Nick Steiner, a 20-year veteran of BPM, has been appointed as the top 50 accounting firm’s next CEO, succeeding Jim Wallace, who announced his retirement last March.
Steiner’s appointment is the result of a thorough succession process led by the firm’s CEO Succession Committee and the Board of Directors, BPM said in a media release on Aug. 25. The move was ratified by a vote of BPM’s partners.
Steiner, who recently celebrated two decades with BPM, currently serves as the firm’s chief growth officer and is a longtime partner in assurance and advisory. Over the course of his career, he has earned a reputation for strategic clarity, people-first leadership, and measurable results. During his tenure as Advisory Practice Group leader, he grew the practice from under $10 million in revenue to nearly $100 million while helping position BPM as a leader in technology‑forward advisory services.
“Nick is the right leader for BPM’s next chapter,” Sandy Murray, BPM chairman of the board, said in a statement. “He brings deep institutional knowledge, a proven record of growth, and a genuine commitment to our people and clients. His leadership reflects the values that define BPM, and I am confident he will guide the firm forward with clarity, integrity, and vision.”
Steiner said he’s honored to step into the role and is eager to build on BPM’s strong foundation.
“I want everyone to bring their best, feel empowered to try new things, and celebrate our successes together,” he said in a statement. “Our people and our culture have always been at the heart of what makes BPM special. At the same time, we have a long history of embracing new ideas and technology when they can help us serve our clients and strengthen our business. I believe our opportunity is to bring those strengths together even more effectively—combining the best of our culture with the best of what technology and new ideas can offer—and build an even stronger BPM for the future.”
Steiner joined BPM in 2006 and brings more than 25 years of experience across public accounting and private industry. Before becoming chief growth officer, he served as the Advisory Practice Group leader and co‑led BPM’s Technology Industry Group.
His experience includes advising clients across the semiconductor, SaaS, software, life sciences, networking, and manufacturing sectors. He has guided companies through initial public offerings, business combinations, financing arrangements, and complex Securities and Exchange Commission reporting and compliance matters.
Steiner holds an active CPA license in California and is a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Santa Clara University and a Master of Science in accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.
Steiner said his early priorities as CEO include investing in BPM’s people, strengthening a sense of belonging across the firm, and continuing to elevate client service. He emphasized that BPM’s commitment to its clients, colleagues, and communities remains unchanged.
“Our promise endures,” he said. “Because people matter.”
Wallace, who spent 11 years as BPM CEO, is credited for leading the firm through a tremendous period of growth and change. In 2015, when he stepped into the role of CEO, BPM was a $69 million firm with a little more than 300 professionals, primarily located around the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, the firm has grown to more than $254 million in revenue and nearly 1,300 professionals working together across offices and locations around the world.
“Serving as CEO of BPM for more than a decade has been an extraordinary privilege. As I reflect on the past eleven years, what I feel most is gratitude,” Wallace said in a statement last March. “What began as a regional firm has become a global organization serving clients, communities, and industries in many markets. While I am proud of the growth we have achieved, what matters most to me is how we achieved it. We grew while staying true to the values that define BPM.”
Photo caption: New BPM CEO Nick Steiner
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Tags: accounting firms, BPM, ceo, ceos, Firm Management, Jim Wallace, Nick Steiner, succession
