TONY P. IELASE CISA

Tony leads the firm’s Risk Advisory Services (RAS) practice for the Columbus market and has over 25 years of experience providing risk advisory and compliance services to a diversified number of retail, manufacturing, higher education, healthcare, technology, utilities and financial services clients.

His areas of expertise include internal audit strategic planning, internal audit co-sourcing, enterprise risk management, compliance assessments, fraud risk assessments, business process improvement and SOX program implementation and optimization, among others.

Education

BSBA — Accounting from Clarion University of PA

Professional and Community Involvement

He is a member of various Schneider Downs internal groups, including the higher education and retail industry groups as well as:

Member—Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)

Member—Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)

Executive Committee Member—Association of Government Accountants (AGA)

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Do you have a hobby/personal passion?
Golf and pugs.

What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
If you want to make a million dollars, work a million hours.

Who is your role model?
My father.

What was your childhood dream?
To be an artist.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your college self?
Don’t stress out.  If you work hard everything will work out

People would be surprised to know that I…
…was an Art major my freshman year in college.

What is the best or most interesting thing about your career?
I get to meet and work with some of the brightest minds in the business community.

What was your first job?
Kirby sweeper salesman (true).

Do you have a “motto”? (spoken or unspoken)
“Don’t worry if the horse is blind- just start loading the wagon”

When you have an hour of free time, what do you like to do?
Spend time with my daughter Madison and walk the pug.

Do you have advice for young professionals?
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.  Learn from them.  And if you’re not making mistakes, you’re probably not challenging yourself enough.

Our Thoughts On

FEATURED

Big Problem: New Rules For Business Deductions.


Big Thinking: New Tax Planning Strategies To Save $300,000.

Shareholder EVAN OGRODNIK has been with Schneider Downs since 2005 and is one of our experts in tax compliance and planning, accounting, and financial reporting matters.
Evan’s team always worked closely with our clients’ accounting group and Schneider Downs‘ audit team. When the IRS changed the rules on the deductibility of repairs and maintenance versus capitalization of assets, a group of Schneider Downs’ tax specialists performed a deep-dive on the technical rules of this change to develop tax planning strategies for their clients.  In one particular instance, through extensive analysis of the client’s fixed asset ledgers as well as those of related-party commercial rental properties, we were able to find tax savings of approximately $300,000. “Communication with our clients is always critical,” Ogrodnik said. “Our understanding of new, complex regulations, knowledge of our client’s business and internal workings, and the trust the client had in our experts, allowed us to take advantage of tax rules and garner significant deductions.” Schneider Downs provides Big Thinking and Personal Focus in delivering a variety of services for large and small businesses, both publicly and privately held, as well as nonprofit organizations, government entities and more. Through our commitment to thought leadership and knowledge management, we deliver the solutions our clients need with a personal commitment to service.

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