This month, Forbes released its inaugural list of America’s Top 200 CPAs, and PYA is honored to announce Marty Brown, President and CEO, is included in the prestigious list. He is one of only two CPAs from Tennessee and the only CPA in East Tennessee to receive this honor.
The Top 200 is “…a compilation of the finest CPAs active in public practice, culled from a collection of candidates sourced through independent nominations and accolades from every society and association of CPAs,” according to Forbes. “Nominees were rated on a range of weighted criteria, including expertise, innovation, thought leadership, experience, and service to the community and to their profession, as well as responses to selected questions.”
A select group of Forbes’ editorial staff considered more than 1,000 nominated CPAs for the list, which reflects “the very principles on which this profession stands – most of all, a fierce commitment to the staunch independence that delivers reliable financial data, upon which the American economy resides,” according to a Forbes article by Steel Rose. “But in truth, the most common denominator among each of these listmakers was courage.”
In a time of volatility in the accounting profession brought on by a dwindling pipeline of talent, the introduction of artificial intelligence, the shifting needs of clients, changes in technology, and the influence of private equity, the Top 200 CPAs reflect a stalwart determination to innovate and adapt.
“I’m both surprised and deeply humbled by this recognition,” Brown said. “I’m privileged to work alongside the mindful professionals at PYA, who tirelessly work to do what is best for our clients. PYA certainly experiences the challenges of today’s profession, but we continue an upward trajectory. Of the many factors that contribute to our success – our people, our ability to transition our services, and our values – I believe our choice to remain independently owned helps us ensure absolute impartiality and the ability to advise our clients on what’s best for them without question. That’s been the PYA way for more than 40 years.”
A certified public accountant, Brown joined PYA in 1991 and served as Managing Principal of Consulting Services from 2006-2019, when he was named Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure, he has helped catapult PYA to national recognition from Accounting Today, USA TODAY, Inside Public Accounting, and Modern Healthcare. In 2023, PYA was inducted into The University of Kansas Health System Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed by the system, and named the Outstanding Corporate Partner by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business.
With a strong spirit of entrepreneurship, Brown helped found several of PYA’s affiliated companies and inaugurated the PYA Ballard Innovation Award for East Tennessee start-ups. He is a 1985 graduate of the Haslam College of Business and continues to support his alma mater in impactful ways. A longtime leader in the community and profession, he is involved with many state and national organizations.
