Financial consultancy Embark opens two offices in Oklahoma
Embark, a Dallas-headquartered financial consulting firm, has announced the opening of offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK. The new locations will also serve as the hub for clients in Northwest Arkansas.
Founded in 2010, Embark advises business and financial leaders, especially during organizational change such as M&A, IPOs, growth, turnover, relocation, investment, and new guidance. The firm delivers services across risk assessment, process review, restructuring, IT due diligence, and training and transition. The firm also offers consulting services in digital transformation, including cloud computing, RPA, and blockchain.
The firm had $14 million in revenue in the year-to-date, and has a team of more than 110 employees, including many ex-Big Four CPAs. Embark was named an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company the past two years, as well as an Inc. Best Workplace and Great Place to Work.
The company has locations in Dallas, Austin, Houston, Denver, and now Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
"We have never been shy about our intention to boldly transform the financial consulting industry," said Paul Allen, founder & CPC at Embark. "Our expansion into Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas, and more importantly the team that will lead our newest market, is a testament to that."
The firm has welcomed Robert Grisaffe as market president for Oklahoma and Drew Speakes as a senior director. Grisaffe has extensive management and accounting experience in the energy industry. He previously spent four years as CFO of Oak Ridge Natural Resources, and before that spent four-and-half years at Premier Natural Resources, where he served as VP of finance and controller.
Earlier in his career he spent 11 years at KPMG, where he served primarily energy sector clients. Grisaffe holds an MBA from the University of Kansas and a BBA in accounting from the University of Oklahoma.
"I am honored and excited to join the Embark family," Grisaffe said. "The breadth and depth of their technical expertise, services and client-base is beyond impressive. Their remarkable workplace culture and reputation made this a win-win decision for me. The team is ready to hit the ground running and on a mission to bring a fresh and innovative approach to the region."
Drew Speakes was a colleague of Grisaffe’s at Oak Ridge Natural Resources and Premier Natural Resources, and joins him in making the jump to Embark. He brings extensive experience in audit and accounting across energy, manufacturing, and other industries to his role as senior director.
Speakes previously spent two years at Oak Ridge, where he served as controller, and before that spent two-and-a-half years as controller at Wagon Wheel Exploration. Prior to that he spent four years at Premier Natural Resources, where he was an operational accounting manager.
Before Premier, he spent five years at drilling company Helmerich & Payne, where he was a senior internal auditor, controller of the firm’s Colombian operations, and senior international accountant responsible for FCPA compliance.
Speakes started his career at KPMG, where he spent three years performing audit work for energy, manufacturing, healthcare, and insurance companies.
"Oftentimes, people are surprised to hear that our blueprint and market expansion is built around investing in the right people," said Clancy Fossum, CEO at Embark. "Undoubtedly, Oklahoma is a compelling choice on its own. When combined with top-of-the-class talent like Robert and Drew's, it became the clear choice for Embark. Cultivating our unique culture and business model is what has led to happy clients and our own rapid growth."
