Mike Poland retired in June 2019 after a 39-year career at Ernst & Young, now EY, that included roles as a senior partner in the Global SEC Independence Center, as an assurance partner and as campus coordinating partner for EY’s recruiting efforts at Florida State and Florida A&M universities. He served companies of various scopes, sizes and industries, and he built and maintained relationships with senior executives, audit committees and boards of directors.

He now serves as president of MC Poland LLC, a Tampa-based accounting and advisory services firm.

At EY’s Global SEC Independence Center, Poland advised EY engagement teams on complex matters related to communications with audit committees when independence-related issues arose. He had extensive interaction with representatives of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, leading to a strong understanding of regulatory matters affecting auditors and audit committees. EY leadership routinely asked him to provide information for evaluation of risk related to regulatory matters.

As an assurance partner, Poland consistently grew his practice through identification of new areas of focus and opportunity. As a leader in the healthcare market segment, he transitioned the company’s Tampa healthcare practice from a focus on non-profit hospitals to one with private and public clients across the sector.

Poland graduated from FSU with a Bachelor of Science in accounting in 1980 and became a certified public accountant in Florida in 1981. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

In 2022, he launched MC Poland LLC, an accounting and advisory services firm focused on growth-oriented businesses in the Tampa Bay area. He works alongside two of his daughters -- Brittany Bulger and MaCay Pare, both FSU accounting graduates.

He remains active in his community as a member of the audit committee of the Clearwater-based BayCare Health System; a board member of the Hillsborough Education Foundation; and a member of the finance committee at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church.

He also is a member of the Board of Trustees of the FSU Foundation, for which he is a former treasurer and chair of the finance committee, plus a former member of the FSU College of Business Board of Governors and the Department of Accounting Professional Advisory Board.