In a world that celebrates innovation, leadership, and grit, Olayemi Tolulope Dada emerges as a paragon of excellence, an accountant whose story reads like a masterclass in audacity, brilliance, and global impact.

A first-class graduate of Babcock University in Nigeria, Olayemi was not just the second-best graduating student in his department, he later ranked as the second-best qualifying candidate nationwide in Nigeria’s prestigious 2017 ICAN qualifying examination. This rare feat is achieved by less than 1% of candidates and remains one of the highest distinctions in the country’s accounting profession.

Olayemi holds an elite suite of global professional credentials: he is a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Massachusetts, and a CFA Level III candidate, an advanced stage of the globally respected Chartered Financial Analyst designation, which is widely regarded as the gold standard in investment and financial analysis.

Over the past seven years, Olayemi has built his entire career at KPMG, rotating across three countries — Nigeria, Hungary, and now the United States — while delivering assurance and advisory services to top-tier clients. He has led audit engagements for multi-billion-dollar clients across sectors and regulatory frameworks, including IFRS, US GAAP, PCAOB standards, and COSO internal control frameworks.

Currently based in Boston, Massachusetts, Olayemi serves as an Audit Manager within the Alternative Investments practice of KPMG U.S., where he manages over 10 complex assurance engagements in the hedge fund, private equity, and venture capital sectors. He leads a team of 20 to 25 professionals, guiding performance and fostering a culture of mentorship, technical growth, and accountability.

Whether recalculating complex investment portfolios in Boston, overseeing stock counts in Hungary, or advising commercial banks in Lagos, Olayemi demonstrates a mastery that spans continents, industries, and time zones. He played a pivotal role in assisting clients in Nigeria and across Europe during the critical period of adopting IFRS 9, IFRS 15, and IFRS 16—three of the most challenging and technical standards in recent accounting history. His ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into actionable insights helped organizations achieve compliance with confidence and clarity. His tools range from deep technical knowledge to analytics platforms like PowerBI and IDEA, blending precision with strategic foresight in every engagement.

Beyond technical excellence, Olayemi is also an impactful thought leader. He co-authored a peer-reviewed academic article with Professor Folajimi Festus Adegbie titled “Risk Assets Management, Liquidity Management, and Sustainable Performance in Nigeria Deposit Money Banks,” published in the International Journal of Accounting Research.

His expertise has also earned him recognition in global financial media. He was featured in Investopedia’s article “Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT): Formula and Example,” offering commentary that bridges theory with practical, global insight.

But Olayemi is more than his letters or headlines. He is a mentor, a visionary, and a leader committed to elevating the profession. Within KPMG, he coaches rising professionals and drives initiatives to expose high school students in Massachusetts to accounting and finance through structured internship programs. His mentorship continues long after formal programs end, guiding aspiring accountants both within and outside the U.S. on their academic and professional journeys.

He was selected to represent KPMG at the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Convention in Nevada, not just as a delegate but as a recruiter, tasked with identifying and inspiring the next generation of accounting professionals from underrepresented communities.

His passion for impact extends to governance. Olayemi serves on the board of the ELA Initiative, a nonprofit that provides legal aid, bail support, and justice access to indigent prisoners in Nigeria. In his capacity, he offers strategic and financial guidance that drives operational sustainability and organizational growth.

Despite a schedule that stretches across client deadlines, mentorship calls, and board meetings, Olayemi remains grounded in values — humility, service, and an unrelenting commitment to excellence. As one colleague put it, “He doesn’t just audit numbers; he audits possibilities.”

With aspirations to attend Harvard Business School for executive studies, Olayemi Dada is only beginning. From Lagos to Wall Street, from audit rooms to boardrooms, his journey is not just about keeping accounts, it’s about accounting for greatness.