Didio steps into leadership role at Dannible & McKee

The partners in the Syracuse–based accounting firm Dannible & McKee, LLP have elected Christopher Didio as its new managing partner, succeeding Michael Reilly in that role. (PHOTO CREDIT: DANNIBLE & MCKEE, LLP )

Firm also makes two other promotions         SYRACUSE — Christopher Didio, who has been with Syracuse–based Dannible & McKee, LLP since 1987, is now the firm’s managing partner. The firm’s partners elected Didio to that role, Dannible & McKee announced July 14.  At the same time, Dannible & McKee also announced that […]

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Firm also makes two other promotions        

SYRACUSE — Christopher Didio, who has been with Syracuse–based Dannible & McKee, LLP since 1987, is now the firm’s managing partner.

The firm’s partners elected Didio to that role, Dannible & McKee announced July 14. 

At the same time, Dannible & McKee also announced that Victor Vaccaro, Jr. has been elected as the firm’s partner-in-charge of assurance services, and Kaitlyn Axenfeld has been promoted to partner.

Dannible & McKee is a certified public accounting (CPA) and consulting firm that is headquartered in Syracuse and has offices in Binghamton and Schenectady.

Didio as managing partner

Didio succeeds Michael Reilly as managing partner. Didio’s term began July 1. Reilly had led the firm since 2018.

As managing partner, Didio will oversee day-to-day operations and will be responsible for guiding the firm’s overall strategy, growth, innovation, and culture across its audit, tax, accounting, and advisory services.

“I am honored to assume the role of managing partner for Dannible & McKee,” Didio said. “Our firm has a great history of leadership, and I look forward to leading a talented, client-focused and community-engaged team to deliver the highest level of service to our clients. I am committed to the success and development of every employee and providing a great firm for our professionals to build their careers.”

Reilly will remain active in the firm. He’ll continue to serve as a tax-consulting partner, focusing on business valuation; litigation support and expert testimony; mergers and acquisitions; and other tax consulting and compliance matters. 

“Identifying and developing leaders is inherent to our firm’s ownership transition planning, and we are excited for what the future has in store with Chris being named our next managing partner,” Reilly said. “Our partners are confident that he will successfully lead and evolve the firm into its next generation.”

About Vaccaro

Vaccaro, whose term also began July 1, succeeds Kenneth Gardiner, who has led the firm’s assurance services since 2005. Gardiner will continue his role as an audit consulting partner with the firm. 

Joining the firm in 1990, Vaccaro has extensive experience providing auditing, accounting, and advisory services. He specializes in working with architectural and engineering firms and manufacturing companies, the firm said.

His areas of expertise include FAR overhead audits, business valuations, ownership transition, mergers and acquisitions, and forensic accounting. Vaccaro also focuses on consulting engagements designed to “enhance the profitability” of his clients. That includes implementation of performance-management techniques, activity-based costing projects, customer-profitability analysis, improved budgeting, and strategic-planning initiatives. 

Vaccaro is a licensed CPA in New York, Illinois, Indiana, and North Carolina, is accredited in business valuation by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants), and is a certified design accountant, per Dannible & McKee.

About Axenfeld

Axenfeld started with Dannible’s audit department in 2013 and has more than a decade of experience providing audit, review, compilation, and advisory services to clients. 

She is a CPA in New York, a certified fraud examiner, and is certified in financial forensics. Axenfeld specializes in forensic accounting and consulting services, including litigation support for law firms and fraud detection, damage calculations, and prevention matters for privately held companies. 

Axenfeld graduated from SUNY Oneonta, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in professional accounting. 

She is a member of AICPA, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). She is also a board member and member of the financial planning committee of the Hiscock Legal Aid Society, treasurer & finance committee chair for the Syracuse Parks Conservancy, and serves on the NextGen committee for the Syracuse chapter of the NYSSCPA, the firm said.       

Eric Reinhardt: