
“I enjoy being able to watch my clients grow and succeed over time, helping them reach new levels.”
Nicole Riley, CPA, CFE
Director, Audit
What I do for Clients
I appreciate my clients by consulting with them on streamlining and creating efficiencies, and helping with grant reporting, internal controls and fraud prevention.
When I’m not at work, you can find me at a baseball field or basketball court for my kids’ activities, running or working out, or traveling somewhere, like New York, Miami or the beach.

“I enjoy being able to watch my clients grow and succeed over time, helping them reach new levels.”
Nicole Riley, CPA, CFE
Director, Audit
What I do for Clients
I appreciate my clients by consulting with them on streamlining and creating efficiencies, and helping with grant reporting, internal controls and fraud prevention.
When I’m not at work, you can find me at a baseball field or basketball court for my kids’ activities, running or working out, or traveling somewhere, like New York, Miami or the beach.
11 years with PKF Texas
Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. | Houston, TX
Director, 2021 – Present
Senior Manager, 2016 – 2020
Manager, 2014 – 2016
Anders Minkler Huber & Helm LLP | St. Louis, MO
Audit Supervisor, 2010 - 2014

Rockford College
| Rockford, IL
Bachelor of Science, Accounting and Business Administration
Designations
CPA, Certified Public Accountant
CFE, Certified Fraud Examiner
Associations
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Houston Area Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce
Houston Community College Foundation
- Board Member
Achievements
Role Model
Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce - 2020
Publications
"Under new FASB guidelines do nonprofits receive contributions from governments?" - Houston Business Journal - April 2019
Video Series Guest Contributor - PKF Texas - The Entrepreneur’s Playbook® -
Speaking Engagements
State of Giving & Nonprofits - Introduction Speaker - Houston Business Journal - November 2022
2022 Accounting and Tax Changes and Updates for Not-for-Profits - Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. - October 2022
Audit & Accounting Updates - TXCPA Houston - CFO/Controllers Conference - September 2022
Moderator, "Insights from NFP Executives" - Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. - May 2022
"Data for Good: Using Graphics to Tell Your Story" - Power Tools for Nonprofits Conference - November 2021
“You Got the Grant, Now What?”
- United Way - September 2021
“2021 Accounting and Tax Updates and Changes for Not-for-Profits”
- Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. - August 2021
"Governance Gone Bad: Lessons Learned to Help Your Not-for-Profit"
- Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. - May 2021
"Can You Weather the Storm? Tips on Budgeting, KPIs, and Reviewing Financial Statements"
- Texas Historical Commission - December 2020
"Data Visualization: Using Graphics to Tell Your Story"
- United Way - November 2020
"Forging Ahead: Planning for Your Fundraising and Investing in 2021"
- Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. - November 2020
"Fraud Happens! Insights for CFOs and Controllers"
- TXCPA Houston CFO/Controllers Conference - September 2020
"Adapting to New Daily Challenges Facing Not-for-Profits"
- Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. - August 2020
"Reading and Understanding Not-for-Profit Financial Statements"
- TXCPA Houston Spring Accounting Expo - May 2020
How do you help your clients make “Smart Business Decisions”?
By making sure clients are informed so they can make the best decision for their business. We can have general discussions about what they’re doing in the market and industry, and we can provide feedback and thoughts on unintended consequences or other implications of the decisions they’re looking at, the structure of the deal and/or how they’re making that decision.
What does “art” mean to you? And how do you use art in business?
Art is a spectrum of art pieces, from performing arts, paintings, movies and photography, to the philosophical, creative, imaginative and original. In the marketplace, you have to figure out a way to be original and separate yourself from the competition – how is PKF Texas different? How do we do things differently to provide good service? Being an advisor, you can be creative with your approach to finding the right solution; allowing you to think outside the box to evaluate decisions and make sure clients have considered the whole picture. Especially in consulting, you can’t do the same thing for everyone; it’s about finding the right solution for each client.
What does “science” mean to you? And how do you use science in business?
It’s facts, information, math, physics and gravity, as well as doing trials and testing to see if something is true or false. In our own way, audit is science, like the scientific method. There are rules you have to follow. There is the evaluation, and the end product is the numbers and financial statements. The client gives answers as to why the numbers are what they are. The audit process tests if it’s true or not through the evaluation of facts, invoices, and looking at the proof.