David A. Costello, CPA

For 17 years, David A. Costello, CPA, served as president and chief executive officer of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, Inc. (NASBA), a voluntary organization of the 55 Boards of Accountancy in the United States and its territories. Upon on his retirement (or as he terms it, “refirement”), Costello continues his work as founder, member and former chairman of the NASBA Center for the Public Trust (CPT) Board of Directors. Founded in 2004, the NASBA CPT was established to provide a platform for corporate America and the accounting profession to explore, promote and advance positive ethical practices and professional activities.

Costello began his career with Ernst & Ernst (a predecessor firm of Ernst & Young) and then headed into corporate auditing with Genesco, Inc. In 1982, he moved up to president of General Adhesives, Inc., division, and in 1986, became president and chief operating officer of IGI Adhesives, Inc., a division of the International Group, Inc. In 1991, he started his own consulting firm and also served as the executive director of the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy from 1993-1994. Costello was named president and chief executive officer of NASBA in October 1994.

Among his professional activities, Costello is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Tennessee Society of CPAs. Accounting Today named him one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting” for 15 years. Costello was also honored by being named by the Nashville Post (formerly Business TN) as one of “Accounting’s Finest in 2009 and 2010.” He was also recognized with the 2011 Award of Honor by the SpeakUp NASBA Toastmasters Club and named the 2011 Ohio University – Beta Alpha Psi Accountant of the Year. Most recently, AICPA named Costello as one of the “125 people of impact to accounting” in the past 125 years.

Currently, Costello serves on the Management Accounting Advisory Council for Vanderbilt and Lipscomb Universities and serves actively as executive-in-residence for Lipscomb University.

A lifelong resident of Nashville, Costello is a graduate of Cohn High School (’60), David Lipscomb University (’64) and holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University (’92). He and his wife Sally are the proud parents of five children and 17 grandchildren.