Dave Kautter, partner-in-charge of the Washington National Tax practice of Top 5 Firm RSM US, has been confirmed as assistant secretary for tax policy at the U.S. Treasury.

President Donald Trump had put Kautter’s name forward on May 10 (see “Trump nominates David Kautter of RSM”). His nomination was advanced from the Senate Finance Committee on July 20 by a unanimous vote of 26-0; he was confirmed Thursday, along with a number of the administration’s other key financial appointees, just before the Senate’s summer recess.

Prior to joining RSM in 2014, Kautter served as managing director of the Kogod Tax Center executive-in-residence at Kogod School of Business at American University. Before that, he spent more than 30 years at Big Four firm Ernst Young, where he served as director of national tax for more than 13 years. He also worked on Capitol Hill as tax legislative counsel.

“On behalf of our 9,000-plus employees across the country, I’d like to thank Dave for his outstanding service to RSM and our middle-market clients,” said RSM managing partner and CEO Joe Adams in a statement. “While we will miss Dave at RSM, we are proud that he was selected for this unique opportunity and that he has chosen to serve his country. With the potential for significant tax reform on the horizon, Dave’s deep knowledge, experience and commitment can benefit our country, its businesses and its citizens for years to come.”

“Dave is incredibly qualified for the position,” said Jeff Johannesen, national tax leader with RSM US, in a statement. “He knows tax theory and is a very collegial and principled person. I’m confident Dave’s collaborative approach to helping modernize the country’s tax policies will put the country’s and its citizens’ interests first. I feel proud to have someone like Dave serving our country.”

At RSM, tax controversy services principal Patti Burquest will succeed Kautter as Washington National Tax leader. She has more than 25 years of experience managing IRS examination and appeals matters, and was formerly national principal-in-charge of the tax controversy practice for a Big Four firm, as well as serving in IRS Chief Counsel’s office as a national office attorney and technical advisor to the IRS chief counsel.

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