3 Sage leaders honored as “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting”

Taylor Macdonald, SVP of Channels for Sage Intacct; Ed Kless, senior director of partner development and strategy for Sage; and Kevin Cumley, senior director of the Sage Intacct Accountants Program were named to Accounting Today’s 2020 list of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.

This annual list identifies the thought leaders, change-makers, regulators, and other leaders who are shaping the accounting profession. Sage represented more honorees than any other software vendor.

In an unparalleled year, many of those chosen to be in Accounting Today’s list predicted disruption in the profession long before the events of 2020, especially in the areas of technology, diversity, and business models.

With more than 30 years of experience building and operating large and successful channel programs in the world for financial and ERP providers, Taylor Mcdonald manages the Sage Intacct Value Added Reseller (VAR) and CPA channel initiatives.

Accounting Today has recognized Taylor 17 times on its Top 100 list. He was praised for his role helping large firms build and expand consulting practices built around outsourced accounting, reselling, and software implementation—offerings that are some of the profession’s fastest growing.

Ed Kless has been with Sage for more than 17 years and serves as senior director of partner development and strategy. Ed hosts the Sage Thought Leadership Podcast which offers business and leadership thinking for entrepreneurial organizations and co-hosts The Soul of Enterprise with Ron Baker, who also made the list.

Accounting Today recognized Ed’s skills as a writer, speaker, and all-around thought leader—specifically noting “Kless makes it his job to introduce the profession to new ideas and new ways of thinking about what they do, and why.”

Kevin Cumley heads up the Sage Intacct Accountants Program where he is responsible for managing the outsourced accounting and BPO channel. With over 30 years of experience in the accounting profession building and running successful ERP businesses, Kevin is recognized as a leading expert in client accounting services (CAS) using cloud financial solutions.

Accounting Today praised Kevin for being a respected figure in accounting technology and helping to create a vision for how to structure, deliver, and manage outsourced accounting services. They specifically noted “ with CAS transforming countless practices, his influence in only bound to grow.”

Also included on the list of influential people in accounting: Sage strategic partners and contributors, L. Gary Boomer, founder of Boomer Consulting; Jim Boomer, CEO of Boomer Consulting; and Tom Hood, CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs, were also included.

Other notable people that made this year’s list were Erik Asgeirsson, CEO of CPA.com; Joseph Biden, U.S. President-elect; Jay Clayton, Chairman of the SEC; Kevin Dancey, CEO of IFAC; and Richard Jones, Chairman of FASB.