • American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) – Independent Audit Committee Member

Education

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Experience

  • RSM US LLP
  • PwC
  • KPMG

Q&A

Q. What was it that drew you to Armanino?

I watched Armanino move up the Top 100 Firms rankings for the last 10 years and was impressed with the strong culture of growth and quality in the partners and team members I met. I’m excited to be a part of a closely-knit firm equipped with the capabilities and industry expertise to bring impactful value to our clients.

Q. Without naming names, tell us about your favorite client and why you enjoyed working with them.

I had the opportunity to work closely with a professional services firm that was growing quickly, moving upstream and starting to encounter the challenges that come from working with larger, more complex clients. What made the relationship special was the opportunity to share best practices and lessons learned over the course of my career to help them to avoid making the sorts of mistakes I and others have made in the past. I had been where they were and they appreciated the experience and advice I had to offer.

Q. What’s your proudest moment?

Professionally, my proudest moments are watching the individuals I have coached and mentored grow and succeed – personally and professionally. Seeing people make partner, ascend to the C suite or just find that role in which they shine is an enormous source of pride. As a parent, I could not be prouder of my children when they do something selfless for someone else.

Q. If you could pass on a nugget of wisdom to aspiring accountants or consultants, what would that be?

Do the right thing, always, and particularly when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. You’ll sleep better at night.

Q. What do you love most about your work?

The variety! Every day is different and there’s always a new problem to solve, challenge to overcome or opportunity to explore. The variety means I’ll never stop learning.