The accounting profession talks a lot about the next generation of leaders. Connor Crow is already one of them.
At CwX North America 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, CPAClub Associate Chief Connor Crow was named the top honoree at Caseware’s inaugural 30 Under 30 Awards — a global program designed to spotlight the emerging professionals reshaping audit, accounting, and assurance. Out of thirty exceptional honorees recognized from across the profession, Connor took the top distinction for the North America event.
We couldn’t be more proud.
What the Award Recognizes
The Caseware 30 Under 30 Awards were created to find and celebrate the professionals who aren’t waiting for the profession to change around them — they’re actively building what comes next. Honorees were evaluated on professional impact, leadership beyond their formal role, and their contribution to the future of the profession.
The bar was high. Connor cleared it.
As the top CwX North America honoree, Connor will receive dedicated personal mentoring time with Barry Melancon — former President and CEO of the AICPA and current CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. Melancon has shaped the accounting profession at the highest levels for decades. Time with him is the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come twice.
What Connor Has Built at CPAClub
Connor joined CPAClub as an early member, coming off a role at KPMG where he served as lead senior associate on a public filer with more than $6.5 billion in revenue — managing a team coordinating across five continents. He brought that foundation to CPAClub and hit the ground running.
Within six months, he earned the firm’s first-ever internal promotion, rising to Associate Chief. Since then, his fingerprints have been on some of the most consequential work the firm has done.
- He has guided over two dozen firms through SQMS and QC 1000 implementation using Caseware SQM — spanning Top 20 firms to boutique practices.
- He earned his Peer Reviewer certification at a moment when qualified reviewers are in critical national shortage.
- He spearheaded CPAClub Academy, designing training for high school students exploring accounting as a career — work entirely outside his formal role and driven by conviction.
- He has led firm-wide performance evaluations, shaped technology adoption decisions, and contributed to operational strategy alongside firm leadership.
His application captured the belief at the core of everything he does: the biggest threat to the accounting profession isn’t talent leaving. It’s talent never finding a model worth staying for.
An Event Worth the Trip
The CwX North America conference was exactly what a great profession-wide gathering should be. The setting — right on the beach in Fort Lauderdale with sweeping views of the water — made the whole experience feel like a genuine celebration of where the profession is headed.
The speakers were fascinating. The networking was energetic and genuine. And the food? Legitimately excellent. By every measure, it was one of the best events we’ve attended — a well-organized, beautifully executed gathering that matched the significance of the moment.
Watching Connor receive recognition in that setting made it all the more meaningful.
What This Means for the Firms We Serve
Connor’s recognition is a reflection of the work he does every day on behalf of audit firms navigating real complexity. Quality management implementation. Peer review readiness. Technology adoption. Scalable assurance delivery. These aren’t abstract problems — they’re the operational challenges sitting on the desks of firm leaders right now that we are set out to support through this transformation process.
The firms Connor works with don’t just get a consultant. They get someone who has lived the complexity of large-scale audit, built something new from scratch, and earned recognition from one of the most respected platforms in the profession.
That’s the standard CPAClub brings to every engagement.
Congratulations, Connor
To be named one of thirty exceptional professionals from across the global accounting community — and to take the top honor in North America — is an achievement that speaks for itself. Thank you to Caseware for giving the assurance industry an event and aware it can rally behind, and congrats to all other honorees who are making difference in our profession.
