Kara Darlington

Kara Darlington

CPA

Member of the Firm
Director of Assurance & Advisory

Hanover, PA

717.637.5915

Kara is the firm's Director of the Assurance & Advisory and leads the employee benefit plan audit practice. She also serves as Member-in-Charge of the Hanover office and manages the Hanover office audit practice.

Kara specializes in providing accounting and auditing services to employee benefit plans, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and insurance cooperatives. With more than 25 years of experience, she is an integral team member of each audit department. Throughout her career, her continuing education has included tax and audit considerations of nonprofit and governmental entities as well as audit and compliance considerations of employee benefit plans.

In addition to client responsibilities, Kara also participates in the firm’s peer review process, focusing on employee benefit plan audits, and serves as chair of the firm's Assurance & Advisory Committee.

Quick Facts

Professional Memberships
- Named one of Central Penn Business Journal's "Women of Influence" in 2011
- American Institute of CPAs - Member
- Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs - Member
- Allinial Global – Employee Benefit Plans Community of Practice
- CPA Firm Management Association - Member
Community Involvement
- UPMC Hanover – Board of Directors, Professional Affairs Committee
- Roots for Boots – Treasurer, Board of Directors
- United Way of York County – Past Member of the Board of Directors
- Sweet Charities of Hanover – Past Member of the Board of Directors
- Hanover Symphony Orchestra – Past Member of the Board of Directors
- Annunciation of BVM Parish – Past Finance Committee Member
- St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School – Board of Directors, Finance Committee, Advancement Committee Treasurer
- Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce - Member
Recent News
- Kara Darlington Named One of the Region's Women of Influence, Central Penn Business Journal (2011)

Certifications

Certified Public Accountant – Pennsylvania

Education

B.S. Accounting – York College of Pennsylvania

Work Highlights

Year joined SEK: 1997
Year admitted as a Member: 2010

Q&A with Kara

What was your first job?

I worked at Kleffel's, a retail clothing store, at 19 years old.
What is your favorite quote?

"If you can't find your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose." ~Pastor T.D. Jakes
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

Teleportation

My Industry Specialties

Private Sector Insurance Trusts
Public Sector Insurance Cooperatives
Nonprofits

My Service Specialties

Accounting, Auditing, & Assurance
Employee Benefit Plan Audits
Peer Reviews

Client Testimonials

We are very happy with Kara and SEK. We've had our audits completed by SEK for more than 15 years and have been pleased. Kara is very helpful and quick to respond to questions we pose.
A Hanover Audit Client
Kara is well versed on relevant subjects or researches them to provide the advice I need every time. She is always pleasant to work with and very engaged in my business needs.
A Hanover Audit Client
Kara is always available to me when I have an issue. She is extremely qualified in explaining how and why errors can be rectified.
A Hanover Audit Client
Kara knows my business well and her experience in non-profits is extensive. She anticipates my needs and is quick to respond to my questions. Kara is always very pleasant to work with and goes out of her way to assist me wherever needed. She goes above and beyond to make sure we get the best service from SEK.
A Hanover Audit Client
I have worked with SEK for many years and they are always consistent with service and quality. They are always professional and very responsive. Kara Darlington and her team are all excellent at what they do and so easy to work with.
A Hanover Audit Client
I feel a strong sense of trust with SEK and particularly with Kara as she leads with moral conviction and professionalism. Kara sincerely wants to know about our organization’s operational interests and needs. She makes it a priority to listen to us and wants to know our challenges and triumphs.
A Hanover Audit Client
We continue to be very happy with the services we receive from Kara Darlington and SEK…It’s been extremely valuable to our organization to work with an accounting firm that knows us as well as the communities we serve. We would gladly recommend their services to other organizations.
A Hanover Audit Client

Firm Leadership