Tom Falskow, CGMA, CPA

Visiting Instructor

  • Biography

Biography

Tom Falskow brings over 30 years of finance and accounting experience to the PLU School of Business.  Having started his career in public accounting, he audited clients across the world, first in Seattle, then travelling to Zurich, Switzerland, Oslo, Norway and finally to Anchorage, Alaska.  He served clients in a variety of industries with a major focus on manufacturing and energy. He is experienced with International Financial Reporting Standards and SEC reporting.

While in Alaska he moved into the energy sector as a controller and finance manager for BP, one of the largest energy companies in the world. He enjoyed the detailed work of running a day-to-day business along with the macro-economic view that the energy sector provides. He had opportunities to widen his view of finance through roles in strategy, planning, supply chain contracting and systems integration work that helped him realize the importance of the integration of all disciplines to make a successful business.

More recently he had the opportunity to serve as the CFO of a public company in the construction industry in Washington State where he was responsible for a team of 40+ individuals that delivered all aspects of finance and accounting along with the IT department. He was also the key integrator working along-side the business development, supply chain, and HR teams in supporting their roles in the business.  Since retiring from full-time work he has been working as a CFO Consultant to businesses in the region and continues to do so on a part-time basis.

Tom has also served on the boards of not-for-profit organizations including as treasurer where he was responsible for day-to-day accounting and annual reporting requirements. One of these roles involved fiduciary oversight of an investment portfolio in excess of $50m. He currently serves on the board of the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Tom has a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Washington Foster School of Business. He is a Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He also has extensive experience teaching financial topics to a variety of audiences. He lives in his hometown of Tacoma and enjoys travel, cooking and exploring the great outdoors of the PNW.