Jay Trumbower joins BWK as chief executive officer

Jay Trumbower has joined Barton, Walter & Krier P.C. (BWK), a Minneapolis area accounting and consulting firm, as chief executive officer.

Trumbower brings more 35 years of experience to BWK, including nearly 15 years in public accounting and 12 years in professional services. A longtime CPA and industry leader, Trumbower has extensive expertise across analytic, development, implementation, and strategic and collaborative leadership.

In his new role heading BWK, he will work with shareholders to build a strategic growth plan for the company, which has 30 employees listed on LinkedIn. Trumbower will also focus on client services, process improvements, team member development, and technology.

He joins BWK from Boulay, a Twin Cities CPA firm, where he served as COO and CFO since 2017. During his tenure, Trumbower helped double the firm’s net revenues.

Before that, he spent two-and-a-half years as COO and CFO of Sambatek, a civil engineering consultancy, and six years at BPKZ CPAs and Consultants, where he was a VP and established an investment banking and management consulting practice.

Trumbower also previously held corporate development leadership roles at publisher The Dolan Company, Abra Auto Body & Glass, and FSF Financial Corp.

He began his career in Arthur Andersen’s Minneapolis office, where he was a manager in audit and M&A consulting. Trumbower has an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

"We are excited and fortunate to have Jay's proficiency and influence on our team," said Jim Stelzer, managing partner at BWK. "He came in with innovative thinking and a hands-on leadership approach that aligns with the vision we've had for BWK from the start, and his wealth of industry knowledge and experience are substantial assets that will help the firm advance and thrive."

Founded in 2008 in Maple Grove, MN, BWK provides assurance, accounting, tax, and transaction advisory services to middle-market and small businesses in a range of industries.