Susan M. Saidens, CPA, ABV, ASA, CVA, CFE, CFF, (Bio: Vitae) principal of SMS Valuation & Financial Forensics, LLC, is a 2009 Women of Distinction selected by the Philadelphia Business Journal. The Business Journal’s Women of Distinction are selected as the top female leaders in their respective fields based on their significant professional accomplishments and community involvement. The Business Journal describes the award recipients as "25 of the region’s most dynamic women who are making headlines in their professional fields and in their community."

Ms. Saidens, a licensed CPA, is Accredited in Business Valuation [ABV], accredited by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants [AICPA]; an Accredited Senior Appraiser [ASA] accredited by the American Society of Appraisers; a Certified Valuation Analyst [CVA] accredited by the National Association of Valuators and Analysts; a Certified Fraud Examiner [CFE] accredited by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners; and Certified in Financial Forensics [CFF] accredited by the AICPA.

Ms. Saidens launched SMS Valuation & Financial Forensics, a nationally-known high-quality, business valuation and forensic accounting CPA practice in February 2005 after spending several years with a Big Four accounting firm and then as a shareholder in a regional Philadelphia accounting firm.

Ms. Saidens’ firm provides valuation [appraisal] of businesses and interests in businesses, damages computations, and forensic accounting. The firm’s specialty is fair value for financial reporting which includes valuation of intangible assets and intellectual property, business acquisitions, goodwill impairment testing, and valuation of employee stock options.

Ms. Saidens is a member of the Appraisal Issues Task Force working with the SEC and FASB on valuation issues related to fair value for financial reporting.

A sought after speaker and author, Ms. Saidens is the co-author of "Guide to Fair Value Under IFRS" published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and the author of several articles published by PEI Media. Ms. Saiden also presents and instructs nationally on business valuations for the American Society of Appraisers.

Ms. Saidens serves as a member of the AICPA Steering Committee for the national Fair Value Measurements Conference. She is a member of the Business Valuation Committee of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) as well as the Forensic and Litigation Services Committee of the PICPA, and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Management Accountants, Valley Forge chapter. Ms. Saidens is also a former member of the Executive Advisory Board of NACVA and former Chairperson of NACVA’s Valuation Education Board.

A recipient of the National Register’s “WHO’S WHO in Executives and Professionals” and Marquis’ “WHO’S WHO of American Women”, she has received several awards for her thought leadership and contributions to her profession.

Ms. Saidens serves on the Board of Trustees of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Autism Research Center (SPARC), is a former committee member of the “Go Red for Women Luncheon” sponsored by the American Heart Association, a former member of the Chester County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Advisory Board, former chairperson and member of several committees for the United Way of Chester County, and the former Chairperson of the Business and Finance Committee of the Downingtown Area School Board.