Holly Sharp, CPA, CFE, CFF, Director of Consulting Services and shareholder at LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors (LaPorte), has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2023 MoneyMakers award from New Orleans CityBusiness. The MoneyMakers award “recognizes financial professionals whose fiscal work has set the pace for their company and the region” and honorees are selected based on their industry and community involvement.
Initially hired in the tax department after receiving her Master in Tax Accounting from University of New Orleans, Holly segued to LaPorte’s litigation and forensic accounting team, which she now leads.
Holly was a member of the Association of International Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) inaugural committee on litigation services and was tasked by the AICPA with developing training materials for member CPAs who wished to develop their own litigation consulting practice. Holly subsequently authored the book Measuring Damages Involving Individuals: A CPA’s Litigation Service Guide with Case Studies. This book, along with the many lectures Holly provided during AICPA conferences, helped train an entire generation of CPAs in the best ways to build out a litigation services department at their own firms.
Her rise through the ranks of LaPorte is defined by her steady commitment to take on new challenges while continuing to provide proactive and ongoing service to her clients. As a result of her dedication and hard work, she became the first female director at LaPorte in 1991 and subsequently became the firm’s first female shareholder in 1993. Holly has also championed for other women at the firm and today nearly 50% of LaPorte’s shareholders are women.
“Holly has always demonstrated enormous commitment to her profession, her community, and to LaPorte,” said Eric Bosch, President and CEO of LaPorte. “Her energy and dedication have helped shape LaPorte as well as the entire accounting industry. LaPorte is fortunate to have such an incredible leader, and I am thrilled that New Orleans CityBusiness has recognized this commitment by honoring her as a MoneyMakers recipient.”
Established in 1946, LaPorte is one of the largest independent accounting and business advisory firms in the region, with over 180 personnel in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Covington, and Houma, LA, and in Houston, TX. The firm offers a variety of services, including accounting, audit and assurance, business advisory, and tax planning and compliance. For more information, visit LaPorte’s Firm Profile.