Navigate complexity with a nimble, customized approach

Omar Hawa leads Highspring’s accounting advisory practice and serves a wide range of clients from fast-growing private companies to large international publicly traded companies specializing in complex transactional challenges in accounting, finance, and business operations.  Additionally, he oversees Highspring’s rapid growth and strategy on the west coast. His portfolio includes hands-on experience in IPO readiness, financial reporting process design and improvement, finance transformation, enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations, audit readiness, technical accounting, and internal control (Sarbanes-Oxley) compliance. Omar has also advised several multibillion-dollar companies in the aerospace and defense industry through the full M&A lifecycle particularly in post-merger process and system integration challenges. 

Prior to joining Highspring, Omar served in an internal controls role at Black Entertainment Television (BET), a Viacom company, and worked in Big Four public accounting. He is a certified public accountant and holds a B.S. in accounting, B.S. in business management, and a minor in economics from George Mason University. 

Anil Persad leads Highspring’s New York office and is a recognized accounting advisory leader who specializes in leading IPO and public company readiness transactions, as well as delivering high-quality technical accounting and audit preparation services. Anil is a true collaborator and trusted advisor to his clients, and his specific areas of focus include all things IPO, preparing companies for initial and ongoing financial statement audits, SEC reporting, registration statement preparation, and assisting with complex technical accounting transactions.

Before joining Highspring, Anil spent several years with PwC, most recently within the firm’s National Quality Organization (National office). There, he collaborated with the firm’s clients on transactional matters such as revenue recognition, business combinations, goodwill, long-lived asset impairments, equity and debt instruments, segment reporting, stock-based compensation, carve-out financial statements, SEC comment letter responses, restatements, and interpreting SEC rules and regulations.

Anil has dedicated his time to sharing his expertise with others, having presented at seminars to industry professionals at various CPE events on SEC hot topics, industry trends, and other technical matters. He is also an avid promoter of financial literacy and has worked with various non-profit organizations to educate individuals and groups on financial well-being. Anil earned his B.A. in both accounting and economics from the City University of New York – Queens College and holds a CPA license in New York. 

Barbara Ard is Managing Partner in the Highspring’s Accounting Advisory practice. She brings her experience as a partner at Deloitte, senior managing director at FTI Consulting, and CFO of a venture backed software company to her clients. Her expertise includes technical accounting, financial reporting, M&A transactions, IPO readiness, and corporate governance. Her work is encompasses leading teams through complex client transformations, focusing on alignment with and achievement of strategic objectives.  

She holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Accounting from Duquesne University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Beyond her professional endeavors, Barbara spends her time cooking, doing yoga, skiing, and traveling with her family. 

Jordan is a Partner and leader of Highspring’s Technical Accounting Solution Center (TASC) serving our clients by delivering technical accounting assistance, addressing complex accounting challenges, preparing companies for transactions, and supporting process transformation. She serves publicly traded, privately held and private equity-backed companies in a variety of industries. The intersection of Jordan’s audit background from Arthur Andersen and deep industry experience throughout her 25+ year career has enabled her to strategically view complex business challenges from both technical accounting and operational vantage points in advising her clients.  

Jordan is a licensed CPA in Virginia and earned a B.B.A. from James Madison University.   

Jeff Sears specializes in complex accounting and transaction matters. With over 20 years of experience spanning audit, regulatory, and consulting roles, Jeff guides clients through IPO readiness and other capital market transactions and assists clients with audit readiness, SEC compliance, financial reporting, and a spectrum of technical accounting matters. Before joining Highspring, Jeff held positions within EY’s Financial Accounting Advisory Services practice, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance, and PwC’s external audit practice.  

Jeff earned both his B.S. and M.S. in Accounting from the University of Virginia and is a licensed CPA in Virginia. Beyond his professional endeavors, Jeff enjoys traveling and experiencing new places with his family. 

Gary Korn leads Highspring’s valuation services practice, bringing over 25 years of experience in business, intangible asset, debt, and equity securities valuations. His expertise spans financial and tax reporting, purchase price allocation, impairment analysis, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy and restructuring, litigation support, and private equity portfolio company reporting across diverse industries such as consumer products, technology, healthcare, government contractors and telecommunications. Gary holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and a Certification in Distressed Business Valuation (CDBV). 

He earned his MBA from the University of San Francisco and his B.S. from the United States Naval Academy. Beyond his professional endeavors, Gary still enjoys playing pick-up basketball.