James Powell
Office Managing Partner, Audit
Background
James is the managing partner of KPMG’s Minneapolis office and Head of Markets-Audit for the North Central Business Unit (Minneapolis, Des Moines, St. Louis, Kansas City and Omaha). As an audit partner with over 30 years of experience providing financial statement and integrated audit services, he has served companies in KPMG’s Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Atlanta, Nashville, and Minneapolis offices. He previously served as the Office Managing Partner of Nashville (2015-2020).
Professional and industry experience
James has provided audit services to a wide variety of entities, from small private companies to large multinational, multibillion-dollar corporations—specializing in consumer goods, industrial manufacturing, transportation, and life sciences companies.
His core strengths and accomplishments include:
- Served as the global lead audit partner on several SEC registrants
- Assisted companies in initial public offerings and secondary offerings
- Experienced in purchase accounting and year one implementation of internal controls at acquired entities
- Experienced in coordinating with non-US KPMG member firms to serve multinational organizations
Speaking engagements
- Presenter at numerous colleges and universities on ethics and compliance and the accounting profession
Other activities
- Board Member, KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc. (2017-Present)
- Board Member – Childrens’ Heartlink (2024-Present)
- Board Member – MN Opera (2021 – Present)
- Board Member – NACD Minnesota (2021-Present)
- National Partner in Charge, University Talent Acquisition (2017-2022)
- Inclusion and Diversity Executive Committee Member (2014-2018)
- Nominating Committee Member, KPMG Board of Directors
(2015–2017) - KPMG Chairman’s 25 – Class of 2017