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Background
Current title, organization, and location: Director, IT Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC), Mizuho, New York, NY
Educational background: BS in Accounting and Finance from Binghamton University, School of Management, PwC Scholars Program
Professional credentials earned: CPA, CITP, CISA, CISSP
Years in the profession: 19 years
Career Journey
How did you first become interested in accounting and technology? In high school, I gravitated toward both science and business because I enjoyed understanding how things work and creating projects. My dad, Elliot Rosenblatt, is a CPA, and when I began leaning more toward business, he strongly encouraged me to pursue the CPA path to build a solid foundation that could be applied across many disciplines. During my sophomore year of college, I participated in EY’s Summer Leadership Program (SLP), where I was introduced to the firm’s various service lines. The technology advisory presenters stood out—they were enthusiastic, passionate, and clearly loved their work. Their energy inspired me to request an internship with the technology advisory team the following summer, where I enjoyed performing control testing for external audits.In my senior year, I continued to deepen my interest in technology by being elected Webmaster for Beta Alpha Psi.
What key experiences, opportunities, or career transitions led you into Technology Advisory? After several years in public accounting, I decided to move into internal audit so I could help drive meaningful change within the organization. In this role, I led multiple system process audits and managed the technology portfolio for several business units. I built strong relationships with stakeholders, turning issue discussions into collaborative conversations focused on identifying root causes and designing remediation plans that strengthened the control environment. When a new business team was formed to oversee a multi‑year global platform transformation, those same stakeholders reached out to me to manage the risk portfolio. In that role, I ensured the platform’s design aligned with policies and procedures and led issue management activities. The detail‑oriented mindset and thorough documentation practices I developed in audit played a major part in my success partnering with both business and technology teams to proactively manage risk.
What does your current role involve, and what types of projects or challenges do you work on most frequently? Currently, I work on the IT GRC team, where I manage technology risk with a focus on issue management, audit coordination, and SOX. Much of my work involves encouraging technology teams to take ownership of their control areas and accountability for remediation activities. This can be challenging, as it often requires influencing senior technology leaders to dedicate time and resources to essential run‑the‑bank activities so processes can return to an acceptable risk posture.
What do you find most rewarding about your work? I am passionate about strengthening the business by understanding current processes and driving meaningful improvements that increase efficiency and reduce risk. I enjoy reviewing policies and procedures to identify requirements and then validating that they are being followed in practice.
Insights & Advice
What skills do you believe are most important for success in Technology Advisory? Being curious is essential. When you accept things at face value without asking why something happened or what else might be going on, you risk missing the bigger picture. Success in Technology Advisory requires continually asking “why,” digging deeper, and reviewing documentation to determine whether processes truly make sense.
What advice would you give to a CPA or accounting professional interested in pursuing a career in this field? My advice for a CPA or accounting professional interested in pursuing a technology‑focused path is to reflect on how the profession is evolving. Years ago, ledgers and records were paper‑based; today, nearly all of them are electronic. This shift didn’t happen overnight, and technology will continue to shape the role of accounting professionals. Automation and AI tools are advancing rapidly, and the accounting profession ten years from now will look dramatically different from what it is today. Embracing this change means learning how these tools can improve efficiency and enhance quality, while also understanding the risks and challenges they introduce. Your interest in technology is what keeps you relevant and well‑positioned for the future of the field.
Why did you choose to earn the CITP credential, and how has it benefited your career? I earned the CITP credential to demonstrate my depth of knowledge in both technology concepts and core business processes. It reinforces my ability to understand how systems, controls, and data flow work together. Serving as a bridge between business and technology has become one of my greatest strengths—this dual perspective helps me translate technical details into business impacts and makes conversations smoother, more productive, and more collaborative.
Anything Else?
Are there any additional experiences, accomplishments, lessons learned, mentors, career pivots, or perspectives that you'd like us to consider including in your profile? The three CPAs who most influenced my career journey were my Dad, my accounting professor, Professor Elliot Kamlet, and former Nassau County Comptroller Howard S. Weitzman. Their guidance shaped my understanding of both the profession and the responsibility that comes with it. I interned in the Comptroller’s Office for two summers, an experience that exposed me to public service, financial oversight, and the importance of integrity in accounting. Each of these mentors played a meaningful role in inspiring my path and reinforcing my commitment to the field.