Hood & Strong is proud to spotlight the three team members who have been named a 2025 Next Gen Accounting Leader by the California Society of CPAs (CalCPA) and the San Franciso Business Times. This ongoing initiative aims to showcase the influence of emerging leaders in the accounting industry. Congratulations to these exemplary Hood & Strong team members on this highly deserved recognition.
Michael Prothero, CPA - Tax Manager
Since joining the H&S high-net-worth tax practice in early 2024, Michael has consistently been a force of reliability and expertise, taking full ownership of each engagement and ensuring every client receives the highest level of service and personalized attention. To be successful in this area takes a dynamic professional who can deal with the day-to-day intricacies of highly complex individuals and their specialized financial needs. Managing high-net-worth clients requires an extraordinary level of skill; it is a very demanding practice area that necessitates strong technical competence, team leadership abilities, professional discretion, and exceptional relationship management.
Michael not only represents all of these qualities, but continues to challenge the status quo and delivers for his clients and fellow team members beyond expectations. “Michael is one of the best young talents I’ve seen in my career as a CPA,” says Tax Service Group Partner-in-Charge Chad McArthur. “He is an outstanding addition to the Tax team who is building a distinguished and accomplished career in public accounting.”
Michael takes full responsibility and ownership for client engagements, managing them from initial document collection through final filing, all while maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with both clients and team members. He is committed to identifying innovative processes and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to take advantage of increased efficiencies and accuracy. Michael’s strong leadership and relationship skills combined with his mentorship abilities and commitment to continuous improvement makes him an outstanding and valued member of the team.
Allison Cooley, CPA - Audit Manager
Allison began her accounting career at Hood & Strong after graduating summa cum laude in Accounting from San Francisco State University. Beginning as a Senior Auditor, she has consistently taken on new and larger audit assignments resulting in her promotion to her current managerial role in 2022. Allison is a smart, service-oriented audit professional who oversees the complex audit processes for closely held businesses and not-for-profit organizations, including public charities, foundations, and colleges and universities.
Allison has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, strong project management skills, and a commitment to our team success across multiple initiatives within the firm. A key member of the Audit Methodology Implementation Team, Allison has played a vital role in ensuring a smooth transition to new audit methodology. She has proactively collaborated with team members, provided insightful feedback, and helped refine processes to enhance efficiency and compliance. Her ability to analyze complex methodology changes and translate them into practical applications has been instrumental in guiding the team through implementation. Additionally, Allison has been a member of the H&S Audit Process Efficiency Group, significantly contributing to identifying and implementing process improvements that enhanced the effectiveness of our audit engagements.
Allison is committed to giving back to the community and actively participates in various volunteer and service initiatives outside of work. Her dedication to community service reflects her strong leadership, compassion, and commitment to making a positive impact beyond the workplace. As a mentor and leader, Allison is dedicated to developing the next generation of professionals. Through her active participation in the H&S Mentorship Group, she has guided and supported junior team members, creating an inclusive and empowering environment. Her ability to lead by example, provide meaningful feedback, and create opportunities for others’ growth sets her apart as a true champion for professional development.
Kavita Sivasubramanian, CPA - Audit Supervisor
Kavita is an outstanding Hood & Strong team member and a highly respected young leader in the Audit and Assurance Group working with a diverse group of both commercial and not-for-profit clients. She is a strategic, service-oriented professional who brings a combination of technical expertise, ethical integrity, and exellent communication skills to her work with clients and other members of the firm. Her positive and inspiring leadership style encourages her team members to take initiative and make decisions. She prioritizes professional development and career growth by creating opportunities for learning, skill development and career advancement.
As the accounting landscape is rapidly evolving due to changes in regulations, technology and business practices, Kavita plays a key role in the H&S Process Efficiency Group to identify and implement new Audit department tools, embracing new technologies, developing training modules, and fostering a continuous learning environment for all team members. Additionally, Kavita demonstrates a strong emotional intelligence which is crucial for effective leadership. She is an outstanding supervisor and mentor who appreciates her teammate’s perspectives and input and which enables her to build strong relationships with both colleagues and clients.
Kavita is an exceptional "multi-tasker" who successfully straddles both her professional and personal worlds as a talented and engaged accounting professional, dedicated mother, and community volunteer. Kavita is active in community causes both in the Bay Area and in her native India. She is a long-time volunteer and donor at Second Harvest Food Bank and provides both advisory and financial support to a non-profit charitable organization in India that operates a hospital serving underprivileged families and children.
