Strategic Advisory Council Formed to Advance Innovation and Leadership in Accounting

Firm Management | October 23, 2025

Strategic Advisory Council Formed to Advance Innovation and Leadership in Accounting

The council brings together prominent figures from across the accounting, M&A advisory, consulting, and technology innovation sectors to help shape how firms adapt to disruption, consolidation, and the growing influence of AI.

Isaac M. O'Bannon

QX Accounting Services (QXAS), a provider of tech-enabled outsourcing for CPA firms, has announced the formation of a Strategic Advisory Council.

The council brings together prominent figures from across the accounting, M&A advisory, consulting, and technology innovation sectors to help shape how firms adapt to disruption, consolidation, and the growing influence of AI.

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The inaugural members of the QXAS Strategic Advisory Council are:

  • Alan Whitman is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Baker Tilly and now serves as a transformation and growth advisor to professional services firms. He brings a track record of significant growth and scaling, board-level credibility, and insight into GCC models and enterprise partner selection.
  • Bob Lewis is the president of The Visionary Group. He advises on firm growth, independence versus consolidation, and M&A strategy, and has developed practical playbooks for leadership succession and value creation.
  • Ellen Choi is co-founder of Aiwyn and CEO of Edgefield Group. She is recognized for her expertise in AI enablement and technology adoption for CPA firms, with a focus on product-market fit and ecosystem partnerships.
  • Rob Brown is Founder of the Accounting Voices Network, a global media and events platform for the accounting and related tech space. Through his podcasts, expert panels and collaborations he helps professional firms and vendors amplify their visibility, share their insights and stay relevant in a noisy, disrupted and rapidly changing world.

“We are thrilled to welcome Alan, Bob, Ellen, and Rob, to the QXAS Strategic Advisory Council. Each brings unique expertise, from large-firm leadership and M&A strategy to technology adoption and market influence”, said Sagar Ahuja, CEO of QX Accounting Services. “Their insights will help us stay aligned with the priorities of CPAs and private equity-backed firms as the profession undergoes rapid transformation.”

The Council will advise on four key areas influencing firm strategy and growth:

  • Leadership & Operating Models: How large firms evaluate outsourcing and capability-building partnerships.
  • Technology & AI  Enablement: Guidance on automation, change management, and ecosystem alignment.
  • Growth & Succession: Independent versus consolidated growth pathways, with outsourcing as an enabler.
  • Visibility & Influence: How firms can shape the narrative around modernization and talent.

To reinforce its industry impact, the Council’s first initiative will be to produce a white paper on the key drivers of change in accounting for 2026, highlighting how technology, talent, and capital are redefining firm performance.  

“Accounting firms are at an inflection point,” said Bob Lewis, President of The Visionary Group & Council Member. “Technology, rising costs, and changes in firm values due to private equity are forcing leaders to rethink their models. I joined the Advisory Council to help firms build strategies that balance independence vs growth through M&A and to build enterprise value no matter what financial structure they operate under.”

To learn more about the QX Strategic Advisory Council and its members, visit www.qxaccounting.com/about-us/strategic-advisory-council

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Isaac M. O'Bannon

Isaac M. O'Bannon

Managing Editor

Isaac M. O'Bannon is the managing editor and digital content manager for CPA Practice Advisor (www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com), drawing on two decades of experience covering the areas of professional accounting, taxation, business productivity and consumer technologies. . Prior to CPA Practice Advisor, O'Bannon was a consultant at firms in San Francisco, Denver and Tulsa, serving clients that included Logitech, Polycom, Hilti, Microsoft, the Stanford Research Institute, the University of Oklahoma's College of Engineering and other technology leaders. He is a U.S. Navy groundforces veteran (never a SEAL). Email: isaac.obannon - @ - cpapracticeadvisor.com . Isaac OBannon 2019 Cropped Small Headshot