Frank Kenneth Ross

Frank Kenneth Ross is a retired KPMG partner, a co-founder and first president of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), a former director of the Howard University School of Business Center for Accounting Education (CAE), a founding member of the AICPA & CIMA National Commission on Diversity & Inclusion (NCDI), an author, and a visiting professor. Most importantly to Ross, he has been a mentor, inspiration, and role model for minorities who have achieved senior-level accounting positions as well as for individuals who have established their own accounting firms.

Ross was one of the first black CPAs to become a partner in an international accounting firm. During his 38-year career with KPMG, he served as Mid-Atlantic Area Managing Partner for Audit and Risk Advisory Services, Managing Partner of the Greater Washington, DC offices, member of KPMG’s Board of Directors, and Chairman of the KPMG Foundation Board of Directors.

In 1969 when he was 26 years old, Ross and eight other Black professionals founded the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA). Today, NABA has more than 10,000 members across the country. It has awarded over $11 million in scholarships to students who have entered the accounting profession. He later served as Director of the Howard University School of Business CAE. The Center works to attract students to the accounting profession and then provides programs to help them become leaders. To date, more than 3,500 students and young professionals have participated in and benefited from CAE programs.

He is a graduate of the Brooklyn, NY Campus of Long Island University (LIU) where he received his BS and MBA degrees. Ross received his initial CPA Certification from New York State in early 1969. He has received many honors for his service to the community as well as to the profession. He was awarded Honorary Doctorate Degrees from LIU and the University of the District of Columbia. In 2014, he received the AICPA’s Gold Medal for Distinguished Service.

Throughout his career, Ross has been instrumental in building awareness of the unique challenges and limited opportunities Blacks faced in the accounting profession. Former colleagues praise him for being a role model, a calming voice when needed, and an outspoken voice when required.

His co-authored book Quiet Guys Can Do Great Things, Too, tells his life story from immigrant to successful CPA. Blacknews.com describes the book as “a classic and triumphant American tale, a parable of how one man’s awe and inspiration at life’s possibilities was not thwarted or halted by the darker realities of racism, segregation, and discrimination.” The book is available on Amazon.

Frank Kenneth Ross is the 119th inductee to The Accounting Hall of Fame.