"If you have a dream, don’t just sit there. Gather courage to believe that you can succeed and leave no stone unturned to make it a reality." - Dr. Roopleen
Anant Patel, CPA, CM&AA, is the Advisory Services Practice Leader at GHJ. Anant has over 30 years of accounting and advisory services experience, with much of his career spent in a leadership capacity. Under his purview are the practices that make up GHJ’s advisory services offerings, including client accounting and advisory services, data and analytics, forensic services, profit participation services and transaction advisory services.
In his client-facing role, Anant delivers financial due diligence services for mergers and acquisitions, assisting on buy- and sell-side deals ranging from $20 million to $1.2 billion. Anant advises privately held companies in all aspects of exit planning, preparedness and execution.
In addition, Anant works closely with private equity firms, venture capitals and institutional investors across industries, with a specialization in food and beverage, entertainment, media and technology, manufacturing, wholesale/distribution, consumer products and real estate.
Beyond his role at GHJ, Anant is the Global Capabilities Leader within HLB International, a global advisory and accounting network. He serves on the Board of Directors of Step Up on Second and was previously its Board Chairman. He is also a member of CalCPA and the AICPA. Due to his impact in the community and accounting industry, Anant has been recognized as a Los Angeles Business Journal Leader of Influence: Minority CPA and Private Equity, as well as an LA Times Banking and Finance Visionary.
Prior to joining GHJ in 2000, Anant worked at a national accounting firm in England associated with HLB. He also previously owned and operated a number of family-owned retail grocery businesses.
Anant graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of Leeds, England. He is also a CPA and Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA).
Anant and his family reside in Valencia, located in Santa Clarita. He is an avid sports fan, especially soccer and golf, and enjoys a wide variety of music.
What’s your role in the firm, and how do you make a difference?
I am the Practice Leader of GHJ's Advisory Services. I find an entrepreneurial inquisitive mindset helps me challenge myself, others and our clients in thinking differently in ways to help navigate the future.
Who is/was the biggest influence in your business life and how did s/he shape who you’ve become?
I cannot name just one! So many people, in and out of the profession. Being part of the nonprofit board of Step Up has also elevated my perspective in managing organizations and de-align with challenges that companies face.
Describe the best thing about GHJ and why it matters to you.
Our core value #BrightMinds. Being a consultant, this value is very important in constantly thinking about how best to continue to think in a different way. We love to challenge and motivate our teams to serve our clients by really understanding their business operations and helping them navigate their challenges and opportunities.
What makes you get up in the morning, and how does it impact your work style?
Every day is a different, exciting and, at times, challenging day. There is no room for boredom in my job. My motto has been “keep your feet on the ground; however, reach for the stars.”
What issues in our community do you care most about, and how does that motivate you?
I serve on the Board of Directors of Step Up on Second, a permanent housing solution to chronic homelessness due to mental illness. Eradicating homelessness is a big issue, and the ability to work with an amazing forward-thinking organization that truly helps people is very fulfilling to me.
If you could go back in time, what would you do differently and why?
The mistake I made in real estate was to build a compliance practice; if I did it all over again, I would build a compliance and consulting practice to sustain the economic cycles of the sector.
What/who influenced you to join the firm, and how?
Leon Janks – his enthusiasm, passion, the culture of the firm and how he sees the future growth is an inspiration to me.
What is your proudest professional moment, and why?
Reinventing my expertise after the fall out of the real estate sector following the great recession. Dusting myself off, and building a successful Transaction Advisory Services practice and leading the firm’s Advisory Services Practice is rewarding every day.
Where do you see the profession heading, and what innovations can we anticipate?
Compliance is yesterday. We need to help clients navigate the future, help define it and help them realize their business future.
Areas of Expertise
Fun Facts
Favorite music/band/singer:
U2
Favorite movie or book of all time:
The Godfather movies
One word that best describes me:
Relentless (my name Anant actually has the meaning “infinite, endless” in Sanskrit)
When I’m not working, you’ll catch me doing this:
Playing golf, watching soccer, listening to music and traveling with my family
