New data and finance leadership appointments support CLA's
strategic growth plans.
MINNEAPOLIS, July 2, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), the
eighth-largest accounting firm in the
United States, announced today that Ray Price, Jr. has joined the firm as its Chief
Financial Officer (CFO) and that Spencer
Lourens has advanced to the newly created Chief Data Officer
(CDO) role.
"With the professional services industry evolving at a rapid
pace, we see an enormous opportunity to better serve our clients
and are investing in top talent to drive growth," said Jen Leary, CEO of CLA. "I am delighted to again
this year welcome so many talented leaders into new roles across
our firm. The addition of Spencer and Ray rounds out a true 'dream
team' of leadership at CLA. We have the drive, energy and talent to
continue positively disrupting the profession."
Price joins CLA after an impressive career at Bank of America,
including his most recent role as CFO of Bank of America Merrill
Lynch's Private Wealth Management. Price will lead CLA's financial
operations, guiding the firm's fiscal strategy and growth planning
in collaboration with the leadership team. He holds a Bachelor of
Science degree in Accounting and Finance from Old Dominion University, and a Master of Business
Administration (EMBA) from Queens
University of Charlotte.
Price is a lifetime member of NABA Inc. and serves as the Chair of
the Corporate Advisory Board for the organization. He is based in
Charlotte, North Carolina, where
he, his wife, and their two daughters reside.
As CDO, Lourens will oversee data management, quality,
utilization, and governance, while developing comprehensive data
strategies as part of CLA's $500
million investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and
technology. Lourens joined the firm in 2019 to accelerate CLA's
digital solutions and previously served as the Managing Principal
of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. He brings a wealth of
experience to this role including a Ph.D. in biostatistics from the
University of Iowa, and an extensive
background in Artificial Intelligence and data science. Previously,
Lourens was an Assistant Professor and directed the undergraduate
Health Data Science program at Indiana
University School of Medicine and the Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public
Health.
"This is an exciting time at CLA, with the addition of
Ray Price, Jr. and the more than 700
advancements within our incredible team, including Spencer Lourens who is driving our data
engagement," said Cathy Clarke,
Chief Culture Officer at CLA. "What makes CLA special is our people
and how we celebrate the collective impact each individual has
through their dedication and commitment to growing our business and
their skills. As we invest in the next generation of firm leaders
it's exciting to imagine our future."
About CLA
CLA exists to create opportunities for our
clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused
wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services.
With nearly 9,000 people, 130 U.S. locations, and a global vision,
we promise to know you and help you. For more information, visit
CLAconnect.com. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is an independent
network member of CLA Global. See
CLAglobal.com/disclaimer. Investment advisory
services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors,
LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor.
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SOURCE CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP)