Barry J. Epstein, PhD, CPA, is a partner with Chicago-based Russell Novak & Company, LLP, where he specializes in technical consultation on accounting and auditing matters and corporate governance, and maintains a national practice as a consulting and testifying expert for commercial and other litigation matters, including accountants' malpractice, contractual dispute resolution, damages modeling, and white-collar criminal defense. He has previously served in senior technical and litigation consulting positions with several regional and national CPA firms, and as a corporate finance executive and college professor. Dr. Epstein has authored or coauthored six books (including Wiley IFRS Interpretation and Application), hundreds of professional education courses, several articles in business or professional journals, and a weekly business column for an international newspaper. He has served on several state and national technical committees, including the AICPA's Board of Examiners, served as chair of the Illinois CPA Society's senior accounting technical committee, and held teaching positions at several universities. Dr. Epstein received his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, and also holds degrees from DePaul University and the University of Chicago,. he is a member of the Illinois CPA Society, the AICPA, and the American Accounting Association.
Ralph Nach, CPA, is a Vice-President of AuditWatch, Inc. for whom he writes, teaches, and consults on a wide range of accounting, auditing, and financial reporting matters. Mr. Nach has been a practitioner for over thirty years, during which he has served in capacities including accountant, auditor, technical reviewer, educator, and consultant for several public accounting firms including Arthur Andersen LLP and in the National Office of Audit and Accounting of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP. Mr. Nach is a former adjunct lecturer in graduate accounting and finance at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Mr. Nach holds a BSBA with honors from the Walter E. Heller School of Business Administration of Roosevelt University in Chicago, and is a licensed CPA in Illinois. Mr. Nach has coauthored several other books and speaks nationally on accounting, auditing, and financial reporting topics. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), the Illinois CPA Society, where he has served as a chairman and/or member of numerous committees, and an associate member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Steven Bragg, CPA, CMA, CIA, CPIM, has been the chief financial officer or controller of four companies, as well as a consulting manger at Ernst & Young and Auditor at Deloitte & Touche. He received a master's degree in finance from Bentley College, an MBA from Babson College, and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Maine. he is the author of 28 books, including Accounting Best Practices, The Ultimate Accountants' Reference, and Controllership. He has been the two-time president of the Colorado Mountain Club. He resides with his wife and two daughters in Centennial, Colorado, Sigh up for his free accounting best practices newsletter at www.stevebragg.com.
