Finance hero spotlight: Accounting MVPs who make it all add up

To all the spreadsheet warriors, pivot table masters and financial fixers—Happy National Accounting Day!

Behind every balanced budget and every successful business is an accountant making it all add up. On May 19, we honor the finance pros who keep the wheels turning, the reports clean and the chaos organized.

As part of the celebration, we invited people to nominate their Accounting MVPs—those unsung heroes who pivot, adapt and power through the toughest challenges with precision and heart.

We were blown away by the kind words, gratitude and admiration shared in these submissions. Below, we’ve featured the incredible accountants who were nominated, the colleagues who nominated them and the heartfelt messages that show just how valued they are.

The accounting a-list: our nominees

Nominee	Nominated by	Why they’re an Accounting MVP
Adrianna Marano	Victoria King	I’m nominating Adrianna Marano because she is, quite literally, our entire accounting department at Trust 1 — and she absolutely crushes it. From invoices to reconciliations to making sure every number adds up, Adrianna handles it all with incredible precision and zero drama. She keeps the financial side of our business running smoothly and somehow stays calm, collected, and even funny while doing it. I honestly don’t know how she manages it all — but she does, and she makes it look easy. Adrianna deserves to be recognized not just for keeping the lights on (and the books balanced), but for being such a steady, reliable, and positive presence behind the scenes. She’s a true accounting rockstar, and if anyone belongs on the A-List, it’s her!
Alan Lehmann	Melissa Kelley	Alan can calculate an indirect cost rate with one hand tied behind his back!
Alice Fort	Maria Angelica Tuttlebee	Always has a smile on her face, even when we’re off by that elusive $0.01 in our monthly reconciliations. She’s incredibly smart and ready to take on any task.
Alodia Clara Tanojo	Bill Hogan	Clara is very responsive and knowledgeable. A great team player!
Annettee Mariano	Jim Pierce	Volume of work, quality, and efficient
Aubierge Rabon	Nancy Tran	Aubierge is an outstanding accountant for Leah’s Pantry who goes beyond basic bookkeeping. She possesses a genuine understanding of the non-profit sector and its unique financial challenges, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail in tracking grants and program expenses. Her proactive approaches, such as identifying opportunities for financial efficiency and sustainability, coupled with clear and transparent communication, empower Leah’s Pantry to achieve its mission.
Charlotte Robin	Whitney Zerangue	Mrs. Charlotte is our financial expert and keeps us all in line! She is very knowledgeable but still willing to learn.
Chaya Kovitz	Milton Jefferson	She’s so detail oriented and communicative about whats happening with my business.
Chris Gregory	Dominique Rodriguez	I’m proud to nominate my boss for this award. He consistently goes above and beyond in his role—not only delivering accurate, high-quality work but also taking the time to teach and mentor those around him. He brings a strong work ethic, remarkable patience, and a passion for teaching others. After a successful career in corporate America, he transitioned to the nonprofit sector to bring greater value and impact to our organization—leading by example every step of the way.
Chris Leone	Kelly Trickett	Not only does he fulfill his role as the finance director, he is an all around hands on guy! He jumps in and supports program level staff when needed, truly cares that they understand their benefits, cheers them on to open retirement accounts, and represents us in the community and contributes to fundraising as well! To say he goes above and beyond is an understatement
Christopher Kellam	David Campbell	Chris and his firm provide exceptional service and always deliver proactive guidance to help grow my business.
Claudio Cordeiro	Dave DeBruler	He is my right hand man and keeps everything running smoothly – payroll, payables, contributions, general ledger, financial analysis, internal controls.
Cynthia Boaz	Lana Pickerill	Cynthia is dedicated, reliable, and a wealth of information. She maintains high accounting standards, and stays apprised of changing non-profit and tax laws. She has been with our school for over 20 years, and is a great asset to our organization!
Dan Puhl	Melissa Rotramel	He focuses building those he works with up and uses every opportunity to teach versus tear down. He humbly shares his vast amount of knowledge and aims to give you all the skills needed to do as much as you can on your own (if desired). Amazing Man!!
David Heffler	Monica Lancaster	Not only is David competent, hard-working, an excellent communicator, reliable, and responsible, but he is by far the most fun and kind accountant I know! We worked on a movie together, and he implemented themed dress-up Fridays for a period of time, decorated people’s desks for birthdays, and organized various social events such as a Paint and Sip night and Friday happy hours for accounting and production. He is an absolute joy to work with – we all know how boring and stale accounting can be sometimes, and David brings so much lightness and joy and kindness to the office! David worked for years as a freelance accountant on movies, and now currently works for Marvel Studios.
Deborrah Hatt	Natalie Deibel	Deborrah’s attention to detail, her passion for accuracy and accountability, and her dedication to supporting our employees are truly inspiring!
Debra Norman	James A. Lee	Debra is the absolute best! Her unmatched attention to detail and deep knowledge of accounting principles have saved me countless times. Whether it’s navigating complex regulations or catching errors before they become issues, Debra is always one step ahead. Her dedication, reliability, and calm under pressure make her not just an exceptional accountant—but a true MVP. I can say with confidence that she has kept me out of more financial trouble than I care to admit!
Denise Castro	Joy Baldree & LaShanda Evans	She takes the time to help our employees understand the financial process. Goes over and beyond in everything she does. She is truly a servant leader and puts hear and soul into all things finace and business related. I could not do this work without her.
Desie Horton	Virkeisha Palmer	We came to her two years behind on our taxes. I had been losing sleep because the bill I came up with was so large that we couldn’t even qualify to get a home. So, I finally found her and she was more than a tax professional – she was an accountant. She got our business and personal taxes on track and did all of the accounting work I did not know to do. Once she told me all of the things I was missing (still do not understand some of it) I realized I need to stick with her. She lowered our tax liability, is keeping our bookkeeping straight and is always available to help us when we need something pulled. Recently, she has been helpful in obtaining a mortgage – going above and beyond to fulfill the brokers’ requests. I am so grateful for Desie Horton because of her I got my sleep back!
Donna Silvernagel	Don Henry	professional, knowledgeable, hard-working and dedicated
Ena Attiogbe	Sonja Biggs	Ena keeps our company focused on our goals by showing with the numbers how we are making a difference in the lives of the students we teach. When we run into a challenge Ena shows us how we can move financially past it. She does more than just show us our P&L and Balance Sheets, she makes sure our billing runs smoothly and that our clients pay on time so everything runs smoothly. She is an integral part of our team by making the numbers fun and easy to understand.
Erik Antoñio Calderón	Daniel E. Santiago Jr	He overseas six different individual budgets with their own individual payroll as each department has its own personnel, staff, as well as budgets from vendor, payouts bills, cutting of checks and so much more for him to be 26 and be able to juggle it all as he does his are super hero 🦸
Heaven Garcia	Kevin Nelson	Accounting at a non-profit is a unqiue responsibility. Heaven is an amazing team player that juggles the need for fiscal responsibility with the ability to best serve the many youth and families we serve.
Jacob Schmidt	Paula Mangus	He works hard for his clients and makes sure he does a thorough job for them and his firm.
Jeffrey Larkins	Carolina Navarro	He is very attention to detail and shares his knowledge.
Jennifer Morris	Alan Hovland	Jennifer is an amazing accountant because of her attention to detail, her commitment to excellence in her work, and her positive “can do” attitude.
Jennifer Murman	Martin Robertson	Jennifer is a straight shooter who knows what she is doing when it comes to numbers. She is quick and precise. Best accountant I have ever worked with!
Joletta McCrary	Shannon Thompson	One of Joletta’s many responsibilities is processing our monthly PEX statements. Despite our lack of timliness and challenges with proper GL account codes, she does an amazing job of making sure we have purchasing cards to use. Reviewing this monthly for our entire portfolio of apartment buildings, is a major task and she does it with accuracy and a smile on her face!
Jose Comparan	Josh Court & Danny Martin	Jose is instrumental in our PEX card process, managing hundreds of users efficiently and is always quick to help or add funds as needed.
Joyce Mejia	Miguel Mejia	Works dedicated time as a volunteer,took on extra responsibilities when we had no pastor
Karen Barucci	April Main	She is very kind , and helpful when we email back and fourth and makes you feel like your making a difference at CRI. She is helpful and really nice to speak with
Kathleen Autrey	Sheila Barker	She always has the answer and she is approachable.
Kelli Marquez	Jackie Blanton	Always willing to go the extra mile, and I call her “hound dog” because she can find any line item anytime.
Kelsey Burroughs	Emily Post	Kelsey is always willing to take time out of her very busy day to help us with kindness and empathy!
Kristin Fernandez	Randall McMahon	I am proud to nominate Kristin Fernandez as the best accountant I’ve ever worked with not just for her technical skills, but for the way she transforms accounting into a powerful tool for growth, clarity, and financial empowerment.
Kyle White	Heather Cranor	Kyle brings an immense amount of nonprofit experience to our organization. She is an amazing mentor to our Finance Team.
Leslie Spangler	Joshua Tripp	Commitment, empathy, attention to detail. Leslie manages WCK’s banking and expense programs, including PEX. She works long, flexible hours to serve those that are serving the meals on the ground. She helps us to stay compliant and helps our relief team leverage our tools to purchase food and supplies.
Linda Acosta	Kelly Lyles	Linda always makes sure our books are in tip top shape and makes sure that everyone gets paid. She’s always available to answer questions when we have them.
Maggie Strong	Mike Everson	She keeps The Rock of Roseville PEX accounts running smoothly with little hiccups and is on every emergency every step of the way for most of our volunteer staff.
Mallya Mallya	Abolaji Ogunkoya	Best Professional here in PRD
Marie Jowett	Angel Nihells	She is detailed, accurate, and excellent at what she does.
Marisela Garcia	Mary Pham	She caught a discrepancy last year and found extra scholarship money for our scholars! She is always down to help in any way she can!
Maya Whitely	Cynthia VanDeWeert & Kate Schrodt	Maya is capable of anything. She goes above and beyond to assist us with payroll, adjustments, staff needs, everything. She does it with class and grace, and we couldn’t be happier to have her on our team.
Melissa Parish	David Belk	Melissa Parish is not just a great accountant at Venture Church — she’s the steady hand behind the scenes ensuring that the mission stays on track, even when challenges arise. Her commitment to excellence and her deep care for the organization make her a vital asset to the team. Melissa consistently goes above and beyond what is expected. Whether it’s closing out the month, resolving an unexpected financial discrepancy, or preparing for an audit, she does it with precision and dedication. She doesn’t clock out when the work gets tough; instead, she leans in, often putting in long hours to ensure everything continues to run smoothly behind the scenes. It’s not uncommon to see Melissa still working late, long after others have left, simply because she’s that committed to doing the job right. […] Her dedication, adaptability, and heart-centered leadership make her someone we are incredibly blessed to have on the team.
Meredith Turcotte	Shellie Hayes-McMahon	She’s a multi entity non profit accountant – a rarity in the industry
Michelle Long	Bonita Ringewold	She goes above and beyond. She spend numerous hours working with our previous accountant to correct continuous errors. When she was certified herself, we hired her as our full-time account. She has been diligent to straighten out our books and help us be more effective and clear with the monies entrusted to us. We are impressed with her persistent and faithful service.
Nick Latrielle	Becky Hjemvick	He is helpful, patient and kind. He lost his wife a few years ago and still works with the best attitude and diligence.
Nita Denning	Maria Reyes	She always is willing to take on a task and make sure she is doing the correct steps, stays until the job is done and helps teach others as well.
O’Najma Jeffries	Longevity Kirk	O’Najma Jeffries is more than just an accountant—she’s a strategic thinker, a compassionate leader, and a financial powerhouse. What sets her apart is her ability to simplify complex financial information and translate it into clear, actionable strategies for churches, nonprofits, and small businesses. She brings excellence and integrity to every financial report, budget, and audit, making sure her clients aren’t just compliant—but empowered. Her deep knowledge of both faith-based and for-profit financial systems makes her a rare gem. Whether it’s navigating clergy tax rules, streamlining operations, or scaling revenue, O’Najma serves with heart, wisdom, and a relentless commitment to her clients’ growth. She doesn’t just do the work; she elevates it. That’s why she’s the best.
Patricia Prichard	Audrey Rogers	We are a small church and we want to make sure our books are handled correctly but we can’t afford to pay a finance professional. Patricia, as her “retirement” “work”, manages our books as a volunteer. She’s not even part of our church, she does this for a couple churches out of the goodness of her heart and to keep her mind sharp! She is a gem.
Robert Sulton	Vickie Mason	Efficiency and the ability to combine technical expertise with strong interpersonal and ethical qualities.
Rochelle Young	Carla Evans	Dedication to make the books balance as well as ensuring payroll is on point.
Rosemary Watters	Robert Armbruster	Rosemary skillfully manages our non-profit’s finances which helps us as an organization to serve families in need here in alabama. She not only has wisdom to solve problems but she puts her whole heart into the work that she does. Rosemary is a true hero in the accounting world.
Samantha Jolley	Luis Rodriguez	Samantha (Sam) has played an essential role at H2O Away and American Restoration by implementing the Pex Program into our Plumber Referral Program. By being a leader and bridging the gap between Pex and H2O Away she has created a system that has increased referrals month over month. She has also take a leadership role in assisting other American Restoration Brands in implementing the same process at their Brands.
Sasha Epshteyn	Rose Neville	Sasha is a team superstar!! I don’t know where I would be without him as a coworker. He is sharp and a CPA, and a joy to work with. He is always lending a helping hand, from reviewing closing binders, releasing payments, making gametime decisions, while also being a sports trivia extraordinaire! He found Pex for our business and helped implement the system. I think he is the Best Accountant 2025!!!
Sonya Medbery	Kenneth Medbery	Shes an incredibly hard worker who has been taking care of finances for decades! Now she handles the books at my company and she also happens to be the best mom someone could ever want!
Theresa Torres	Jasmine Thompson	Not only is Theresa responsible, organized, and on top of it, she is kind, caring, and truly the best ever.
Trina Bruker	Alison Lesko, Blair Stairs, Michelle O’Malley & Cheryl Kouble	Ever since Trina joined us at the Webster House, she has done an incredible job streamlining our financial operations and adapting to our ever-changing needs—all while consistently supporting our mission. Beyond her professional expertise, Trina’s kindness and patience shine through in everything she does. She continually goes above and beyond for our program, and we are truly grateful to have her on our team. Trina is always willing to help in anyway she can! She is prompt with any requests we may have and also helps keep us honest with any missing receipts. I trust Trina 100% and glad she has our back!
Valerie DiGinto	Tracy DiGinto	Skilled Research, Accuracy, Prompt with Deadlines
Winfred Njenga	Tracy Randolph	strives for accuracy and perfection, Always rechecking to assure individual’s accounts are balanced correctly
Yennie Mach	Danielle Flores	She’s helpful, warm, friendly, brilliant, and is a amazing person!
Yeshaya Kranies	Alex Silverman	Yeshaya is an outstanding tax accountant whose expertise, diligence, and professionalism make him an invaluable asset to any organization. His deep understanding of complex tax codes and ever-changing regulations allows him to navigate even the most challenging scenarios with confidence and precision. Yeshaya approaches every engagement with a meticulous eye, ensuring accuracy and compliance across the board. But what truly sets him apart is his strategic thinking—he doesn’t just file returns; he identifies opportunities for optimization, helps clients plan proactively, and ensures they are always one step ahead when it comes to tax planning and compliance. […] In short, Yeshaya is not just a tax expert—he is a true partner in financial success and a role model in the field of accounting.
Zach Estes	Kristyn Andreu	Zach is kind and takes the time to explain which is different from any other accountant I have worked with.

How we support Accounting MVPs like you

At PEX, we know the work you do is complex, detail-driven and mission-critical. That’s why we’re here to simplify spend management, streamline reconciliation and give finance teams like yours better visibility and control—without the spreadsheet sprawl.

Whether you’re managing hundreds of transactions or keeping budgets tight across departments, PEX helps you move faster and with more accuracy.
Schedule a quick demo to see how we can support your team.