From Intern to CEO: Nathen McEown Leads Whitley Penn

Nathen McEown admits that he’s somewhat of a unicorn.

He has spent his entire career at the same accounting firm. That’s about as common today as a Blockbuster membership card. 

“It probably happens in public accounting a little more often than others, but yeah, it’s definitely, these days, there’s not a lot of folks that have been at one job their whole career,” McEown says. “But I’ve had so much fun being here. I just can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

McEown began his journey at Whitley Penn as a green college intern in the Dallas office in 2004. More than 20 years later, he is the firm’s CEO, having succeeded Larry Autrey in January.

McEown moved into the top role from his post as partner-in-charge of consulting and chief growth officer. McEown’s ascent began in 2016 when he “kind of raised my hand” to lead the somewhat new Houston office.

“I can remember interviewing with Whitley Penn, and in that interview I think I said I wanted to become partner, so I always had kind of a goal,” McEown says. “Then as I got closer to partner, I just fell in love with the business, and the business of public accounting is just so people-focused and really loved it and the dynamics of it.”

Upon the announcement of McEown’s appointment — as well as Toby Cotton becoming COO — Autrey said he was “beyond thrilled” for the two.

“I have personally mentored both Nathen and Toby for many years and believe this is the best transition strategy for the future of the firm,” Autrey said. “As tenured Whitley Penn partners, they will hold our culture and mission of superb customer service as core pillars of what makes Whitley Penn unique.”

Autrey, who has more than 30 years of tax, advisory, and business valuation experience focused on public and private clients, had served as the CEO for Whitley Penn for more than 20 years. He moved into the role of executive chairman.

Under his leadership, the firm expanded exponentially, from 50 to nearly 900 employees. The firm has nine offices across Texas and New Mexico, with eight of them opening under Autrey’s guidance.

Moreover, Autrey led the firm through more than a dozen acquisition events.

The leadership transition began about two years ago, McEown says. When the change officially took effect this year, there wasn’t much change because McEown says he and Cotton had already taken on many of the day-to-day tasks.

“Larry had a great vision, and he did a lot of things in passing off certain duties to me and Toby Cotton,” McEown says. “We kind of eventually started doing things that he was doing. A lot of the day-to-day tasks that Larry was handling, he already very wisely and discreetly kind of was clicking off.”

Whitley Penn in March ranked No. 34 in Accounting Today’s “Top 100.” The firm also ranked 36th among the tax firms, as well as the second-largest firm in the Southwest.

McEown has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Texas Tech. A native of Rockwall, McEown went to college with an eye on computer science.

“That was the hot thing,” he says of computer science in the late 1990s. “I think it was the highest paying major at Tech. That’s how I picked my degree, which is a terrible way to pick your degree. I had no passion or interest in it, and soon as I started programming, I realized this wasn’t for me.”

His objective turned to doing something that offered job security.

“I decided I needed to go somewhere where there’s always going to be work,” he says. “And accounting was that. It definitely was the right option for me. Then I got into the industry and just fell in love with public accounting.”

McEown’s career at Whitley Penn has been a steady ascent marked by leadership, innovation, and an eye for growth. He joined the firm as an auditor and rose through the ranks to become audit partner in 2015.

As Whitley Penn’s former energy practice leader, McEown worked closely with private equity-backed energy companies and spearheaded several initiatives, including the launch of the firm’s Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS) Energy Outsourced Accounting, Land Administration, and Mineral Management divisions.

After relocating his family from Dallas to Houston in 2016, he led the Houston office as partner-in-charge for six years before joining the firm’s management committee in 2022 as partner-in-charge of consulting.

In 2024, he took on the role of chief growth officer, identifying and leading two key acquisitions that further strengthened the firm’s consulting practice.

As CEO, McEown continues to champion professional development through the firm’s Growth Champions initiative, helping senior managers prepare for partnership.

“Luckily, Whitney Penn allowed me at a young age to do a lot of things that a lot of bigger firms wouldn’t have,” McEown says. “So, I’m pretty fortunate that I always had support behind me.”

Beyond his executive responsibilities, McEown is a recognized industry leader. He co-authored “PPC Practice Aids for Audits of Oil and Gas Entities,” published by Thomson Reuters, and has been honored by the Dallas Business Journal as both a “Who’s Who in Energy” and “40 Under 40” honoree.

McEown also serves on Texas Tech University’s Accounting Advisory Council. He received his bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from there.

Outside the firm, McEown is deeply involved in community leadership. He co-founded the Bayou City Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization in Houston, where he serves as learning officer, and chairs the audit committee for the American Council on Exercise Fitness nonprofit.

McEown takes charge during a time of change, perhaps even volatility. Artificial intelligence is uncharted territory for firms across the country. Its role in public accounting is evolving.

“The biggest challenge to public accounting in general right now, probably two things,” McEown says. “One, AI. How will that shape, change the way we work? I don’t think it’s going to replace us, but I think we all need to learn how to use AI and leverage it to kind of upskill. That’s going to be very dynamic over the next five years.

“And then private equity getting into the space. Zero firms were owned by private equity in 2020, and today there’s probably 20-plus firms in the top 100 owned by private equity.”

McEown says the firm’s objective is to roughly double its revenues, to $500 million, by 2030. He says it can do that with an if-it’s-not-broken-don’t-fix-it mindset. The firm has flourished during the past 10 years.

“We’re going to continue on that mindset,” he says. “I think we’re going to focus on finding those M-and-A opportunities that are creative but not necessarily marketed deals — something that maybe we build through a relationship and continue that organic growth.”

He says he’d like to continue to grow the advisory practice, which is about currently 26% of the firm’s revenue. A double down in Texas just might do that, he says.

“The big key is you have to grow to provide opportunity for those below us,” he says. “It’s really to keep the best talent and people satisfied. As long as we’re growing enough to provide that opportunity, then we’re in a pretty good spot.”