Ivan Garces named Chief Risk Officer at Kaufman Rossin

Kaufman Rossin, the largest independent accounting firm in Florida and one of the top 100 CPA and advisory firms in the U.S., recently named senior advisory principal Ivan Garces Chief Risk Officer (CRO) of the firm.

Garces is responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing risks facing the firm. His guidance is crucial in helping the firm make informed decisions by evaluating potential risks and developing strategies to manage them effectively. Garces has been a member of the firm’s management committee since 2019 where he works closely with other members of the executive management team to develop strategy and set the direction for the firm’s future sustainability, growth and profitability.

In addition to his role as CRO, Garces leads Kaufman Rossin’s risk advisory services practice, one of the firm’s fastest growing service lines. He draws upon his vast experience and leverages innovation to continually improve service offerings and the client experience while delivering clients practical solutions to manage risk. His practice focuses on providing risk management, governance, forensic accounting, financial crimes, and regulatory compliance services to privately held and publicly traded companies and financial institutions throughout the U.S., Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

“Ivan is a seasoned senior leader whose extensive experience in governance, risk management and regulatory consulting makes him especially well-suited for this role,” said Blain Heckaman, Chief Executive Officer. “I look forward to working with him and our executive team developing strategies that support our growth initiatives and continued success.”

As a frequent speaker at industry events and panels with more than 25 years of industry experience, Garces has been quoted in financial news and trade publications including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, South Florida Business Journal, American Banker and Compliance Week.

He is a board and executive committee member of the Financial & International Business Association (FIBA) serving as chair-elect for 2023, board member of the South Florida Banking Institute, board member of the GableStage, and past president of the South Florida Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and Cuban-American CPA Association.

Garces is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified in Financial Forensics and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation from Florida International University