About Cendrowski Corporate Advisors · Chicago
Cendrowski Corporate Advisors (CCA) is a boutique CPA and corporate advisory firm headquartered in Downtown Chicago at 161 N. Clark Street, Suite 1600, with a second office in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Founded by Harry Cendrowski in 1983 (originally co-founded with Jack Selecky), the firm serves enterprises, privately owned companies, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals across the U.S. with tax, advisory, outsourced accounting and finance, business valuation, fraud investigation, and dispute advisory services. CCA is known for its role in developing the first significant REIT/UPREIT structure for Taubman Centers, and its Managing Director, Harry Cendrowski, is the Global Chairperson of GGI's Trust & Estate Planning Practice Group.
Cendrowski Corporate Advisors (CCA) is a boutique tax consulting and corporate advisory firm that has been operating since 1983, originally co-founded by Harry Cendrowski and his late partner Jack Selecky on the principle of relationship-first advising. With offices in Downtown Chicago (161 N. Clark Street, Suite 1600) and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, CCA delivers comprehensive tax, advisory, and outsourced accounting and finance services to a diverse clientele that includes financial institutions, venture capital and private equity firms, middle-market companies, family offices, high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, nonprofit organizations, and start-ups. The firm is nationally recognized for its ingenuity in complex financial structures — most notably, its members were instrumental in developing the first significant REIT/UPREIT structure for Taubman Centers, Inc. and the Bloomfield Hills-based Taubman Realty Group LP, a model that became today's standard for distributed real estate investment. CCA specialists have written and co-authored several widely cited books on private equity, fraud deterrence, risk management, and cloud computing, published by Wiley. Beyond traditional CPA services, CCA provides independent and objective consulting and testifying experts for dispute matters, serving attorneys and courts as trusted expert witnesses and mediators. The firm is a member of GGI Global Alliance, one of the top ten international accounting, consulting, and law firm alliances, giving it global reach. Giving back to the community is integral to the firm's values, with team members actively supporting community-based charities and nonprofit organizations with their time and talent — including service on nonprofit and charitable boards.
- In business
- Since 1983 (40+ years)
- Owner
- Harry Cendrowski, CPA/ABV, CGMA, CFF, CVA, CFD, MAFF — Founding Member and Managing Director. Co-founded the firm with the late Jack Selecky.
- Serves
- United States (most clients headquartered in the U.S. or U.S. business interests of foreign entities); global reach through GGI Global Alliance affiliation. Chicago metropolitan area and Metro Detroit (Bloomfield Hills) primary; Chicago is listed as one of the firm's key service locations.
About the Firm
Cendrowski Corporate Advisors maintains offices in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and Downtown Chicago at 161 N. Clark Street, Suite 1600. Since 1983, this boutique tax consulting firm has collaborated with clients to build the foundation for well-informed business decisions. Enterprises, privately owned companies, and high-net-worth individuals rely on the deep insight and thoughtful analysis of CCA's specialists and the firm's comprehensive tax, advisory, and outsourced accounting and finance services. The firm's core competencies include family office services, business valuation, fraud investigation, and dispute advisory. Most clients are headquartered in the U.S. or are U.S. business interests of foreign entities. Because of CCA's affiliation with GGI Global Alliance — one of the top ten international accounting, consulting, and law firm alliances — the firm is well-equipped to deliver advice on a global scale. The firm describes its brand positioning as 'A CPA Firm With A Different Perspective.'
- Founded in 1983
- Co-founded by Harry Cendrowski and the late Jack Selecky
- Headquartered in Downtown Chicago with second office in Bloomfield Hills, MI
- Member of GGI Global Alliance
- Brand promise: 'A CPA Firm With A Different Perspective'
Notable Industry Innovation: The UPREIT Structure
The clearest example of the firm's ingenuity is a solution that became today's standard for distributed real estate investment. The firm's members were instrumental in developing the first significant REIT/UPREIT structure for Taubman Centers, Inc. and its Bloomfield Hills-based holding company, Taubman Realty Group LP. This work transformed the real estate industry in the early 1990s and led to the proliferation of publicly traded REITs. CCA continues to advise clients on REIT and UPREIT structuring today as one of its named service lines.
- Developed first significant REIT/UPREIT structure for Taubman Centers
- Established the modern blueprint for publicly traded REITs
- Ongoing practice in REIT/UPREIT Tax Services
Service Lines
CCA organizes its services into major categories covering outsourced accounting and finance, tax services, and advisory services. The outsourced accounting team works closely with each client's in-house accounting department, helping them manage challenges that might otherwise overwhelm their internal capacity. The tax services practice spans business tax, high-net-worth tax, international tax, real estate tax, and family office tax structuring. Advisory services include business valuation, dispute advisory, family office advisory, private equity/venture capital advisory, risk management, cannabis services, and governance advisory.
- Outsourced Accounting & Finance Services
- Tax Services
- Advisory Services (Business Valuation, Dispute Advisory, Family Office, PE/VC, Risk Management, Cannabis)
Outsourced Accounting & Finance Services
From early-stage accounting basics and rapid-growth overflow accounting to special projects and tax planning for acquisitions, CCA's trusted finance and accounting advisors allow business owners to access the professional services the organization needs without the difficulty and expense of expanding the accounting staff roster. The firm provides interim CFOs, controllers, and accountants on a limited-time or special-project basis. Services include selecting and integrating new accounting software, providing interim leadership after the departure of a senior executive, facilitating leadership transition planning for a family-owned business, increasing internal capacity after a merger or acquisition, determining and growing profitability, preparing detailed financial reports for investors or loans, confirming the validity of potential partnerships or mergers, and addressing unique tax and accounting situations.
- Interim CFO
- Client Accounting Services
- Outsourced Family Office Services
- Tax Outsourcing Services
Tax Services
CCA's tax services practice is renowned for designing complex tax structures and strategies that positively influence businesses' operations and finances. The team offers tax planning and compliance, state and local tax, international tax, and IRS representation. Specialty areas include high-net-worth tax, real estate tax (including REIT/UPREIT), family office tax structuring and compliance, generational succession planning, gift and estate planning, business tax services, and ESOP planning.
- Business Tax Services
- High Net Worth Tax Services
- International Tax (expatriation compliance, financial asset disclosure, foreign asset planning)
- Real Estate Tax Services (REIT/UPREIT, ESOP Planning, RollUps/UPREITS, Buyouts & Compensatory Transfers)
- Family Office Tax Structuring & Compliance
- Succession Planning
- Strategic Planning
- Accounting Systems Review / Analysis
Advisory Services
CCA's advisory practice brings independent, objective consulting and testifying expertise to bear on business valuation, dispute resolution, fraud investigation, and family office strategy. The firm serves financial institutions, venture capital and private equity firms, middle-market companies, philanthropic organizations, and high-net-worth families. The legal community — attorneys and courts alike — counts CCA among its trusted expert witnesses and mediators.
- Business Valuation Services
- Dispute Advisory (Forensic Accounting Expert Witness, Fraud Investigation, Receivership)
- Family Office Advisory (Direct Investment Due Diligence and Valuation, Family Governance & Succession Planning, Family Office Operational Assessments)
- Private Equity / Venture Capital Advisory (Operational Assessments for Portfolio Companies)
- Risk Management Services (Governance Advisory, Cybersecurity, Enhanced Customer Due Diligence, Operational Assessments)
- Cannabis Services (Back Office Services, Background Investigations, Due Diligence, Tax Structuring & Compliance, Entity Formation & Startup, MMFLA State License Application, Tax Return Preparation)
- Due Diligence
Industries Served
CCA serves a diverse range of clients including high-level financial institutions, venture capital and private equity firms, middle-market companies, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, nonprofit organizations, start-ups, and other entrepreneurial ventures. The firm maintains dedicated industry pages for several verticals, including a robust Not-for-Profit practice and an Estates, Trusts & Private Foundations practice.
- Financial Institutions
- Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms
- Middle-Market Companies
- High-Net-Worth Individuals and Family Offices
- Nonprofit and Philanthropic Organizations
- Start-ups and Entrepreneurial Ventures
- Cannabis Industry
- Real Estate (REITs)
- Estates, Trusts, and Private Foundations
Not-for-Profit and Philanthropic Advisory
Cendrowski Corporate Advisors works hand-in-hand with philanthropic and nonprofit organizations to ensure the intended community impact is achieved and the confidence of donors is well-founded. The firm's services to the nonprofit and education sectors are unique in that its assessments look at the complete entity. CCA helps nonprofit boards and educational leaders develop internal controls and protocols designed to establish transparency and efficiency, ensures protocols are implemented correctly, and provides consistent support and feedback. The firm's Chicago-based team brings over 20 years of experience advising on family office investments in philanthropy, crafting philanthropic portfolios and assisting NGOs to secure over $250 million for major gifts, capital projects, and endowment campaigns. CCA professionals are deeply committed to community service, with active participation on the boards of community-based charities and nonprofit organizations.
- Internal Assessments and Development
- Staff and Board Development (background checks, verifiable performance metrics)
- Creating Capital, Major Gift, and Endowment Campaigns
- Maximizing Tax Efficiencies for Philanthropic Organizations
- Donor Advised Fund advisory
- Philanthropic Planning & Administration
- Assisted NGOs to secure over $250 million for major gifts, capital projects, and endowment campaigns
- Board service by CCA team members at St. Bernard's Hospital, Children's Care Foundation, and The Happy Childhood Foundation
Estates, Trusts & Private Foundations
CCA has provided financial and tax advisory services to estates, funds, and private foundations for over three decades. Harry Cendrowski's position as Global Chair of GGI's Trust and Estate Planning Practice Group gives the firm a unique perspective in these areas. Estate planning is framed as much more than a transfer of wealth — it often involves family relationships. CCA assists clients with planning for the future, maximizing tax efficiency while considering their interests in charitable contributions and family legacy planning. The team works with each client's legal and financial advisors, considering all of their goals and creating effective strategies for succession planning and the disposition of assets during life and upon death.
- Future Planning
- Starting a Foundation
- Generational Succession Planning
- Gift & Estate Planning
- Family Office Tax Structuring & Compliance
Leadership and Team
CCA is led by Managing Director Harry Cendrowski, the firm's founding member, who has worked in the family office space for over 35 years. A graduate of the University of Detroit, Harry previously worked at Touche Ross (now Deloitte) before launching CCA. The firm also includes Managing Director Maureen A. Nulty, CPA, ABV; Managing Director James F. Schultz, CPA, CVA, CFF, MAFF; Principal John T. Alfonsi, CPA, ABV, CFF, CFE, CVA; Principal Louis W. Petro, PhD, CPA, CGMA, CIA, CCP, CISA, CFE, CMA, CFM, PE; and team member Kaitlyn E. Smith, MSA, EA.
- Harry Cendrowski, CPA/ABV, CGMA, CFF, CVA, CFD, MAFF — Managing Director and Founding Member
- Maureen A. Nulty, CPA, ABV — Managing Director
- James F. Schultz, CPA, CVA, CFF, MAFF — Managing Director
- John T. Alfonsi, CPA, ABV, CFF, CFE, CVA — Principal
- Louis W. Petro, PhD, CPA, CGMA, CIA, CCP, CISA, CFE, CMA, CFM, PE — Principal
- Kaitlyn E. Smith, MSA, EA
Published Industry Expertise
CCA specialists have written and co-authored several books on private equity, fraud deterrence, risk management, and cloud computing and electronic discovery, underscoring the firm's expertise. With many details, practice tips, and examples, each volume is considered an indispensable reference by educators and business people alike. The books are published by Wiley.
- Private Equity: History, Governance, and Operations
- Enterprise Risk Management and COSO
- The Handbook of Fraud Deterrence
- Cloud Computing and Electronic Discovery
- The Computer Fraud Casebook: The Bytes that Bite (chapter contribution)
Locations and Contact
Cendrowski Corporate Advisors, LLC maintains two offices: its Downtown Chicago office at 161 N. Clark Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60601, and its Bloomfield Hills (Metro Detroit) office at 4111 Andover Road West, Third Floor, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302. Clients can reach the firm by phone at (866) 717-1607 or via the contact form on cca-advisors.com.
- Chicago Office: 161 N. Clark Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60601
- Bloomfield Hills Office: 4111 Andover Road West, Third Floor, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
- Phone: (866) 717-1607
- Website: https://cca-advisors.com
Community Engagement and Giving Back
Giving back to the communities in which CCA lives and works is integral to its values. The firm's team members actively support a variety of community-based charities and nonprofit organizations with time and talent. CCA professionals serve on nonprofit and charitable boards, including St. Bernard's Hospital, the Children's Care Foundation, and The Happy Childhood Foundation, where their strategic insights and leadership have helped steer these organizations toward their philanthropic goals.
- Board service at St. Bernard's Hospital
- Board service at Children's Care Foundation
- Board service at The Happy Childhood Foundation
- Active time and talent support for community-based charities