Thomas R. Ertel manages a broad range of finance functions for Strada Education Foundation, including assisting the CFO in a wide variety of activities, purchase accounting and coordination/integration of finance functions of acquisitions, internal control assessment and monitoring, network-wide complex accounting matters, and shared service finance support for certain affiliates. Other finance activities include for-profit and nonprofit income tax compliance, benefits accounting, travel and expense reporting, corporate accounts payable, payroll, consolidated financial statement activities, and audit functions.

Ertel joined Strada Education Foundation as senior vice president and chief accounting officer in October 2017, bringing more than 30 years of leadership experience advising audit committees and C-suite executives on global corporate governance and financial matters.

His experience in mergers and acquisitions includes work in due diligence, complex accounting, valuation issues, internal control evaluation, and finance personnel and integration assessment. Ertel also has an extensive background in coordinating legal, tax, valuation, and finance experts to ensure efficient and thorough acquisition processes.

Ertel spent 15 years with Ernst & Young in Indianapolis, serving as assurance partner and lead client service partner, and working with multinational and domestic companies in various industries.

Prior to his time with Ernst & Young, he worked at the Arthur Andersen Indianapolis office for 25 years, starting after graduating from Ball State University and becoming a partner with the company at age 32. He was the lead partner with a variety of industrial and consumer product clients headquartered in the United States and abroad.

Ertel graduated cum laude from Ball State where, in 2008, he became the 39th member of the Miller College of Business Hall of Fame. A certified public accountant since 1980, he also has taken Master of Business Administration degree courses at the Center for Professional Development and at INSEAD (School of the World) in Fontainebleau, France.