Carissa gray

Illinois native Carissa Coppola joined The Hechtman Group as CAS Lead in 2022. A Client Advisory Services lead, she works directly with clients to help their businesses report accurate financial statements and records. Carissa also provides oversight and support related to financial transactions including monthly reporting processes, AR, AP, payroll, and reconciliations related to key balance sheet items. She is focused on improving client accounting operations and processes as well as internal CAS processes.

Carissa earned a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Illinois State University. While earning her Master’s in Accounting from Roosevelt University, she simultaneously started working at Strategy Execution Partners, a payroll company bought by Toast, Inc. She remained with the firm for four years, working in the tax and operations department as payroll banking and tax specialist. Carissa then moved to public accounting at Ostrow Reisin Berk and Abrams, LTD as an associate staff accountant in the accounting services department. Three years later, she joined The Hechtman Group.

Accounting and finances can be overwhelming for some, and Carissa focuses on making her clients feel welcome and confident they are speaking the same language. She presents potential problems or situations as simply as possible, so the client understands and feels comfortable and the proposed solution.

During her days off, Carissa can be found at a concert, cooking up an Italian meal she learned from her grandmother, or participating in a variety of sports including swimming, football, and basketball. Her favorite quote “90% of success is just showing up.”