Technology
40 Under 40 Honoree: Kevin O’Connell, CPA — 39
Managing Partner, Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP, Walnut Creek, CA
Aug. 29, 2007
40 Under 40 Honoree: Kevin O’Connell, CPA — 39
Managing Partner, Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP, Walnut Creek, CA
EDUCATION: BS Accounting — Saint Mary’s College
FAMILY: Wife Diane; Children Kevin Jr., Kaitlyn, Coilton and
Michael
HOBBIES & INTERESTS: A devoted husband, father and coach
— a family man who’s engaged in his kids’ activities. Kevin
and his family also enjoy traveling and recently traveled to Ireland and Hawaii.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: AICPA State & Local Gov’t
Expert Panel, California Society of CPAs, Adjunct Professor of Auditing, St.
Mary’s College, Moraga (Calif.)
BLOG: www.mgocpa.com/go/mgo/mgo-perspectives/inside-mgo
What’s the one piece of technology that MOST helps you get through
your normal workday?
“My Palm Treo has everything I need to connect with my office and my clients.
In addition to the basic phone, I am able to communicate with my staff through
IM and receive/send real-time e-mail correspondence.”
What will be the biggest change over the next five years in the ways
tax and accounting firms operate?
“Providing instant secured ‘self-service’ access to our clients’
data through the Internet. Similar to the way in which our clients are able
to access their bank statements through a secured Internet site, CPAs will be
asked to provide prior years’ tax returns, financial statements and similar
information to clients through a secured site 24/7 given our global economy.”
What Kevin’s peers had to say about him:
Kevin is an entrepreneurial go-getter, a thought leader in his field, and his
leadership style is creative and proactive. He embodies the core value of enabling
limitless opportunity for our people, our clients and our community.
Working with Kevin, you see his creative problem-solving and communication
expertise on a daily basis. In addition to being recognized as a thought leader
in the public accounting profession well before most of his peers, his leadership
acumen is apparent in the way he runs our firm. Kevin is always thinking of
new ways to take MGO to the next level, through creativity, clear communication
and action. For example, he spearheaded our firm’s new career development
program, a comprehensive personal/professional growth program called MyPath@MGO,
designed to empower employees to achieve their career development goals in a
structured, mentored framework. In addition, Kevin implemented a comprehensive
firm-wide client survey initiative so that all clients can provide feedback
on engagements quickly and easily, and he led our recent website redesign efforts
with an unwavering focus on providing value to potential new hires, clients
and prospective clients. He is also leading the firm’s succession planning
efforts and transition to a new governance model. On top of managing the firm’s
operations, Kevin continues to serve select clients, volunteers as an instructor
in the firm’s comprehensive education program, and dedicates himself to
being a husband and father to his four children as well as being involved in
his church and other community service commitments. He has coached his sons’
football and baseball teams and actively participates in their athletic events.
His eldest son currently plays in a nationally ranked high school football program,
and his daughter recently qualified for the Junior Olympics in swimming.
Kevin turns his passion for accounting into an ability to help clients and
employees achieve their potential. When you ask Kevin why he loves what he does,
he focuses on how rewarding it is to help employees realize their goals and
to help clients maximize their success.