Finalist: Shawn Kato

Partner
Baker Tilly

Shawn Kato boasts nearly three decades of experience in tax and accounting services in Orange County with a focus on corporate tax for various industries, including technology, manufacturing, and consumer products. After starting her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers and working in-house for multinational companies, she returned to public accounting with Squar Milner LLP in 2009. After the merger with Baker Tilly U.S. LLP in November 2020, she became a tax partner at the firm’s Irvine office. Apart from her professional accomplishments, Kato is a tax lecturer at the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She takes pride in guiding clients through complex tax laws, leading multiple IPO/de-SPAC transactions, and developing expertise in corporate tax attributes maintenance. Shawn actively mentors her local tax team and remains dedicated to inspiring the next generation of tax leaders. Additionally, she is an active member of the AICPA and CalCPA.