Crain’s Chicago Business names Grant Thornton’s Arla Lach a Notable Leader in Accounting

CHICAGO — Grant Thornton, one of America’s largest brands of professionals providing end-to-end audit, assurance, tax, and advisory services, has a new award winner in Chicago: Arla Lach, the market managing principal of the firm’s Chicagoland headquarters.

Crain’s Chicago Business named Lach as a “Notable Leader in Accounting” as part of its annual list recognizing senior leaders who have demonstrated excellence in professional services while also giving back to Chicago.

Lach has spent her entire career in a succession of leadership roles at Grant Thornton, and on June 1, she became the first woman to lead Grant Thornton’s headquarters location. She drives growth throughout Chicagoland while helping nearly 1,000 audit, tax and advisory professionals deliver personalized, high-quality services to clients across the country.

Prior to this role, Lach had nearly 25 years of experience serving Grant Thornton in a variety of progressive leadership roles, including nearly three years as the firm’s Audit leader in the Midwest and a two-year appointment as chief of staff to the CEO. During this time, she developed in-depth knowledge of industries such as manufacturing and transportation, while learning how to execute large-scale growth strategies.

David Platt, the managing principal of Grant Thornton’s Central region, says he is constantly inspired by the tenacity and skillful leadership Lach brings to each role, including her new post leading the firm in Chicago.

“I’ve been Arla’s teammate for almost 13 years, so I’ve had a front row seat to her impressive track record in Chicago,” Platt said. “Her ability to build authentic relationships with our colleagues and clients is second to none, and she’s already made a significant impact as our Chicagoland leader. People rally around Arla because they know she is an authentic person who cares deeply about her teammates and clients, and to me, that’s the epitome of a notable leader.”

Outside of work, Lach serves on the board and executive committees for multiple organizations, including Chicago’s Gateway Foundation — the country’s largest nonprofit specializing in addiction recovery. She is on the board and executive committee of World Business Chicago and is a board member for the Chicago chapter of the International Women's Forum (IWF). Lach also serves as vice chair of the chapter’s programs committee.

Previously, she served on the board of the Step Up Women’s Network and as the treasurer for Theatre Building Chicago.

Lach has also spent multiple decades giving back to her profession.

As a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Illinois CPA Society, she frequently speaks on emerging industry trends and participates in mentorship programming. She also regularly speaks to students at her alma mater, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and she is a member of the accounting advisory board within the university’s Gies College of Business.

“I’m extremely grateful for this kind recognition from Crain’s, and it feels special to win this award in a city I’ve called home my entire life,” Lach said. “I share this honor with all of my teammates, who motivate me every day with their talents and ability to deliver incredible client service. Our firm may have just turned 100, but because of our people, I know there are even greater days ahead for us and the organizations we serve.”

Lach earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is a member of the AICPA and the Illinois CPA Society.

Prior to this award, Crain’s Chicago Business named her a “Notable Gen X Leader in Accounting” in 2022.