Kenneth Leventhal

Kenneth Leventhal
Name	Kenneth Leventhal
Birth date	1930s
Birth place	New York City
Death date	2006
Death place	Los Angeles, California
Occupation	Accountant, executive, philanthropist
Known for	Founder of Leventhal & Co., Chief Administrative Officer of Los Angeles County

Kenneth Leventhal was an American accountant and civic leader known for founding the accounting and financial advisory firm Leventhal & Co. and for serving as Chief Administrative Officer and Treasurer for Los Angeles County. His career spanned public accounting, corporate financial advisory, municipal finance, and philanthropy, intersecting with major institutions in New York City, Los Angeles, California, and national professional organizations. Leventhal's work connected him to firms, governmental bodies, and nonprofit institutions that shaped late 20th-century accounting practice and civic finance.

Early life and education

Leventhal was born in New York City in the 1930s and raised amid the post-Depression era that shaped many mid-century American professionals. He attended schools in New York City before matriculating to university, where he studied accounting and finance, obtaining credentials that linked him to professional bodies such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and state boards that regulated the certified public accountant designation. His education placed him in the milieu of graduates who went on to careers in major firms headquartered in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Accounting career and Arthur Andersen

Leventhal began his professional accounting career at major public accounting firms, ultimately joining Arthur Andersen, a global firm with offices across New York City, Chicago, and London. At Arthur Andersen, he worked on audits, tax engagements, and advisory assignments for corporate clients including firms in Manufacturing, Banking, Entertainment, and Real Estate, interfacing with executives from companies headquartered in New York City and Los Angeles. His tenure at Arthur Andersen coincided with the firm's expansion into consulting and international practice, linking him to broader trends represented by organizations such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, Internal Revenue Service, and trade groups connected to corporate reporting. Within the firm he advanced through managerial ranks, gaining experience in mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructuring that prepared him to launch his own advisory practice.

Founding Leventhal & Co. and professional achievements

In the 1970s Leventhal founded Leventhal & Co., a Los Angeles–based accounting and financial advisory firm that provided audit, tax, and consulting services to corporations, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations. Leventhal & Co. developed engagements with clients in Entertainment, Real Estate, Banking, and Healthcare, collaborating with institutions such as major motion picture studios in Los Angeles, regional banks with ties to San Francisco and New York City, and hospital systems across California. Under his leadership the firm handled complex assignments involving corporate finance, municipal bond underwriting, and nonprofit audits, partnering with investment banks, law firms, and rating agencies like Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's. Leventhal's professional affiliations included membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and participation in civic business councils that engaged with the Los Angeles County and state fiscal authorities. His firm gained recognition for providing independent audits for cultural institutions, foundations, and higher education entities, interfacing with universities and museums across California.

Role at County of Los Angeles and public service

Leventhal served in senior administrative roles for the County of Los Angeles, including Chief Administrative Officer and Treasurer, where he oversaw fiscal operations, budgeting, and financial management for one of the largest county governments in the United States. In that capacity he coordinated with elected officials from Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, municipal managers from cities such as Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Pasadena, and state-level entities in Sacramento. His responsibilities included municipal bond issuance, pension fund oversight involving public employee retirement systems, and financial strategies during periods of economic fluctuation that affected county services and capital projects. Leventhal worked with municipal advisors, underwriting syndicates on Wall Street, and regulatory bodies, aligning county financial policies with standards promoted by organizations like the Government Finance Officers Association.

Philanthropy and civic involvement

A committed philanthropist, Leventhal supported cultural, educational, and health institutions in Los Angeles and beyond, contributing time and resources to museums, university programs, and hospital foundations. He served on boards and advisory committees for civic institutions, collaborating with peers from philanthropic foundations, corporate boards, and nonprofit leadership circles. His civic engagement connected him to leading nonprofits and grantmakers, including regional foundations and university development offices, helping secure funding for capital campaigns, endowments, and community programs. Leventhal's philanthropic activities intersected with arts organizations, healthcare systems, and higher education institutions that play prominent roles in Los Angeles civic life.

Personal life and legacy

Leventhal lived in Los Angeles during his later years and was active in professional and community networks that tied together business leaders, public officials, and nonprofit executives. He died in 2006, and his legacy includes the firm he founded, the public financial reforms and practices he influenced at Los Angeles County, and the philanthropic contributions he made to cultural and educational institutions. His career is noted in the context of professional accounting history, municipal finance, and civic leadership in Southern California, placing him among mid‑ to late‑20th-century figures who bridged private professional services and public-sector administration.

Category:American accountants Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles Category:2006 deaths