Navigate Up
Sign In
Bookmark and Share

Our People

Joe Heffernan

CPA, Audit Partner

248-223-3261
248-603-5675
V-Card
Email
Linked In

Joe Heffernan

​Joe is the partner in charge of professional standards for Plante Moran’s public sector. A thought leader in the changing world of governmental accounting standards, Joe is known for his involvement with proposed new accounting pronouncements and his understanding of the principles that underlie the various accounting rules and procedures.

Joe has spent his entire 33-year career working with state and local units of government, ranging in size from moderate-sized townships to the State of Michigan and ranging in complexity from libraries to public universities with associated medical campuses.  Most recently, Joe has focused on advising governments on resizing their service levels to fit the new reality of lowered revenue bases. This includes the art of forecasting to enable governing boards to adjust budgets ahead of the projected revenue declines.

Joe is regularly called on to share his expertise with the governmental industry at various trade organizations, such as the AICPA’s Government and Nonprofit training. Joe participates in the standard-setting process for new GASBs in the Government Audit Quality Center, and the AICPA’s State and Local Government Expert Panel.  

In October 2011, Joe was recognized by the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA) for his outstanding task force work in connection with the MACPA’s involvement in Michigan’s Turnaround Task Force. He has a B.B.A. from The University of Michigan (with high distinction).

Affiliations

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (involved in Michigan’s Turnaround Task Force, which advises Governor Snyder in policy issues impacting local units of government)
  • Michigan Government Finance Officers Association (chair of the Accounting Standards Committee)
  • Michigan Committee on Government Accounting and Auditing
  • Center for Local, State and Urban Policy (Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy)

Specialties

  • Governmental accounting and auditing standards

Practice Areas

Articles