Biography
Jackie Cardello, CPA, is President and Managing Partner of GRF CPAs & Advisors, a leading CPA firm with international reach headquartered in metropolitan Washington, D.C. Ms. Cardello focuses on strategies that elevate GRF as a premier provider of accounting, assurance, tax, and advisory services to nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and individuals. She also spearheads initiatives that focus on recruiting and mentoring young CPAs and programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
An auditor by trade, Ms. Cardello advises a variety of nonprofit organizations including 501(c)(3) charitable entities, associations, private volunteer organizations, cultural institutions, advocacy groups, community development organizations, and other charitable institutions. She also advises the firm’s employee benefit plan audit practice, providing expertise for audits of 401(k), 403(b), pension and health and welfare plans.
Ms. Cardello is a board member and immediate past chair of CPAmerica, a national association of CPA firms in the United States, and a board member of the Maryland Association of CPAs. She is Practice Advisory Group Chair of the G400 – a council of the top accounting firms – for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and serves on the Smith Advisory Council of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland. Ms. Cardello was named Accounting Today’s 2020 Managing Partner (MP) Elite and received the Greater Washington Society of CPAs Emerging Leader Women to Watch Award in 2013. In 2023, she also received GWSCPA’s Champion of Women Award at their annual women’s leadership conference.
She is a strong advocate for animal welfare and children’s health and protection. She has volunteered and served in various capacities for organizations such as Tree House Child Assessment Center of Montgomery County, Montgomery County Humane Society, Childhelp USA, and Girls on the Run of Montgomery County. Ms. Cardello is a graduate of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland and a member of AICPA, MACPA, GWSCPA and the National Association of Professional Women.
Education and Certifications
- B.S. in Accounting, University of Maryland, College Park
Professional Affiliations
- CPAmerica, Board Member and Immediate Past Chair
- Smith School Advisory Council, Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland
- AICPA G400 Practice Advisory Group Chair
- Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA), Board of Directors
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center (EBPAQC)
- Greater Washington Society of CPAs (GWSCPA), Past Member of the Board of Governors
- National Association of Professional Women
- Tree House Child Assessment Center of Montgomery County, Community Council
- Girls on the Run of Montgomery County, Lead Coach