Partner Profile: Gary Crouch

Gary Crouch is an audit and assurance partner who joined the WNDE team in 2017. He is a CPA licensed in both California and Louisiana.
Gary is from New Orleans. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of New Orleans and a Masters of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. He had originally intended to become an attorney, but after earning his undergraduate degree in accounting and enjoying working in accounting as he earned his CPA, he decided to make it a career.
Gary began working in public accounting in 1976 with a large regional firm based in New Orleans. In addition to his designation as a CPA, he is also a Certified Fraud Examiner, which is awarded to professionals responsible for detecting, deterring, and investigating fraud. His extensive experience includes working with nonprofit organizations and retail, finance, construction, equipment leasing, and sales and manufacturing companies, as well as employee benefit plans.
His professional affiliations include memberships in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He is also past president of the Orange County Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and past treasurer and director at large of the Orange County Chapter of Western Pension & Benefits Council.
Gary wanted to join WNDE because, he said, “the great atmosphere and sense of camaraderie I sensed really drew me to the firm. WNDE has become one of the leading firms in the area and that also had a big impact on my decision.” Gary added, “My time since joining WNDE has been positive, as I have been welcomed by everyone and have really enjoyed getting to know the partners and staff.”
Gary and his wife, Sandra, have been married since 1985. She was a manager at Deloitte, and the couple came to California after she was offered a position with Ernst & Young in Irvine (she now works as a controller for the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce). Gary and Sandra have a son, Garrison, who graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering/Nanotechnology and is pursuing a PhD at the University of Notre Dame. Gary and Garrison both enjoy archery and classic cars. While living in New Orleans, Gary was working on restoring a 1966 Ford Mustang, and he won a 1957 Ford Thunderbird in a raffle in 1998, which he has been restoring over the past 20 years.
Gary’s community involvements include serving on the advisory council for Olive Crest’s Safe Families for Children and past membership in California State University, Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics Executive Council.