John Sabatini, Veteran Systems and Compliance Professional, Joins PwC Risk Assurance Practice

NEW YORK, July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PwC US today announced that John Sabatini has joined the firm as a partner in the Risk Assurance practice, leading PwC's new Advanced Risk & Compliance Analytics Services.  As a New York-based partner in this practice, John and his team will help risk, compliance and finance organizations conduct testing and assessments using analytical systems and techniques; transform departments to better handle increasing data needs; build dashboards and surveillance systems to allow senior management to focus on highest risk areas; and, assist with data governance needs.

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Client demand for these services stems from increased concern on the part of regulators that poor data information management practices prevent organizations from effectively managing their risk, protecting customers and adhering to regulatory requirements.

Prior to joining PwC, Sabatini worked for Goldman Sachs where he served as Managing Director of IT. In that role, he led a global technology audit team responsible for evaluating the firm's internal control structure and providing strategic advice to management as they developed control solutions and monitored the implementation of management's control measures.

The addition of Sabatini represents the practice's continued growth and concentration of professionals with strong industry specific backgrounds to provide clients with specific risk and compliance assessment needs, according to Dean Simone, leader of PwC's US Risk Assurance practice.

"Having served in industry for the past decade, and with John's expertise in financial services, healthcare and information technology, we'll be adding new perspective from a client's point of view.  This will further enhance the services and insights we will bring to bear in addressing our clients' needs and challenges," Simone said.  "John's addition to our Risk Assurance team shows our continued commitment to the financial services and healthcare industry.  He has significant technology risk, compliance and regulatory experience," Simone added.

Prior to Goldman Sachs, Sabatini was a partner at Ernst & Young where he led the firm's Compliance Technology Enablement Group for the New York Financial Services office. Sabatini also served seven years in the U.S. military as an army captain and intelligence officer, primarily during the Balkan wars, building intelligence and communication systems.  He then joined Arthur Anderson in 1999.

With the addition of more than 500 new hires in the past year, PwC's Risk Assurance practice now numbers more than 1,900 professionals who provide companies with significant technical expertise as well as deep industry knowledge across all industries. Skilled team members assist companies in developing risk and compliance programs, performing audits and creating internal controls processes around business performance issues, IT systems as well as strategy and contingency planning.

"With a strong track record of success and a robust and growing Risk Assurance practice, I look forward to adding my industry perspective in support of providing critical risk-based business solutions for our clients," said Sabatini. "This is a perfect role for me to integrate that background with my history in IT, compliance and internal audit to head up the new Advanced Risk & Compliance Analytics Services for the firm."

Sabatini is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) who earned his Bachelor of Science in American Politics and Computer Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. In addition, he has earned MBAs at both Columbia Business School, with dual emphasis in Corporate Strategy and Finance, and at Fordham Business School in Accounting.

About PwC's Risk Assurance practice
PwC understands that significant risk is rarely confined to discrete areas within an organization.  Rather, most significant risks have a wide-ranging impact across the organization. As a result, PwC's Risk Assurance practice has developed a holistic approach to risk that protects business, facilitates strategic decision making and enhances efficiency. This approach is complemented by the extensive risk and controls technical knowledge and sector-specific experience of its Risk Assurance professionals. The end result is a risk solution tailored to meet the unique needs of clients.

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SOURCE PwC US