About Ian Fincher, CPA

Ian Fincher, CPA, is a licensed Louisiana Certified Public Accountant and Senior Auditor based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ian holds Louisiana CPA License No. CPA.0029782, issued February 21, 2024, and active through December 31, 2026. His license can be verified through the Louisiana State Board of Certified Public Accountants.

Education

Ian Fincher completed dual bachelor's degrees before entering public accounting. He earned a B.S. in Accounting from the University of New Orleans, College of Business Administration, and a B.S. in Economics from Louisiana State University, E.J. Ourso College of Business. The accounting curriculum provided the technical foundation in financial reporting and auditing standards. The economics degree developed quantitative reasoning and systems-level thinking — skills that translate directly into the analytical procedures and data analysis techniques used in audit work.

Professional Experience

Ian Fincher has served as a Senior Auditor at two established New Orleans-area public accounting firms.

At Ericksen Krentel CPAs and Consultants in New Orleans, he performed audit and accounting work across major financial statement accounts and prepared financial statements with related footnotes and disclosures for reporting packages. He applied data analysis techniques to identify risk areas and support balance testing, including ratio, trend, regression, and fluctuation analysis, as well as Benford's Law analysis for evaluating digit distribution patterns in transaction datasets. His work at Ericksen Krentel also included government and nonprofit engagements, where he gained hands-on experience with fund accounting structures, grant accounting requirements, restricted funds, and compliance-related documentation, including single-audit-related testing.

At Wegmann Dazet in Metairie, Louisiana, Ian Fincher performed all phases of financial statement audit, review, and compilation engagements and provided additional accounting support in a public accounting setting. Day-to-day responsibilities included reviewing underlying account activity for misclassified or unsupported transactions, formulating adjusting journal entries, performing bank and account reconciliations, and creating and maintaining fixed asset, amortization, intercompany, and other supporting schedules. He participated in audits of employee contribution 401(k) plans, including review of participant data, contribution allocations, and plan compliance requirements. His government and nonprofit work at Wegmann Dazet included hands-on fund accounting, grant accounting, and exposure to single-audit-related testing.

Scope of Engagement Work

Across both firms, Ian Fincher's experience has spanned the full range of financial statement accounts: cash, accounts receivable, inventory, prepaids, leases, property and equipment, investments, accounts payable, debt, accrued expenses, payroll, direct costs, cost of goods sold, operating revenue and expenses, interest revenue and expense, and equity. His engagement work has covered organizations of varying sizes — from small, owner-operated businesses to mid-market and multi-entity groups — across commercial, nonprofit, and government sectors.

Tools and Methods

Ian Fincher uses QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Microsoft Excel, and professional engagement software in audit and accounting work.

Professional Memberships

Ian is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants (LCPA).

Continue with Ian's Blog for commentary on audit and accounting topics, review the Press page for published coverage, or connect on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Based in New Orleans, Louisiana.