Tom Czyz recently joined Mowery & Schoenfeld as an assurance partner.
How has your career trajectory led you to where you are today?
I’ve had the opportunity to work within the operational styles and cultures of several firms, collaborating with extremely talented individuals, teams, and clients. Along the way, I gained valuable technical skills, insights, and experiences that have strengthened my ability to serve clients. These opportunities also allowed me to build lasting relationships with professionals who continue to be important resources throughout my career. Working with clients of all sizes and growth stages has helped me develop a well-rounded skill set, one that aligns perfectly with the needs of Mowery & Schoenfeld.
What will be your primary focus as you join Mowery & Schoenfeld?
Mowery & Schoenfeld serves a wide range of clients across all service lines. My primary focus will be to leverage the knowledge and technical expertise I’ve gained over the past 20 years, combined with the firm’s strong client relationships in the transaction advisory service line, to help us better serve existing clients, develop new relationships, and expand into servicing the private equity market sector.
Our team has the technical expertise, experience, and perspective needed to serve private equity managers through multiple service lines, at both the portfolio company and asset manager level.
How does your experience working with asset management clients translate to other clients?
Having spent a significant portion of my career working with investment management clients has exposed me to many different industries. Specifically, the private equity clients I have worked with have required me to understand the operations of the portfolio companies held to evaluate valuations effectively. Over the course of my career, I have gained experience with companies in natural gas, manufacturing, software, real estate, crypto mining, insurance, and more.
Additionally, understanding each portfolio company’s debt and capital structure is a critical component in determining valuation. These experiences and understanding seamlessly translate into the skill set required to audit a standalone company.
What do firms need to do to keep up with the changing audit and assurance landscape, both from a client and talent perspective?
The role of technology in the audit process continues to evolve rapidly. Firms must find ways to use these tools to enhance assurance, improve efficiency, and deliver added value to clients. That’s why Mowery & Schoenfeld has made it a priority to stay current on emerging
technologies and to train our teams to use these tools effectively, improving both the client’s experience and audit quality.
As a leader, how do you motivate your team, and what motivates you?
I believe in creating a collaborative environment where each person understands how their contributions influence the success of the engagement. When people feel connected to the mission and supported by their colleagues, they are naturally more motivated and fulfilled. Being part of a firm like Mowery & Schoenfeld, where teamwork drives our success, continues to motivate me every day.
What is the best professional advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve received is to understand clients’ broader goals and concerns, not just their audit needs. When we know what truly matters to the client, we can deliver value that extends well beyond the audit. Throughout my career, simply asking clients about their upcoming priorities has led to countless opportunities to offer meaningful guidance, referrals, and additional services. This approach strengthens relationships and better prepares teams for future audits.
