About PHAROS
Pharos Advisors is an advisory firm providing accounting and financial reporting services to public and private companies. Since our founding in 2017, our experienced professionals team with clients to deliver exceptional, high-quality work products — scaling our resources to meet each client's needs, whether ramping up for critical milestones or providing steady, ongoing support. Members of our leadership team have worked together for more than 20 years to deliver professional advisory services to our clients. Our goal is to become a long-term business partner, servicing your organization as your needs evolve.
Leadership
Bob Thornton
Chief executive officer
Bob Thornton is Chief Executive Officer of Pharos Advisors. His career spans public accounting, global investment banking, and public-company finance: he served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Crown Financial Group, a publicly traded financial-services company, as a Managing Director at Schroders & Co. and at Smith Barney, leading controllership and financial planning and analysis. He began his career as a senior auditor at Arthur Andersen. Before Pharos, Bob was a partner at its predecessor firm. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Lehigh University.
Sean Malnati
Chief Operating Officer
Sean Malnati is Chief Operating Officer of Pharos Advisors. His nearly 20 years in the profession have been spent serving clients within every position — from junior intern to executive leadership. That path gives Sean end-to-end command of the firm's work, from day-to-day accounting execution through navigating complex transactions and engagements. Before joining Pharos at its founding in 2017, Sean was a senior manager at the firm’s predecessor. Sean holds a B.B.A. in Finance from James Madison University with a concentration in Human Resource Development.
Debbie Van Buiten
Managing Director, Talent Management
Debbie Van Buiten, CPA, is a Managing Director who leads talent management at Pharos Advisors. Her career includes senior audit work at Arthur Young & Company, accounting management at Arcardian Corporation, followed by a senior manager role at the firm's predecessor. She holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from Pace University.
Joan Paciga
Managing Director, Quality Management
Joan Paciga, CPA, is a Managing Director at Pharos Advisors, where she leads the firm's quality management function. Under her oversight, all financial statements, footnotes, SEC filings, and technical accounting memos undergo independent quality-control review before release. Joan spent 35 years at KPMG, where she served as an audit partner, a National Office technical partner, and an audit quality-control reviewer. She brings deep experience in financial reporting and complex technical accounting matters. Joan holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from James Madison University.