Jo Ann Beck

Jo Ann Beck is a co-managing partner and an audit and business consulting partner with Shepard Schwartz & Harris LLP. Ms. Beck has spent her entire career working with clients in privately held professional service, real estate development and manufacturing organizations. She has consulted and worked extensively with business owners and executives to identify and implement:

• Accounting policies and internal control systems for manufacturing and real estate operations.
• Cost reduction and profit improvement opportunities for real estate, professional services and manufacturing companies.
• Installation and review of cost accounting and business control systems for real estate and professional services organizations.
• Income tax and wealth transfer planning for business owners, executives and other high net worth individuals
• Acquisitions and divestitures of business units or companies for real estate and manufacturing enterprises.

In addition to accounting and business issues, a significant portion of Ms. Beck’s practice is focused on the needs of high net worth individuals. From overseeing tax returns for trusts and partnerships, to advising on tax minimization strategies relating to particular investment opportunities, Ms. Beck has been a trusted resource for the firm’s clients in this arena.

As a co-managing partner, Ms. Beck is responsible for oversight of the firm’s operations, and recruiting and professional education of its professionals. A stalwart advocate for the advancement of women in the accounting profession, she was responsible for creating recruiting and retention initiatives at Shepard Schwartz & Harris to provide career and promotion opportunities for its female professionals. Today, she continues to be an active mentor to all the firm’s young professionals.

Ms. Beck joined the firm in 1966 after serving as a staff accountant for another Chicago CPA firm.