Spotlight On: Joe Carranza, Partner – San Antonio Assurance, Weaver
September 2025 — More than just helping with audits, compliance, and reporting, a good auditor helps a company identify opportunities, risks, and prevent future challenges and setbacks. In an interview with Invest:, Joe Carranza, an audit partner at Weaver, a national accounting and advisory firm, highlighted the importance of businesses having a trusted accounting professional in their corner. “It’s key to have someone that you can trust offering clarity in complex accounting situations. This adviser can explain the potential ramifications for your business and give you confidence in your decisions,” Carranza said.
What key changes in the past year have most impacted your clients?
We remain in a highly regulated and rapidly changing environment, and at Weaver, we have seen a continuous need for strong operations and experienced business advisers, especially in accounting and finance. While AI has been a hot topic for the past couple of years, it’s clear that companies that have quickly incorporated AI in a smart way have started to see the benefits. However, there is still a real need for advisers and people. Clients who have adopted new technology while continuing to focus on retaining top talent have excelled.
What makes San Antonio an ideal market for your operations?
What continues to attract Weaver and many others to this market is the population growth and the strength of the economy. When downturns impact the rest of the country, the San Antonio market tends to be more resilient. I believe that this is because of the city’s breadth of opportunities. Given our firm’s experience in various industries such as finance, energy, education, healthcare, and government, we are drawn to a region that has a wide range of opportunities. Unlike other markets that tend to heavily focus on one or two key industries, San Antonio’s diversity continues to attract all types of businesses and industries.
What makes your firm different from its peers?
In many ways, Weaver is a reflection of San Antonio. As a top 30 firm, we have the resources of a larger firm as well as the benefits of a smaller firm, whether that be direct, regular access to executives or our ability to make quick decisions. We are partner-owned, and with that, we understand the importance of relationships and can work with companies without the pressures of outside influences. This model tends to benefit San Antonio businesses, where we can offer good fees matched with good services. That is the best of both worlds.
Which industries are driving demand for your services?
We are seeing healthy growth in alternative investments and private equity. We continue to see a lot of dry powder in the market, and private equity entering industries that they have not historically considered. As investors go out seeking new opportunities, we help facilitate confidence in the process, either by providing audit services directly or providing the right advice and accounting through our tax and consulting practices. Beyond private equity, manufacturing continues to be an emphasis in San Antonio as a whole. With access to labor markets and affordable living, it is easy and just makes sense to open up a business in the region. This favorable business climate is also a huge driver for the activity we are seeing.
What is the firm’s approach to recruiting and talent development?
There’s no question that there have been significant shortages in the labor market, especially as it relates to accounting professionals. Historically, the industry dealt with a perception of long hours and wage comparisons with other industries, but the sector is starting to catch up. Lowering the requirements for students to earn their CPA designation has helped a lot. This is fairly recent, so we expect to see more coming from this development. In terms of our approach to talent recruitment and development, we provide space for people to learn, grow, and develop in a positive and hands-on environment. As a mid-market firm, our team members do not get lost as another number on headcount, and because of this, we can provide the right support each person needs. Weaver team members get a say in what they want to experience, which shapes their careers in a meaningful way.
What benefits have you identified from the use of AI for your operations?
Weaver has made significant investments in AI tools. I help lead our innovation practice, and we have made huge investments in a new audit platform that will integrate AI into our testing and automate manual processes. This will help our people focus on what matters most, not only bringing efficiency to our work but also delivering better insights to our clients. Integrating AI is the key, but you need to integrate the tools correctly. It boils down to time savings and better work. The goal is efficiency and accuracy, and we will continue to make big investments in that area.
How has providing guidance to clients changed in the face of a changing regulatory environment?
In terms of audit, financial reporting, and regulations, there continue to be new accounting standards and changes to audit requirements. Compliance requirements are complicated and can be confusing if you are not a CPA. It’s key to have someone that you can trust offering clarity in complex accounting situations. This adviser can explain the potential ramifications for your business and give you confidence in your decisions. That is what we strive for — trying to make these transitions and implementations to new guidance as seamless as possible while ensuring it is done correctly.
What are the firm’s priorities for the next couple of years?
We’re focused on deepening relationships with our clients, keeping a particular emphasis on private equity as well as IPOs or other going-public mechanisms. As businesses are going out and seeking new opportunities, we will work in tandem to support their journey, providing insights into needed changes in their operations or financial reporting considerations. We see strong potential in emerging industries in San Antonio, such as financial services, technology, and cyber. Attracting businesses to San Antonio is a key priority we support, as that increases Weaver’s overall opportunities. The efforts to expand the airport, as well as tax breaks and other incentives, are helping position San Antonio as a destination for new business. As the city continues to evolve, Weaver will be here to support that growth.
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