Kristi Kennedy is the tax operations leader for RSM US LLP. She drives results for the tax practice by drawing on her experience in strategy, operations management, finance, change management and issues management. She uses her full range of leadership skills to cultivate a positive experience for RSM clients, colleagues and communities. Kristi joined RSM in 1998 and is a former member of the RSM US LLP Board of Directors.
Kristi has served as a senior tax partner with deep experience working with large privately held companies and related entities, specifically focusing on tax in the real estate and construction industries. In her tax leadership roles, Kristi is responsible for growth and culture in the tax practice, ensuring that the strategy is aligned regionally and nationally and that execution remains on track.
As a leader in the firm, Kristi is passionate about providing RSM’s people the opportunity to be successful. She helps the next generation of RSM professionals recognize and seize those opportunities to grow their careers at the firm. Her demeanor gives her a natural bent toward networking, making it easy for her to connect with clients and colleagues. She is inquisitive and leverages her deep connections to align the right talent with the right clients to position RSM as a first-choice advisor for clients.
Before joining RSM, Kristi worked for a Big Four firm, serving real estate and financial institution clients. She has also held various leadership roles for one of the largest real estate developers in the United States.
Kristi’s dad was a homebuilder in the construction industry, so in her first public accounting role, she selected real estate and construction as her industry focus. As a child, she enjoyed driving around with her dad to see the various projects he was building; now, she asks clients for a tour of their sites so she can gain deeper insight into their projects.
To assist in RSM’s culture, diversity and inclusion efforts, Kristi is the executive sponsor of the inclusion committee for tax, developing programming around understanding cultural differences. She approaches her role with intentionality to provide all employees equal opportunities at the firm.
Kristi serves on the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Board of Governors in her personal time and enjoys entertaining family and friends.
