Kathy Barke

CPA

Audit Manager 

Kathy is an Audit Manager in Blackman Kallick’s Not-for-Profit Practice. She works with a wide variety of clients, including social service agencies, arts and cultural organizations, trade and professional associations, and private foundations. 

Her skills include:

• Managing financial statement audit fieldwork and reviewing significant audit areas
• Recommending improvements to internal control systems, policies, and procedures
• Presenting audit results to audit and finance committees
• Conducting research on issues that affect financial reporting, such as discontinued operations and collaborative agreements
• Uncovering and handling issues prior to the audit in order to speed the audit process, ultimately saving clients time and money

Keeping a close eye on clients’ internal controls allows Kathy to help identify opportunities to strengthen risk management, such as through increased segregation of duties or ensuring that the organization has a signed conflict of interest policy in place.

Kathy’s clients enjoy her approachable and open working style, feeling comfortable to simply pick up the phone and call her throughout the year with questions. And she often initiates these calls when she recognizes ways to improve their accounting processes or has an idea she believes would be worth discussing.

Through her role on the Blackman Kallick Not-for-Profit Technical Team, Kathy monitors accounting and audit standards and related guidance, sharing that knowledge with the rest of the firm and its clients through training and e-alerts.

Credentials and Professional Involvement

Kathy is an active member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Illinois CPA Society. She presents training sessions internally on such topics as the auditing considerations of contributions, as well as best practices and accounting regulations. 

In addition to her client service and industry commitments, Kathy enjoys developing the next generation of CPAs through her role in training and recruiting. She often serves as the firm’s “face” at university functions, helping aspiring accountants understand the rewards of using their skills to provide organizations with a better foundation to meet their missions.

Kathy earned a BA in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.