People

Louis C. Grassi, CPA, CFE, is the Chief Executive Officer of Grassi Advisory Group, Inc. He began his career in 1977 and has extensive experience in tax, accounting, and consulting. Lou takes a proactive role with clients, performing such value-added services as profit-enhancement studies, operational reviews, performance benchmarking, forensic accounting, cost analysis, incentive compensation programs, estate and succession planning, corporate restructuring, and corporate retreat facilitation. Lou’s counsel has proven instrumental to the success of many companies in various industries.

Lou has received several industry accolades, including his CPA peers voting him the “Most Admired Peer” as awarded by INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA). Forbes named Lou one of “America’s Top 200 CPAs,” Accounting Today Magazine named him one of the “Managing Partner Elite,” and several NY-area publications recognized him as an “Outstanding CEO.”

Lou’s leadership, drive for success, and dedication to providing clients with high-quality services have grown Grassi from a zero-base firm to being ranked the 56th largest Firm in the country, and the 17th Largest Firm in the New York area by Crain’s New York Business. IPA has also recognized Grassi as one of the “Best of the Best Firms” for 10 consecutive years.  The firm was also recognized by Crain’s New York Business as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Businesses in New York City and was ranked as the Best Place to Work by several publications.

Lou was the former Chair of Moore North America, part of an international association of more than 300 independent accounting and consulting firms.  As a nationally recognized expert, Lou is also frequently called upon as a lecturer and business advisor for companies and industry trade organizations. He has authored numerous local and national articles and is a contributing editor to the Corporate Controller’s Manual. Lou was an adjunct professor at Columbia University, teaching a graduate-level course in finance and accounting.

He has served as an executive board officer for the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYCPA) and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Lou also serves on numerous committees and task forces within the firm’s industries. He is a Board Member of the Young Presidents Organization and appears in the national and international Who’s Who Directory of Finance. Lou was a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of CPA Managing Partner Report, the CPA Journal, and other industry publications.

Lou is actively involved in his community and holds board positions with several civic and philanthropic organizations. He was also a member of the Nassau County Audit Committee, a former member of the Nassau County Comptroller’s transition team, and past chair of a large nonprofit human services agency. Additionally, Lou serves on the Board of Flushing Financial Corp, a $6 billion U.S. bank, and BRT Realty, a publicly traded REIT.

Lou earned his Business Administration degree in Accounting from Queens College. He has completed postgraduate courses in taxation and earned the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation from the National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.