Spotlight On: Liz Krugliak, Office Managing Partner, RSM
July 2025 — In a recent interview with Invest:, Office Managing Partner Liz Krugliak spotlighted RSM’s rapid growth in Pittsburgh, where the firm has built full-service capabilities in just four years. She emphasized the city’s alignment with RSM’s strategic priorities—highlighting its deep talent pool, culture of innovation, strong industry fit, and growing global investment as key drivers of success. “We’ve essentially gone from zero to 60,” she noted. Looking ahead, the firm is focused on doubling its local team and expanding its impact across both the business and community landscape.
What have been some of the firm’s biggest achievements in Pittsburgh over the past year?
We entered the Pittsburgh market about four years ago through a greenfield investment strategy, and since then, we’ve been on a strong and sustained growth trajectory. We’ve successfully built out full representation across our audit, tax, and consulting service lines — essentially going from zero to sixty in a remarkably short time.
Now that our full-service capabilities are firmly established, we’re focused on deepening our presence through meaningful community engagement and continued strategic expansion. Giving back to the community is deeply embedded in our firm’s DNA, and we’re proud of the impact we’ve made so far.
Looking ahead, our priorities include growing our practice, attracting top talent, expanding our client base, and strengthening our community partnerships. For us, it’s all about alignment — between business goals and community needs — and we’re fully committed to continuing that mission here in Pittsburgh.
What makes Pittsburgh an ideal location for RSM?
One of the key drivers behind our decision to invest in Pittsburgh was the strong alignment between the region’s strengths and our firm’s strategic vision. As the fifth-largest accounting firm in the U.S. and the first-choice advisors to the middle market globally, we’re always looking for markets where we can continue to grow and help other companies do the same — and Pittsburgh stood out.
The city offers an exceptional talent pipeline, fueled by world-class institutions like Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. These universities attract global talent and are at the forefront of innovation in fields such as robotics and artificial intelligence. Pittsburgh also benefits from a robust foreign direct investment ecosystem, with recent data showing around 1,800 FDI-backed companies in the region and approximately 8,000 across Pennsylvania.
Given my international background and business experience as an expat in Europe, this market felt like a natural fit. I relocated to Pittsburgh to help bridge global opportunities with local growth.
From an industry perspective, Pittsburgh’s economy is deeply rooted in advanced manufacturing and consumer products — sectors that align closely with our client base and firm-wide expertise. The region is also a strategic hub for healthcare, life sciences, and financial services, all of which are key focus areas for us.
On a personal note, I’ve found the business and social community here to be incredibly welcoming — from my realtor, who’s patiently helping me find a home, to local leaders who are eager to connect and collaborate. It’s a city that not only aligns with our business goals but also feels like home.
What emerging trends are you observing in the manufacturing and distribution sectors, and how is RSM responding to them?
Trade policies, tariffs, and regulatory shifts are top-of-mind challenges for our clients — particularly in the manufacturing sector. At the same time, the rapid evolution of technology and automation is reshaping how manufacturers operate. What sets Pittsburgh apart is its transformation from traditional manufacturing to tech-enabled, innovation-driven production. It’s a market focused on optimizing processes and driving efficiency through advanced technologies.
At RSM, we bring deep industry expertise to help clients and prospects navigate these complexities — from supply chain disruptions and trade policy changes to financial reporting and beyond. Our teams are composed of professionals who not only understand the nuances of the industry but also stay ahead of emerging trends to deliver forward-looking insights.
Innovation and technology are core to our approach. That’s one of the key reasons we’ve invested in Pittsburgh — it’s a hub where traditional industrial strengths intersect with cutting-edge innovation. This unique combination allows us to support our clients in streamlining operations, embracing automation, and unlocking new value. RSM is proud to be part of this dynamic ecosystem, helping businesses adapt, grow, and thrive in an increasingly complex environment.
How is RSM attracting and retaining talent in Pittsburgh, and how are you working with local universities to strengthen the pipeline?
We’ve built strong partnerships with the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, and Robert Morris University, collaborating closely with career advisors and recruiters to help students explore the full breadth of opportunities within the accounting profession. Our goal is to expand their perspective — accounting today goes far beyond tax returns and audits. It encompasses consulting, technology integration, and global experiences.
I joined RSM in 2014 and spent five years abroad as an expat, supporting our European clients with U.S. reporting requirements. Sharing stories like mine helps students see the profession through a broader, more dynamic lens. By engaging with them early in their academic journey, we’re able to spark curiosity and inspire them to think differently about what a career in accounting can be.
Ultimately, it’s about empowering the next generation to take ownership of their careers and realize the diverse, impactful paths available to them in this evolving field.
How is RSM leveraging digital tools to improve client service and internal efficiency?
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, no firm can afford to assume it’s ahead of the curve — especially with how rapidly technology evolves. At RSM, we’re continuously introducing new tools across our tax, audit, and consulting practices — some ideas are developed in-house, others thoughtfully adopted from the market. A great example would include our myRSM Tax digital ecosystem which replaces manual processes with intelligent, tech enabled solutions to automate the processing of complex tax documents as well as RSM Luca which streamlines our audit workflows, reduces manual errors and accelerates timelines to deliver more insightful results. Both platforms significantly improve our speed to serve, foster greater collaboration, and provide scalable, accurate outcomes that help our clients make more informed decisions.
Innovation is embedded in our culture. We’ve established dedicated innovation hubs where ideas are sourced directly from our people. After tax season — our busiest time of year — we actively gather feedback from teams on what worked, what didn’t, and where automation or process improvements could make a difference. That input directly fuels our next wave of tech initiatives.
Our goal is to help clients harness their data more effectively — whether it’s consolidating information from 20 countries or navigating complex audit and tax engagements to provide meaningful solutions. We focus on extracting actionable insights that drive smarter, more strategic decisions. It’s about striking the right balance between advanced technology and the critical thinking our professionals bring to every engagement.
What are some of the community initiatives RSM is supporting in Pittsburgh?
Throughout the year, our team proudly participates in Power of Love, a community initiative that brings RSM’s commitment to stewardship to life through locally driven fundraising and volunteer efforts. Each RSM office selects a local nonprofit that aligns with the missions of both the RSM US Foundation and the Davis Love Foundation, host of The RSM Classic.
The Davis Love Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families by supporting both national and community-based programs. With a focus on addressing educational, economic, social, and health disparities, the Foundation provides grants to organizations that create meaningful, lasting change. Since becoming the host of The RSM Classic in 2010, the Foundation has helped raise over $48 million for charities focused on children and families in need.
Here in Pittsburgh, our team has chosen to partner with The Education Partnership, an organization that provides essential school supplies to students and teachers in under-resourced schools across Southwestern Pennsylvania. Our team not only raises funds but also volunteers on-site, helping to deliver tools that empower learning. For every hour our employees volunteer, the RSM Foundation matches it with a monetary donation — creating a powerful blend of time, resources, and impact.
These efforts are more than just annual campaigns — they reflect who we are. Community involvement is deeply embedded in our culture, and by allowing employees to nominate and vote on the causes we support, we ensure that our engagement is authentic, meaningful, and shared.
What are your top priorities over the next two to three years, and what is your outlook for the accounting industry in Pittsburgh?
We’re just getting started — and the potential in Pittsburgh is tremendous. According to the Financial Times, Pittsburgh ranks as the second-most attractive U.S. city for foreign direct investment, just behind Houston. That’s a powerful signal of the region’s momentum.
We’re actively building strong relationships with local chambers of commerce, universities, and business leaders to deepen our roots in the community. With major events like the U.S. Open and the NFL Draft on the horizon, and a transformative airport redevelopment underway, the city is clearly on an upward trajectory.
As for RSM, I’ve recently stepped into the role of office managing partner, and I have bold aspirations for our future. We’re currently a team of around 60, and my goal is to double that within the next five to seven years. Long term, I envision a 200- to 300-person practice with expanded capabilities across all service lines.
Our mission is clear: to be the first-choice advisor to the middle market — both locally and globally — by combining deep industry insight with cutting-edge digital solutions. We are committed to creating meaningful opportunities for our people and making a lasting impact in the communities we serve.
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