Photo of Theresa Banks

I used to love playing the video game, Galaga, during the 80s, and I still have a hard time passing an arcade without playing Galaga.
Theresa Banka
Partner, CPA

Experience

As a partner in the employee benefit plan audit practice and former technical leader of the practice, I spend 100 percent of my time engaged in audits and consulting for large retirement and OPEB/health and welfare plans. I also helped develop our firm’s strategic approach to efficiently and effectively audit benefit plans.

With more than 30 years in public accounting and a focus in employee benefit plan audits, my clients and colleagues know me for my expertise in all aspects of auditing, accounting, and reporting for every type of benefit plan. Being deeply engaged in this area has driven me to grow and build Plante Moran’s national benefit plan audit practice. We’re the sixth largest benefit plan auditor in the nation, auditing over 1,500 plans and $175 billion in assets a year. In addition to developing this practice, I’ve had the privilege of helping build a skilled team of professionals who also enjoy auditing benefit plans.

I’m one of the firm’s experts in auditing alternative investments. I’m also on the team of public pension specialists, assisting clients in implementation of new standards, and ensuring compliance with the new standards.

My clients know me for being very technically knowledgeable but having the flexibility to take a practical approach — and they appreciate that I like to have fun while serving them. In fact, many of our clients miss working with us outside of benefit plan audit season, so we enjoy calls throughout the year to stay in touch. I love numbers and solving puzzles and appreciate that my clients recognize my dedication to exceeding their expectations.

I frequently speak at national employee benefit plan conferences on accounting and auditing topics such as investments, ethics, SOC-1s, ESOPs, derivatives, 11-K plans, and multi-employer plans. I belong to the AICPA and the MICPA. I’m the Vice Chair of AICPA’s National Conference on Employee Benefit Plans Committee and a former member of AICPA’s Employee Benefit Plan Expert Panel. I received my bachelor’s degree in accounting and my master’s degree in business administration from Michigan State University.