Not a Month but a Movement: A Celebration of Women in Accounting

Tributes to The Women Behind the Numbers

This summer and fall, Rho and Fintech is Femme are giving women leaders their flowers at exclusive bi-coastal celebrations. 

“The recognition of women's achievements in accounting doesn’t need to be confined to a particular month or day. Any time is a great time to celebrate and honor the contributions of amazing leaders,” Christine Farrier, Head of Partner Marketing at Rho explains. 

And with great care and intention, these two teams are set to bring these celebrations to life: Rho, the all-in-one business banking platform, built for startups and the accountants who serve them, and Nicole Casperson, founder of Fintech is Femme, a media company dedicated to shaping fintech's future. 

From a monthly bouquet subscription to gift bags with live plants that serve as a perpetual keepsake, every detail is being thoughtfully considered. Because these four finance professionals should be celebrated with the same level of meticulous attention they bring to their work.

Four Special Evenings of Community and Celebration 

Picture it, an intimate gathering of thirty finance luminaries, with the sparkling backdrop of a New York City locale or a Bay Area hot spot. Colleagues, clients, and peers toasting in celebration of a woman leader in finance. And an awards reception wouldn’t be complete without custom cocktails, tasty bites, and a live podcast conversation with a surprise finance VIP. 

All to celebrate a carefully selected honoree whose career growth and leadership accomplishments have made a significant impact on their firm and the broader professional community. It’ll be a series of events unlike any other. 

Reception Highlights

• Exclusive evening reception with colleagues, clients, and industry peers

• A live podcast production featuring surprise VIP guests, with insights and perspectives sure to inspire every finance professional

• A billboard in Times Square showcasing the honoree

• Scrumptious bites and signature cocktails in a stunning NYC/SF locale

• A generous donation to the honoree’s charity of choice

The best part? “We’re choosing to invest in our Rho partners and women leaders because it’s the smart thing to do,” Tommy McNulty, CRO of Rho explains, “When we invest and recognize leaders’ skills and contributions, they provide the ROI in their stellar work. Ultimately, investing in good people is a good business investment.” 

Who Are The Honorees? Drumroll Please… 

When we started our shortlist of honorees, the team looked first to the talented finance professionals in the Rho partner program. We have the privilege of seeing them work their magic with our shared clients, solving complex problems, offering long-term strategic advice, and pushing for innovation. 

As a result, four honorees were selected based on their leadership accomplishments and the significant impact they’ve made on their clients, firms, and the broader professional community. 

Nina Chmura, CPA, Partner, & OASyS Powerhouse

CPA, Market Leader and Partner at Withum

​Our first honoree is Nina Chmura, a visionary partner at Withum leading innovation in outsourced accounting and OASyS (Outsourced Accounting Systems and Services) practice. With 15+ years of expertise across real estate, consumer products, and nonprofits, Nina drives excellence through her leadership of the OASyS practice, earning accolades and redefining what’s possible in tech-forward, client-centered accounting solutions.

When asked what makes Nina worthy of celebration, CEO of Withum, Pat Walsh said, “We believe that innovation, leadership, and vision are what drive our firm and our clients forward. Nina Chmura embodies all three. As the leader of our Outsourced Accounting Systems and Services (OASyS) practice, Nina identified a growing need for agile, tech-enabled financial solutions and turned her insight into a thriving service line that delivers exceptional value for our clients. Her influence is felt through the results she delivers and the teams she inspires. We’re proud to see Nina recognized as a trailblazer who’s helping shape the future of accounting and finance, and we celebrate this honor."

Nina isn’t a stranger to the spotlight. Her extensive experience has garnered her accolades like Withum’s Inaugural Innovative Strength Award as well as several nominations for Withum’s Marketing and Entrepreneurship Strength Awards. Congratulations Nina! 

ICYMI, read more about Nina’s sparkling night of community and celebration. 

Nicole Mitchell, CPA, MBA & Relentlessly Focused Finance Leader 

CGMA, Managed Services Practice Leader, and Partner at Aprio

Nicole Mitchell brings her brilliant mind to help businesses build smarter foundations. With over 25 years of experience advising practice leaders and C-level executives, she’s a champion for change management, technology adoption, and innovation. Nicole designs creative, end-to-end solutions that simplify operations and deliver meaningful financial insights for clients. She empowers them to focus on what matters most, pushing their businesses forward. 

When asked what makes Nicole a special leader, Richard Kopelman, CEO of Aprio, said, "Nicole brings a unique ability to connect the dots, designing creative, tech-enabled solutions that drive efficiency, unlock opportunity, and deliver lasting value. As the leader of Aprio's Client Accounting Services, Nicole guides clients through complexity, she anticipates what’s next and inspires our teams to do the same. We’re proud to see her recognized for the impact she’s making for our clients and our firm.”

And the results speak for themselves. Through Nicole’s leadership, Aprio’s outsourced accounting services have scaled to support fast-growing startups and global enterprises alike, helping clients improve performance, reduce complexity, and position themselves for long-term success. When she’s not pushing her firm and clients to new heights, she’s a supporter of Girls on the Run mid-MD, USA Swimming, USA Youth Triathlon, and a founding member of the Veterans Institute for Procurement. Congratulations Nicole!

Taylor (Bickley) Van Slyck, Director of Growth and Client Solutions & Fearless, Emerging Leader

Director of Growth and Client Solutions at Wiss

Taylor Van Slyck is a highly accomplished Director of Growth & Client Solutions at Wiss, where she blends over seven years of public accounting experience with a forward-thinking approach to addressing her clients’ diverse accounting and financial needs. 

Previously specializing in CFO services and outsourced accounting, Taylor provided strategic financial guidance, assisted in Business Process Reviews (BPRs), served as an interim controller, and streamlined billing cycles for enhanced efficiency. She’s also navigated complex government programs like the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and PPP Loan Funding/Forgiveness, helping her clients not only weather difficult times but to emerge stronger.

Now, in her role as Director of Growth & Client Solutions, Taylor uses this deep and varied background to deliver innovative, high-impact solutions tailored to each client’s unique challenges. Her ability to integrate technical expertise with strategic insight allows her to drive meaningful results and build lasting partnerships. Her professional and personal commitment to excellence reflects her focus on fostering meaningful, ongoing relationships throughout her career.

Outside of Wiss, Taylor is active in the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) and her alma mater, Virginia Tech. Her leadership and dedication were recognized when she was named a 2024 NYCPA Emerging Leader Award recipient. In her free time, Taylor loves running marathons and baking. Congratulations Taylor!

Register for Taylor’s celebration on September 16th at Opto NYC. 

Sara Conde, Head of Sales & Multidisciplinary Leader

Head of Sales at Fondo 

Sara Conde is a sales leader and go-to-market strategist with 20+ years of experience helping early-stage companies scale revenue, trust, and client outcomes. As Head of Sales at Fondo, she leads a consultative approach to growth, equipping founders with the financial systems and support they need to operate confidently, stay compliant, and unlock critical tax advantages like the R&D credit. 

At Fondo, Sara has helped thousands of venture-backed startups access expert bookkeeping and tax services through a unique blend of powerful software and white-glove service. Sara has consistently built scalable sales and customer success frameworks, driving up to 5x revenue growth for Series A fintechs and managing $300M+ business units with Fortune 100 clients. 

Under her leadership, Fondo has expanded its reach and helped thousands of startups navigate their finances with confidence. Prior to her role at Fondo, she led new business at Collective, a back-office platform for solopreneurs, and launched executive advisory offerings at MBO Partners, the leading provider of workforce solutions for independent consultants and enterprise clients.

At every stage of her career, Sara has focused on empowering founders, not just with software or services, but with real strategic insight, clarity, and peace of mind. Congratulations Sara! 

Register for Sara’s celebration on October 1st in San Francisco. 

Stay in touch with Rho and our partner network

Our partners are a constant source of inspiration. We share updates from our ecosystem at a steady clip.  We invite you to follow along.

• Follow Rho and Fintech is Femme for more partner events 

• Follow the honorees on Linkedin: Sara Conde, Taylor Van Slyck, Nicole Mitchell, Nina Chmura

About the organizers

​Rho is honored to partner with Nicole Casperson (Journalist, Author, Founder) and the groundbreaking Fintech is Femme team to showcase outstanding women in the profession who we are proud to highlight for their extraordinary contributions to the field.

​About Fintech is Femme

​Fintech is Femme is a bold media and community platform dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the voices of women shaping the future of finance. Through storytelling, events, and thought leadership, Fintech is Femme showcases powerful female leaders driving innovation in fintech and beyond. From C-suite executives to rising stars, the platform brings visibility to those breaking barriers and building inclusive financial ecosystems. Discover the stories changing the face of finance at www.fintechisfemme.co.

About Rho

Rho is the banking platform with everything businesses need to manage cash, control spending, and automate finance busywork. Rho offers corporate cards, banking, mutual funds, treasury, expense management, bill pay, accounting automation, and more in one integrated platform backed by award-winning concierge service.

For more information about Rho and our Accountant Partner Program visit Rho.co/accountants

About Withum

​Withum is a forward-thinking, technology-driven advisory and accounting firm committed to helping clients be more profitable, efficient and productive in today's complex business environment. With offices in major cities and financial centers across the country, and as an independent member of HLB, the global advisory and accounting network, Withum serves businesses and individuals on a local-to-global scale. We provide the expert advice and innovative solutions you need to be in a Position of Strength in today's fast-paced, tech-driven world. Get to know us at www.withum.com.

About Aprio   

Aprio is the brand name under which Aprio, LLP, and Aprio Advisory Group, LLC, deliver professional services. Since 1952, clients throughout the U.S. and across more than 50 countries have trusted Aprio for guidance on how to achieve what’s next. As a premier business advisory and accounting firm, Aprio Advisory Group, LLC, delivers advisory, tax, managed, and private client services to build value, drive growth, manage risk, and protect wealth, and Aprio, LLP, provides audit and attest services. With proven experience and genuine care, Aprio serves individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses, from promising startups to market leaders alike. Aprio has grown to 2,300+ team members providing solutions to clients across industries. Visit https://www.aprio.com/ for more information. 

About Wiss

For over five decades, Wiss has been more than an accounting firm. We’ve been trusted advisors to the clients we’ve been fortunate to serve. Accounting and finance are undergoing rapid disruption that is redefining our industry. Our mission is clear: to unlock the full potential of the accounting industry by replacing outdated practices with a modern approach that maximizes the experience for both clients and teams.

At Wiss, we go beyond the numbers, offering a range of accounting and advisory services to meet the business and personal financial goals of privately-held, investor-backed and family-run businesses. Our vision is to redefine and rethink accounting by bringing business intelligence to the forefront of the conversation.

About Fondo

Fondo is the all-in-one accounting platform backed by accounting experts that helps 1,000+ startups put bookkeeping, taxes, and tax credits on autopilot. By combining technology with a national team of top-tier, U.S.-based CPAs, Fondo delivers proactive accounting at a platform price, built for the pace and complexity of startup life.