Elizabeth Woodward, CPA, CFF, CFE

Professional Experience

Elizabeth obtained her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from the University of Kentucky. She worked in KPMG’s audit group for six years and joined Dean Dorton in 2000. She has over 30 years of experience in public accounting and currently serves as the chair of the Dean Dorton Board of Directors.

Elizabeth is a leader on the firm’s Forensic and Valuation Services team, specializing in bankruptcy accounting matters, litigation support, and forensic accounting services. In addition to her Certification in Financial Forensics (CFF), Elizabeth is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). She has served in several fiduciary roles, including Chief Restructuring Officer, Receiver, and Fee Examiner. She has acted as a Compliance Ethics Monitor/Independent Monitor of a rural electric cooperative, reporting to two branches of the Federal government. Elizabeth has testified in state and federal courts and currently serves as a Subchapter V Bankruptcy Trustee.

Speaking Engagements

Elizabeth teaches professional ethics at Dean Dorton. She also speaks on fraud prevention and detection and forensic accounting for the AICPA and other professional organizations.

Professional Activities

• Kentucky Society of CPAs (KyCPA)
  • Educational Foundation Board of Directors, 2022-24
  • Board of Directors, 2015-21
  • President, Board of Directors, 2019-20
  • Committee chair: Nominations & Awards, Finance, Professional Ethics
  • Elizabeth has served on seven different committees in her 28 years of membership at KyCPA.
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
  • Forensic and Valuation Services Executive Committee, present
  • Chair, Forensic and Litigation Services Committee, 2016-23
  • Chair, Forensic and Valuations Services, Fraud Task Force Committee, 2016-20
  • Forensic and Valuation Services Section, Volunteer of the Year, 2019
  • Governing Council, 2018-19
  • CFF Champion of the Year, 2014
• University of Kentucky School of Accountancy Advisory Board, 2019-present
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, member
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, member

Certifications

• Certified Public Accountant
• Certified in Financial Forensics
• Certified Fraud Examiner

Community Involvement

• Commerce Lexington Board of Directors, board member
• Lexington Blue Grass Airport Board of Directors, former chair
• Lexington and Fayette County Parking Authority, former commissioner
• North Lexington Family YMCA, former chair
• Eastern Little League, former board member and treasurer
• Leadership Kentucky, Class of 2014
• Leadership Bluegrass, Class of 1998

Education

• Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

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