When Sarah Lynch was promoted to vice president of Meaden & Moore’s Assurance Services Group in 2017, it really came as very little surprise to those within the company.
“Sarah continually proves her dedication to improving our firm and proactively serving our clients,” says James P. Carulas, CEO of the international financial services firm that is now entering its 100th year. “She has demonstrated her commitment to relationships, business development and client advocacy, as well as the value of collaboration and mentoring. Her approach to serving clients has been instrumental in the success of our company.”
But to hear Lynch tell it, her success can be directly attributed to that of the people around her and the culture within Meaden & Moore that fosters professional development. Lynch joined Meaden & Moore before she graduated from Kent State with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
“I actually did my internship at Meaden & Moore when I was at Kent State,” says Lynch. “Now, 18 years later, here I am.”
As vice president of Meaden & Moore’s Assurance Services Group, Lynch works on a team of approximately 80 professionals, overseeing financial audits and reviews, as well as employee benefit plan audits. Although Meaden & Moore is international in its size and scope, the Assurance Services Group operates out of Meaden & Moore’s Northeast Ohio offices in Cleveland, Akron, Wooster and Beachwood. However, it collaborates and works with the firm’s offices and clients across the globe.
“We have clients that may need an audit for a regulatory requirement, or it may be a smaller family-owned business or private company that may have a tax service requirement, succession planning or a business valuation,” explains Lynch. “So, we have 80 people who are on the Assurance side, but there may be another 30 to 40 on the tax side of the house. We work together as a team.”
Naturally, not every member of the Assurance Services’ team is used on every occasion. Rather, teams are built to specifically address an individual client’s needs.
“It’s about finding the right skill sets for what our clients need,” Lynch says of its internal teambuilding. “I don’t know if we ever have a full team of 80, but in some instances there could be a lot of hands needed because some of our clients face a lot of challenges.
“Our clients face the ongoing challenges of new technology, and it’s not just technology, but the pace of technological change, which is happening at a faster and faster pace.”
Although Meaden & Moore offers diverse financial services, Lynch has discovered that the business is also about people, not just facts, figures and financial regulations.
“When I started out, I didn’t realize how important relationships are in this business, but it’s also my favorite part — not only with my staff, but also with our clients,” says Lynch. “Getting to know them, what keeps them up at night and what drives them is all a part of what we do.
“Being an adviser to our clients is a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to help them navigate those waters.”
Lynch, husband Tom and daughter Keagan, live in Medina.