Editors’ Note

Raina Rose Tagle has nearly 25 years of experience providing consulting services to higher education institutions, not-for-profits, governmental entities and government contractors. She is the firmwide leader of Baker Tilly’s risk, internal audit and cybersecurity as well as higher education and research institutions consulting practices. Raina is a member of Baker Tilly’s Board of Partners.

Firm Brief

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP (bakertilly.com) is a nationally recognized, full-service accounting and advisory firm whose specialized professionals connect with clients and their businesses through refreshing candor and clear industry insight. With approximately 2,700 employees across the United States, Baker Tilly is ranked as one of the 15 largest accounting and advisory firms in the country. Headquartered in Chicago, Baker Tilly is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 147 countries, with 30,000 professionals.

What are your specific areas of focus and key mission at Baker Tilly?

I lead our risk, internal audit and cyber­security practice across the firm. It’s a collection of services. The overarching capability we provide is identification of risk. What can go wrong? What can stand in the way of taking advantage of opportunities? We address those areas to achieve the best outcomes and strategic objectives for our clients.

What is the client sweet spot for Baker Tilly within this particular area of focus?

We aren’t trying to be everything to everyone. We focus on specific industries and capabilities within those industries. What sets us apart is speaking the language of our client’s industry. We help our clients navigate and effect change and do this in a customized way to fit our clients’ needs.

How is the role of professional services changing?

It’s changing in many different ways. Just one example is internal audit services. The profession of internal audit is moving from a “gotcha” mentality to serve more as an advisor and partner to key stakeholders. At Baker Tilly, this is the approach we take as Valued Business Advisors.

In the audit world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing things only in black and white and missing opportunities. As advisors, we align ourselves with our clients and their missions. We don’t believe in the “gotcha” approach. This philosophy is how we add value and cut through the noise to help our clients be the best possible organization they can be.

Talk about the critical role cybersecurity is playing today.

Board directors face challenges in cutting through the noise, interpreting all of the risks and tax implications that their companies face, and understanding the right approach to address that in a risk-appropriate way.

Safeguarding critical information has become exponentially more complex. Compliance requirements around cybersecurity are also increasing across multiple industries.

However, compliance and security are two different things. Just because a company is compliant with cybersecurity regulations or laws doesn’t mean that company’s information is secure. Over time, company boards and senior leaders must provide not only assistance but assurance that a company is addressing its cybersecurity challenges. That’s where we can help and make a difference for our clients.

How much of an impact is technology having within the audit sector?

Technology can provide better information for decision making – pinpointing where there are possibilities of wrongdoing or process breakdowns in the organization. Technology enhancements shift auditors’ focus from collecting data to interpreting data – taking the results of a technology-based analysis and using the information to help companies become more secure and efficient in their processes.

Within Baker Tilly, what is the value in having a collaborative culture?

There is a great deal of collaboration across our firm. Our clients realize that one person doesn’t have all the answers. But they expect – and they deserve – access to knowledge and expertise from our entire firm. And that’s exactly what we do.

Baker Tilly is large enough to provide a full range of services and highly specialized solutions to our clients, yet nimble enough that our people understand and can readily access the full breadth of capabilities across our firm.•