2025 Trusted Advisers: Andrea Battaglia

Andrea Battaglia aims to exude excellence, whether that’s through her work at Springfield-based accounting firm Abacus or volunteering in the community through various boards and task forces. The word excellence is even in her title.

Battaglia, who serves as chief excellence officer at Abacus and has worked at the business since 2020, says she aims to bring clarity to clients by encouraging entrepreneurial forward thinking and helps to build careers at the company by assisting emerging leaders.

“I don’t just deliver excellence – I embody it and create systems others can lead through,” Battaglia says. “Being a trusted adviser isn’t about having all the solutions. It’s about drawing out the brilliance in others, shaping it into a plan and giving them the confidence to lead it forward. This work is the natural expression of my strengths: seeing patterns, sharpening focus, naming what matters and helping others rise to it.”

In her role at Abacus, Battaglia leads the firm’s strategic planning service line and works strategically to bring clarity to the forefront.

“My approach is grounded in discipline and driven by impact, turning uncertainty into focused action and scattered ideas into aligned direction,” she says. “I create space for honesty, simplify what feels complex and design frameworks that unlock real traction.”

Before her work at Abacus started, Battaglia served as director of annual giving and alumni relations at Drury University, her alma mater. There, she helped the school exceed an annual fundraising goal of $1.5 million and built relationships with university stakeholders.

Hospice Foundation for Outreach Inc. Executive Director Anjanette LaBellarte has known Battaglia for years, starting as a colleague at Drury. LaBellarte says Battaglia helped shape her own leadership journey.

“She’s the kind of professional who makes an impact not just through what she does – but through who she is. She has helped me so much in my career,” LaBellarte says. “Her work at Abacus CPAs reflects exactly who she is – insightful, grounded and committed to helping others succeed. She brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, clear communication and genuine care for the people and businesses she serves.”