Colleen Fay is the Practice Leader of Withum’s Financial Services Team. Overseeing a team of over 200 professionals, Colleen’s vision and goals have been shaped by her passion for the industry, solidified by her more than 20 years of experience in accounting.
Throughout her career, she has had an extensive focus in the alternative investment industry and is an expert in tax compliance and consulting for hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds, funds of funds, general partners, and management companies. Always at the forefront of industry trends, ever-changing tax laws, and complex regulations, Colleen provides her clients with exceptional service, advice, and options to give them every advantage in this multidimensional environment.
Her unrelenting dedication and sought-after experience have proven invaluable to her clients, providing real-time solutions to achieve investment goals while mitigating risk. Colleen is fully versed in domestic and international investment funds, understanding the complexities surrounding fund structures, which brings a holistic approach to tax planning.
Actively involved in the firm’s internal best practices and continuing professional education program, Colleen develops course curriculum and provides instruction for national and local training seminars. As the firm’s Women in Financial Services Group leader, Colleen oversees networking events and educational seminars for women entrepreneurs. These events provide opportunities for professional development and further empower women within the financial services space. Colleen is passionate about this initiative because it facilitates the opportunity to advocate for our women team members and colleagues across the industry and supports them as they grow into the next generation of leaders.
Colleen applies this forward-thinking mentality to all facets of her position at Withum and beyond, making her a truly invaluable resource to her colleagues, clients, and organization.
Learn more about my professional experience and how I spend my time outside the firm.
Education:
Professional Affiliations:
Colleen is a Girl Scout Troop Leader and was named the 2023 GSNNJ Women of Achievement Honoree. She is also a Student Community Association Member. She is a reliable voice in the profession and a sought-after speaker at numerous industry events, including but not limited to the Markets Group Private Equity Summit, The Women’s Venture Capital Conference, the Emerging Managers Conference by Hedge Week, and the Women’s Private Equity Conference.
Colleen also hosts ‘The Alternate Route,’ a podcast that invites industry thought leaders to delve deeper into the world of alternative investments. The show tackles complex topics, compartmentalizing them into thought-provoking content aimed at providing the audience with a deeper understanding of alternative investments.
Colleen believes in the importance of staying active. Outside of the office she can be found playing soccer and spending time with her family.
Few partnership tax controversies have generated as much attention in recent years as the fight over the scope of the self-employment tax exception for limited partners under §1402(a)(13). The Fifth Circuit’s decision in Sirius Solutions (now K. Alain) marked a notable development in August 2026, and the latest chapter arrived on September 17 with the…
What Is a Basket Swap? For years, many fund managers and tax advisers viewed the 70/30 basket swap, a derivative that references a basket of securities rather than a single position, as a reliable way to manage investment risk while preserving the intended tax treatment of the underlying positions. The premise was straightforward: if a…
