Jessika Garis
Manager, Risk Advisory
Services
RSM
Future Leader
At the height of the recession, Jes-
sika Garis’ corporate accounting job
was outsourced and she had a choice
to move to another position within the
company or make an investment in her
career and seek a different opportu-
nity. “I wanted to pursue a career that
pushed me outside of my comfort zone
and was a better fit for my personal-
ity and workstyle. I enjoy meeting and
working with new people. I felt con-
sulting checked off these boxes.”
A decade later, Garis is a healthcare
consulting manager in RSM’s risk
consulting practice and has more than
10 years of professional experience
providing operational, financial, regu-
latory consulting, and outsourced and
co-sourced internal audit services. She
has extensive experience evaluating
the effectiveness of compliance pro-
grams and managing the internal audit
function for healthcare organizations.
Her expertise also includes revenue
cycle audits, comprehensive operational
reviews, and HIPAA privacy assessments. Jessika’s healthcare internal audit and financial support services have
included: Operating as the interim VP
of compliance for a health care client;
managing the internal audit function for
multiple health care systems; and, leading compliance program assessments
for several large health care systems.
What she enjoys most about con-
sulting, she says, is the commitment
from her leadership team to people and
clients. “I have been at RSM for a little
over three years and in this short time,
everyone from the CEO to my peers
has elevated me and helped make me
a better, more confident consultant,”
Garis says. “The investment that the
firm has made in me and the faith they
have in me to deliver valuable services
to our clients and shape the future of
the firm is inspiring.”
Part of that investment in her incu-
des being selected into the RSM in-
dustry eminence program. In January
2019, Garis was selected as a senior
analyst in RSM’s cutting-edge industry
eminence program, which positions its
senior analysts to understand, forecast
and communicate economic, business
and technology trends shaping the in-
dustries RSM serves. “We advise cli-
ents on conditions influencing middle
market leaders and my focus is on the
healthcare industry,” she says.
Meanwhile her greatest personal
achievement, she says, is “becoming
a mom to my wonderful son Jordan.
I never understood what unconditional
love is until now.”
As far as winning the Women Lead-
ers in Consulting award, Garis says
she is so humbled and honored that
she’s been chosen. “Being considered
as a future leader means I am on the
right path with the right organization
and am surrounded by people who be-
lieve in me,” she says.
What’s the best
advice—consulting
or otherwise—you’ve
ever received?
“Be your own best advocate. Many women are afraid to promote
themselves or ask for things (like raises or promotions). I never
understood how important it was to speak up and ask for what I wanted.
I assumed that if I kept my head down and worked hard that I would be
recognized and be rewarded. While it is true that hard work does pay
off, it will pay off a lot sooner for you if you advocate for yourself.”
CONSULTING
in
