Wesley Prato

Wesley Prato, CPA, is an audit partner serving the cannabis and commercial real estate industries. Based in CohnReznick’s Chicago office, he began his public accounting career in 2005 and provides client services in the areas of audit, review, and other financial reporting needs. This experience includes working with developers and private equity investors of companies in the commercial real estate, affordable housing, and hospitality industries, among others. 

Wes specializes in the commercial real estate and hospitality industries and in serving developments benefiting from the Historic Tax Credit and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Programs. He is responsible for planning the engagements, supervising staff, and coordinating all fieldwork. Other responsibilities on these engagements include determining audit scope, selecting procedures to be applied, establishing budgets, reviewing work papers, identifying audit issues, communicating with clients, and preparing financial statements or reports. In addition, Wes takes an active role in working with his clients to plan and brainstorm on ways to get the next project from conceptual to development.

Wes has helped many real estate developers attract investors into their next fund or project, assisted developers in the transition from first project to first portfolio, and frequently speaks at commerical real estate conferences in Chicago. Within CohnReznick, he has participated in developing audit programs and techniques specifically tailored to commercial real estate entities and has led internal training classes on LIHTC partnerships.

Thought Leadership

02 Apr 20: How Real Estate Can Weather the Current Economic Storm, Bisnow

26 Jun 19: Chicago Hotel Market Proving Resilient Amid Political Earthquakes and Economic Disruptions, Bisnow

01 Aug 17: Dealmaking in Chicago for Ascent East, Bisnow

19 Dec16: Will Population Declines Change the Far South Side More Than Developers? Bisnow