Joel A. Smith

Joel is an Audit partner in the Houston office who provides audit services to a wide range of clients, with a primary focus in the energy industry. He currently serves as KPMG’s National Audit Industry Leader for oil and gas. His technical knowledge, experience, and informed perspectives enable him to provide valuable insights to client management and audit committees.

Professional and Industry Experience

Joel has served as the lead audit engagement partner on several of KPMG’s most significant oil and gas clients. Joel has extensive experience providing accounting, internal control, and business advice to publicly-traded and privately held domestic and international companies. Joel has significant experience with SEC regulatory reporting, mergers and acquisitions, and public debt and equity offerings. 

Joel’s relevant experience includes:

• Significant acquisitions and business combinations,
• Initial public offerings,
• Debt & equity offerings
• Debt and capital restructuring activities
• Consultation on technical accounting and financial reporting issues

Joel is also an SEC Reviewing Partner performing engagement quality control reviews on public company clients in the energy sector. Joel completed a three year rotation in KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice (“DPP”) in New York. In his role in KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice, Joel contributed to the development of the firm’s auditing and accounting literature, internal and external firm publications, consulted with engagement teams on auditing and financial reporting matters, and assisted in the application of the firm’s risk management procedures. Joel also served as an energy industry liaison in DPP and has extensive experience addressing complex accounting and financial reporting issues in the E&P, midstream, and oilfield services industries.

Joel is also a regular speaker at internal and external events, including as a speaker and panelist at KPMG’s Global Energy Conference and KPMG’s Financial Reporting Symposium.

Joel received a bachelor's and master’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, is licensed as a certified public accountant in Texas, and is a member of the AICPA.