Arla Lach

Executive summary

Arla Lach brings over 25 years of experience driving growth and leading effective teams at Grant Thornton. Currently, Lach serves as the Audit practice leader for the Central region, overseeing quality, talent development and client service strategy across more than 10 offices. Previously, she was market managing partner for the Chicago office—Grant Thornton’s headquarters—where she became the first woman to lead that location. In this role, Lach guided approximately 1,000 audit and assurance, tax and advisory professionals.

She has spent her entire career at Grant Thornton, serving in a succession of high-profile leadership roles and, in turn, driving growth in Chicago, throughout the Midwest and across the firm. During her time as the firm’s Midwest Geography leader, she oversaw audit work for all clients served by Grant Thornton’s teams in Chicago, Minneapolis and Wisconsin. Her success in this role helped the firm achieve record revenues in both 2022 and 2023, and Lach herself was named a “Notable Gen X Leader in Accounting” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

She has also served as the chief of staff to the CEO and as an audit partner serving clients in industries as diverse as manufacturing, distribution, technology and professional services. The latter role helped her sharpen her skills for complex SEC filings as well as the implementation and maintenance of internal control systems.

Lastly, she is highly skilled in the development, execution and communication of firm strategy, contingency planning, budgeting, senior management transition and many other areas that are crucial to the day-to-day operations and long-term planning of the firm.

Professional qualifications and memberships

• Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS) and the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).
• In 2011, she was honored by the ICPAS, receiving the “Women to Watch” award in the emerging leader category.
• In 2022, she was named a “Notable Gen X Leader in Accounting” by Crain’s Chicago Business.
• In 2024, she was named a “Notable Leader in Accounting” by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Community involvement

Lach serves on the Board of Directors for Gateway Foundation and is the Immediate Past Board Chair, and also previously chaired its Audit Committee. She sits on the Board and Executive Committee of World Business Chicago and the Board and Programs Committee for the International Women’s Forum, Chicago Chapter. In addition, Lach has held prior board roles with Step Up Women’s Network and Theatre Building Chicago, where she served as Treasurer.

Education

Lach earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.