Cardello ’93 Earns Hillman Award for Decades of Impact in Accounting and Community Work

The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business recognized Jacqueline Cardello ’93, CPA, president and managing partner of GRF CPAs & Advisors, as the recipient of the second annual Suzanne D. Hillman Recognition and Achievement Award for Service to the Community.

The award commemorates individuals who exemplify excellence in the accounting profession while demonstrating a strong dedication to community service, charitable initiatives that help strengthen and uplift their communities.

Dean Prabhudev Konana presented the award during the Department of Accounting and Information Assurance’s annual cocktail reception and graduation dinner held in the Ballroom at The Hotel in College Park in May, with over 225 students, faculty, advisory council members, sponsors and guests in attendance.

“We are grateful for Jackie’s commitment to the Smith School community, along with her commitment to supporting our accounting department and mentoring students,” said Konana during the event. “She has been a wonderful partner to us, and we are pleased to honor her with this award.”

Since joining GRF, a Washington, D.C.-based full-service accounting firm, in 1997, Cardello has leveraged her background in audit practice to advise nonprofits and improve employee benefit plans.

As managing partner at GRF, a role she secured over ten years ago, Cardello has cultivated a culture of entrepreneurship and continuously sought to empower and develop future leaders in the accounting industry. 

In 2024, Cardello expanded her relationship with the Smith School by urging her firm to invest in the school’s AI Initiative for Capital Market Research, which seeks to develop an AI literacy course for UMD students of all academic majors, equipping them with domain-specific knowledge and skills to thrive in an increasingly AI-influenced business landscape. 

Through her involvement in the initiative, Cardello hopes it will contribute to attracting more students to accounting and continue strengthening the firm's relationship with the Smith School. 

“We’re comparing notes and sharing information. We’re meeting regularly and sharing what we’re seeing in terms of the demand we’re getting from our clients, where we feel artificial intelligence can help,” Cardello said in a previous interview with the Smith School. “We’re hearing what they are teaching in the classroom and what the students are asking for.”