Stephanie O’Rourk
CPA, Partner
Atlanta, GA
Stephanie O’Rourk, CPA, is a partner at CohnReznick who leads the Firm’s National Hospitality Emerging Concepts and Operational and Financial Consulting Divisions. With more than 25 years of public accounting experience in both audit, advisory and tax, Stephanie has worked closely with entrepreneurs, advising clients on best practices and tax efficient strategies. Her clients consider her a trusted business advisor and value her experienced insights and business acumen.
Having worked with many of the nation’s leading hospitality growth concepts and franchisees, she specializes in implementing best practices and industry standard reporting and financial controls to set businesses up for profitable growth. Stephanie leverages her knowledge of the best-in-class technologies available to help clients achieve their goals while also creating business optimization and efficiencies. Stephanie has helped developed our Profit Enhancement Programs and cash flow management systems, which allow companies to run efficiently and to maximize their profitability. Used properly, these programs provide operators with a road map for their financial success and forecast their cash needs as their companies continue to grow. She specializes in businesses that operate one to 50 units.
As a subject matter expert for the firm’s hospitality industry, Stephanie assists the firm’s Transactional Advisory, Restructuring and Dispute Resolution Services Transactions & Turnaround Advisory, and CFO Advisory Groups.
Working closely with other leaders in the Hospitality Industry Practice, she has assisted clients in restructuring their businesses in an efficient manner in order to best maximize tax benefits, improve profitability and cash flow, implement incentive compensation programs, obtain financing, and negotiate lending terms, as well as position their companies for liquidity events.
Stephanie also co-leads the SBA Task Force initiative for the Firm which is focused on providing up-to-date guidance to businesses seeking financial assistance during the coronavirus pandemic. She is a sought-after speaker and has been interviewed and quoted in numerous periodicals including Forbes and the Wall Street Journal.
In 2020, Stephanie became a Board member of #ATLFamilyMeal, a Georgia nonprofit organization whose mission is to feed, nurture and support hospitality workers and their families experiencing hunger and joblessness in the metro Atlanta community. She was selected as one of the Top 50 Women in Business and was featured among Long Island’s Who’s Who of Women in Professional Services by Long Island Business News.
Recent Press
7 May, 20: So You Received PPP Funds—Now What, Franchise Times
7 May, 20: Which Paycheck Protection Program Expenses Are Eligible for Forgiveness, SHRM
16 April 20: Restaurants Say Paycheck Protection Program Has Restrictions That Make The Funding Untouchable
10 April 20: Freelancers and independent contractors can now apply for SBA Paycheck Protection Program loans
9 April 20: The Paycheck Protection Program: Feedback from the front lines, Restaurant Hospitality
7 April 20: Many small businesses are being shut out of a new loan program by major banks, Vox
7 April 20: With Survival At Stake, Small Business Owners Frustrated By Aid Delays, NPR
6 April 20: Big Restaurant, Hotel Chains Won Exemption to Get Small Business Loans, Wall Street Journal
Education
B.S., Accounting, State University of New York, Binghamton
professional affiliations
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants
New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants
Seated, Advisory Board
#ATLFamilyMeal, Board Member