How Accountants Grow Beyond Technical Skills: Insights from RSM’s Chief Auditor

Adam Mendler is a nationally recognized authority on leadership, renowned for his unique ability to deliver perspective-shifting insights shaped by interviewing more than 500 of America’s most successful leaders. The creator and host of the top-rated business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, Adam regularly elicits insights from America's top CEOs, founders, athletes, celebrities, and political and military leaders. A keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations, Adam has written extensively on business and leadership, having authored more than 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc., and HuffPost. A Los Angeles native and lifelong Angels fan, Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA, serves on the board of UCLA’s Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science program, is an emeritus member of USC’s Board of Governors, and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders.

Sara Lord is a partner and Chief Auditor of RSM US LLP. She is responsible for oversight of the assurance policy, accounting policy, quality management, assurance innovation, and assurance technology departments. This includes the methodology, tools, training, and thought leadership supporting RSM’s assurance services as delivered today and their evolution into the future. Sara previously served as a member of the RSM US LLP Board of Directors, providing governance and oversight of the firm’s strategic vision. Sara is the Chair of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Auditing Standards Board and is a member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Standards and Emerging Issues Advisory Group. Experience As Chief Auditor, Sara leads the assurance policy, accounting policy, quality management, audit innovation, and assurance technology departments of RSM. She has a deep knowledge of the auditing standards and the standard-setting process. She leverages this passion and knowledge to influence the audit profession on a broader level through her committee work with the AICPA and Center for Audit Quality and delivery of thought leadership on relevant topics. She provides a middle-market perspective, ensuring that the voice of the firm and middle-market companies is considered as accounting and auditing standards are designed. Sara has more than 25 years of experience in public accounting with a deep understanding of RSM clients, internal teams, and the firm as a whole. Sara started her career as an auditor at a Big Four firm, where she had progressive experience serving clients, holding national roles, and working in global regulatory and public policy. From there, she continued her career journey with a regional accounting firm, where she served clients and was a consultation resource for accounting and assurance needs. Ultimately, her passion for the profession led her to join RSM’s audit standards and methodology team in 2012. In her current role, she is focused on developing tools, guidance, and training that enable our auditors to efficiently deliver high-quality assurance services. As part of the assurance practice’s innovation journey, Sara is working with technology tools and practices to continuously examine and evolve the audit process.