People

Louis C. Grassi, CPA, CFE is the Chief Executive Officer of Grassi Advisory Group, Inc. He began his career in 1977 and has extensive experience in tax, accounting and consulting. Lou takes a proactive role with clients, performing such value-added services as profit-enhancement studies, operational reviews, performance benchmarking, forensic accounting, cost analysis, incentive compensation programs, estate and succession planning, corporate restructuring, and corporate retreat facilitation. Lou’s counsel has proven instrumental to the success of many companies in a variety of industries. 

Lou has received a number of industry accolades, including his CPA peers voting him to be the “Most Admired Peer”, as awarded by INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA). Lou was named one of “America’s Top 200 CPAs” by Forbes, one of the “Managing Partner Elite” by Accounting Today Magazine and was also recognized as an “Outstanding CEO” by a number of NY-area publications.

Lou’s leadership, drive for success, and dedication to providing clients with high quality services has grown Grassi from a zero-base firm to being ranked the 55th largest Firm in the country, and the top 17th Largest Firm in the New York area by Crain’s New York Business. IPA has also recognized Grassi as a “Best of the Best Firms” for 10 consecutive years.  The firm was also recognized by Crain’s New York Business as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Businesses in New York City, and was ranked as the Best Place to Work by several publications.

Lou was the former Chair of Moore North America, part of an international association of more than 300 independent accounting and consulting firms.  As a nationally recognized expert, Lou is also frequently called upon as a lecturer and business advisor for companies and industry trade organizations. He has authored numerous local and national articles, also serving as a contributing editor to the Corporate Controller’s Manual. Lou was an adjunct professor at Columbia University teaching a graduate level course in finance and accounting.

He has served as an executive board officer for the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), and he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Lou also serves on numerous committees and task forces within the industries that the firm serves. He is a Board Member of the Young Presidents Organization and appears in both the national and international Who’s Who Directory of Finance. Lou was a member of the Editorial advisory board of CPA Managing Partner Report, The CPA Journal, and other industry publications. 

Actively involved in his community, Lou holds board positions with several civic and philanthropic organizations. He was also a member of the Nassau County Audit Committee, as well as a former member of the Nassau County Comptroller’s transition team and past chair of a large Not-for-Profit human services agency. Additionally, Lou serves on the Board of Flushing Financial Corp, a $6 billion U.S. bank and BRT Realty, a publicly traded REIT.

A graduate of Queens College, Lou holds a Business Administration degree in Accounting. He has completed postgraduate courses in taxation and earned the designation of Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) from the National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.