Armanino ranked No. 8 on the 2025 Real Leaders Top Impact Companies list for balancing the planet’s lefts and rights.
Armanino is a B-Corp certified, top 20 accounting and consulting firm dedicated to empowering businesses through innovative solutions in audit, tax, consulting, and technology. Armanino’s purpose is to be the most innovative and entrepreneurial firm that makes a positive impact on the lives of its clients, its people, and its communities. Here Armanino CEO Matt Armanino shares his knowledge and experience with Real Leaders.
Real Leaders: How do you thrive in the impact space?
Matt Armanino: Thriving in creating and sustaining impact requires — in every part of an organization — a relentless commitment to purpose-driven leadership and a culture that encourages continuous innovation. Every day we think about how we can better embrace a mindset of continuous evolution and focus on helping clients solve their most challenging problems.
We leverage technology and data to uncover new ways to drive efficiencies, but we also recognize that impact starts with human connection. Building a culture that empowers teams to think boldly, take ownership, and pursue initiatives that align with our broader mission allows us to stay ahead of the curve and deliver impactful results. Success in this space is about balancing growth and purpose and being unwavering in your commitment to both.
RL: What milestones have you achieved this year?
Armanino: Armanino celebrated its 16th annual Great Give day of service in May 2024. A firmwide day of community service, we had record-breaking participation with 20,512 volunteer hours in support of 158 unique organizations across the globe. Our team members took a day off to participate with service projects of their choice to make an impact in their communities and beyond. Over 16 years Armanino team members have contributed over 92,320 hours in support of various nonprofit organizations and community projects — the equivalent of more than 44 years of full-time work. In 2024, 2,155 Armanino team members participated in activities ranging from environmental cleanups and food packing to educational programs and social support service.
Armanino also completed its second annual Treedom Canopy Challenge, a firm-wide fundraising effort to plant as many trees as possible by Earth Day. This partnership was in collaboration with Treedom, a certified B Corp that engages in tree-planting projects worldwide. Thanks to the generosity of Armanino employees, friends, and the Armanino Foundation’s matching contributions, the initiative surpassed its goal, supporting the planting of 2,794 trees, which removes nearly 700 tons of carbon dioxide this year alone.
RL: What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?
Armanino: One of the most significant challenges we faced was adapting to rapid technological disruptions while maintaining a human-centric approach. The pressure to innovate can overshadow the importance of staying connected to the needs of your people. We tackled this by integrating robust feedback loops and educational processes within our teams, ensuring that our adoption of tech advancements, specifically AI, was directly informed by those on the front lines — our in-house experts of AI leaders.
RL: What is your best strategy for finding investors?
Armanino: We also reimagined our talent development strategies, recognizing that to keep pace with industry change, our people need more than just technical skills; they need to think critically and lead confidently in dynamic environments.
RL: What is your long-term, mission-oriented dream?
Armanino: Armanino’s long-term mission is to lead the accounting and consulting industry into a new era where impact and innovation go hand-in-hand. We envision a future where our firm isn’t just a service provider but a strategic, trusted advisor that empowers businesses to achieve their highest potential. This includes being mindful of the impact we have on our environment and local communities.
Our goal is to expand our influence beyond traditional services, leveraging our expertise to create differentiated platforms, tools, and partnerships that drive systemic change in how businesses operate when tackling their biggest challenges.
RL: What is your best advice for fellow impact CEOs?
Armanino: Stay anchored to your purpose and be fearless in your pursuit of it. Lead with empathy, and empower your people to think like owners. Cultivate a team that’s skilled and deeply invested in the mission; their passion will drive innovation and resilience in ways that no strategy document ever could. And remember, impact doesn’t happen in isolation — engage with your community, listen to your stakeholders, and build partnerships that amplify your efforts. Never hesitate to seek out others who can help turn your vision into reality.
