George Hermann

George Hermann is the Chief Auditor in the firm's National Office of Professional Practice, with nearly 40 years of experience in public accounting. He is responsible for maintaining the firm's audit methodology, including developing and disseminating firm policy and guidance on the application of auditing and related professional practice standards relative to financial statements, internal control audits, and other assurance engagements. George is known for his problem-solving abilities, assisting clients through difficult situations and accounting for complex transactions.

George spent most of his career at a Big 4 accounting firm where he was a senior partner, firm designated "SEC Reviewing Partner" and  Chief Auditor. He was recognized throughout the firm's global network as an authority on auditing, accounting and financial reporting. George's expertise includes US GAAP, International Auditing Standards, PCAOB Rules & Regulations, SEC Rules & Regulations, and the Sarbanes Oxley Act, including internal controls over financial reporting. He was a key member of the firm's senior leadership team responsible for strategy, and policy and ensuring adequacy and compliance with their system of quality control, interacting directly with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). George was also a member of the firm's International Standards Auditing Panel which promotes audit quality through effective and consistent application of International Standards on auditing throughout the Global network.

While a partner at the Big Accounting 4 firm, George completed a three-year rotational assignment with the U.S. Capital Markets Group (USCMG) based in Tokyo where he provided services to many significant Asia Pacific based global clients in accessing U.S. capital markets, complying with U.S. generally accepted accounting standards and SEC registration and reporting requirements.

Throughout his esteemed career, George has served numerous clients in a broad range of industries. His client base has ranged from small, entrepreneurial-minded start-up companies to mature, multi-national conglomerates and from private, closely-held businesses to publicly traded entities listed on exchanges in the U.S., London, and the Far East. George has assisted clients with securities offerings, raising proceeds with an aggregate market value over $15 billion.

Furthermore, George is an accomplished presenter, speaker, educator, and author. He has developed and delivered critical strategic initiatives domestically and internationally, speaks frequently before professional audiences, and co-authored numerous practice aids and publications including the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission's (COSO) "Enhancing Board Oversight: Avoiding Judgment Traps and Biases" and "Evaluating Professional Judgment in Auditing and Accounting: The KPMG Professional Judgment Framework," the latter of which earned him and his co-authors the 2013 American Accounting Association/Deloitte Wildman Medal Award. The Wildman Award, first presented in 1979, recognizes a work published within the most recent five years that the judges view as "the most significant contribution to the advancement of the practice of public accountancy (including audit, tax, and management services)."