CPA (2023)
AOC Vice Chair
Private Sector Member, 4th District
Stella Acosta blends her deep subject-matter expertise and an engaging style with a governance perspective rarely found in auditing. For her, auditing is an art that she practices to help organizations improve their processes and, ultimately their performance. As a consummate problem-solver, Stella is the person to go to for a solution after others have failed.
Stella is the founder and principal consultant at Stella Acosta, CPA, Advisory & Assurance Services where she provides strategic guidance, an ethical and independent voice, and a healthy dose of skepticism in addressing issues related to the accuracy and reliability of operating, financial, and compliance information. Stella is an adjunct instructor of internal audit and control as well as financial accounting at California State University, Fullerton, where she is educating the next generation of accounting professionals.
Stella began her career as an IRS agent, and then rose within the internal audit profession to become the director of internal audit at two publicly traded companies, Motorcar Parts of America and Hines Horticulture. While at Hines, she was also responsible for Corporate Governance. While at Motorcar, she gained experience in global, multi-cultural environments. In both positions, Stella served under the direct oversight of the Board’s Audit Committee Chairperson, which enabled her to align internal audit with key governance and strategic initiatives. Stella executed customer and solution driven engagements using a consultative and partnership approach. She recommended proactive solutions on value-added and practical improvements to risk management and the effectiveness of operations, reporting, and compliance processes, including SOX, ICFR, ITGC and FCPA activities.
Stella’s board experience includes appointment as a voting private sector member on the County of Orange, California, Audit Oversight Committee, and elected secretary for The Institute of Internal Auditors, Orange County Chapter, Board of Directors. She received an MBA from the University of California, Irvine, and a BS in Accounting from San Diego State University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and expects to receive the designation of Certified Internal Auditor in 2020. She is also a member of the Forum for Corporate Directors and has completed the Forum for Corporate Director’s Board Governance program.