Maria Severino is the enterprise tax growth and industry leader of RSM US, leading the tax practice’s strategic growth efforts, and the national tax leader of RSM Canada, setting the vision and direction of the Canadian tax practice since 2017. Maria is a member of the firm’s executive leadership team.
Maria became the tax industry leader of RSM US in 2022 and growth leader in 2024. She drives strategic growth and fosters collaborative efforts focused on delivering comprehensive insights and innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the middle market.
In addition to the executive leadership team, she is a member of RSM Canada's leadership team and the Canada operations board as well as a member of the RSM US tax leadership team. Her collaborative and authentic leadership style has been instrumental in the tremendous growth of the tax practice in both Canada and the U.S. Maria also plays an integral role in empowering and developing talent and the next generation of leaders.
With more than three decades of extensive public practice experience, Maria has advised private, public and multinational corporations across a wide range of industries including financial services, industrials, technology and business services, in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations and international tax planning, along with estate, wealth preservation and succession planning. Her strategic tax advice and tax solutions have proved integral in structuring many complex business transactions involving mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, as well as inbound and outbound investments and business expansions. She is sought after for her entrepreneurial and pragmatic approach, and her commitment to understanding a client’s business and objectives to achieve exceptional client outcomes.
Maria has led her team through innovation and transformation, and she is redefining the client experience through a rapidly evolving environment enabled by technology and the power of data to deliver services and insights in a more meaningful and compelling way.
Maria is committed to developing leaders across the organization; she is focused on helping others achieve the skills and key tax and industry expertise needed to become first-choice advisors sought after by the middle market. She is passionate about developing a dynamic tax team to help clients solve complex issues and support their success. She maintains a focus on both the client and talent experience and has made an impact at RSM by empowering her team to lead and achieve their own personal and professional success. Guided by her strong values, Maria paves the way for others to seize opportunities and develop to advance in their professional growth and strengthen the RSM legacy.
Her strong work ethic is a direct result of being a first-generation Canadian, shaped by her upbringing and personal experiences. She recognizes the importance of family and loves spending time with her husband of more than 30 years and their three children. Together, they enjoy traveling and experiencing different cultures around the world.
