CEO
Smith + Howard
Sean Taylor is the visionary CEO of Smith + Howard, a national advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta. Since becoming CEO in 2019, Sean has led the firm through exponential growth—from just over 100 employees to more than 500—powered by a bold 10-year vision, five acquisitions in less than two years, and a strategic investment by Broad Sky Partners.
Under his leadership, the firm has expanded its capabilities, talent, and national footprint. In recognition of his impact, Sean was named Top Leader in Atlanta among midsize workplaces in 2024 and received a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from Vistage. He was previously honored as a Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Sean also hosts The Worst Advice I Ever Got, a podcast where leaders share the worst advice they ever got, the challenges that advice presented and how the learnings from that advice that shaped their success. His candid and curious approach reflects the authenticity he brings to his own leadership journey.
A proud graduate of the University of Georgia, Sean earned a BBA in Accounting in 1993 before joining Smith + Howard as an intern. He became a partner in 2003, the partner in charge of the Assurance practice in 2010, and the CEO of the family of companies in 2019. Sean has spent his entire career advising privately-held businesses and nonprofits.
Mentorship is a defining element of Sean’s leadership style. He is a champion of Smith + Howard’s mentoring program and personally mentors team members across departments, believing leadership is about lifting others as you climb.
Sean extends that same passion into the community. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Wesleyan School and is a member of the finance committee for the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. In 2012, he co-founded FoodStock, Georgia’s largest one-day meal-packing event. To date, the initiative has delivered more than 4 million meals to children around the world.
Sean’s legacy is one of vision, purpose, and people—shaping not just the growth of a firm, but the future of those around him.
Private equity investment can be a catalyst for growth and innovation in the accounting profession, enabling firms to scale rapidly and access new opportunities. This panel, featuring leaders from the 2025 Fastest Growing Firms who’ve taken on PE funding, will delve into proven strategies for scaling rapidly, retaining clients, engaging staff and partners, leveraging technology effectively, and more. Gain insights into how these trailblazers are navigating opportunities and challenges to achieve remarkable success.