Our mission

Our mission is to deliver transformative solutions that equip our clients with the power to excel, innovate, and lead in an increasingly competitive world.

We proudly support a diverse network of forward-thinking global leaders of future-focused, technologically adept organizations that demand agility, precision, and insight. Our commitment is unwavering: we anticipate change, adapt with purpose, and proactively shape the future to ensure our clients stay ahead of the curve. At our core, we exist to fortify the financial, operational, and data ecosystems of those we serve, future-proofing their success by harnessing the relentless pace of innovation. We deliver the tools needed not just to thrive, but to redefine the landscape of tomorrow.

Our values

Trust

At the heart of our business lies trustworthiness - a core value that guides us at every level. We recognize that honesty, integrity, transparency, and a deep sense of accountability and dependability are crucial to establishing enduring relationships with our clients. As leading providers of financial and data transformation services, we are known for consistently delivering high-quality professional work regardless of complexity or circumstance. Our commitment to transparent communication, ethical conduct, and delivering value is unwavering, whether it’s with clients or with our technology partners.

Innovation and excellence

Innovation and excellence are the driving forces behind our business. We hold ourselves accountable for delivering the best in our field by setting high standards and striving for exceptional results in every project we undertake. Excellence is not simply a destination, but a journey that we are dedicated to improving and innovating upon in every aspect of our business. By challenging the status quo and seeking out new and creative ways to fulfill our customers’ needs, we remain ahead of the competition and continually advance our solutions and services.

Collaboration

We place immense value on collaboration and prioritize open and honest communication with our clients. We stand by them on their financial and data transformation journey, offering trustworthy guidance, constructive feedback, and action plans that instill confidence and push the needle continuously forward. Our goal is to cultivate a culture of mutual respect and understanding, where everyone benefits from each interaction with opportunities to learn and evolve along the way. At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that our prosperity is tied to that of our clients, and we are fully committed to achieving shared success.

Passion

Our passion fuels our business, inspiring a dynamic and vibrant work environment where creativity, innovation, and collaboration thrive. We are driven by our dedication to solving the complexity that our clients face by crafting bespoke business solutions and the endless potential to positively impact how its users conduct business. We remain excited at the thought of pushing its boundaries in increasingly creative ways and are proud to work with a team that shares this drive. Our passion for innovation propels us to constantly push the limits of what is possible, find ingenious solutions to problems, and create maximum value for our customers.

Our story

Ascend Partners is a leading provider of bespoke Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) and data transformation solutions, with operations across North America. We empower dynamic global corporations to optimize and futureproof their financial and data infrastructure, ensuring long-term growth.

Our footprint

From our headquarters in New York, NY, Ascend brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. We have successfully implemented robust solutions for a diverse portfolio of top-tier clients across many verticals, including real estate & home building, manufacturing, mining, hospitality, retail, and natural resources & energy.

Our experience

As a trusted OneStream Diamond partner, we specialize in designing, building, and implementing business solutions that support finance, operations, and beyond—these include Financial Close & Consolidation, Financial Planning & Analysis, Platform Integrations, and Sales Performance Management. Our team also provides Managed Service Operations for clients, ensuring continued success and value post-implementation.

In addition to EPM consulting, Ascend delivers comprehensive, end-to-end data and AI consulting services. We empower enterprise organizations to design, build, and manage AI-powered data intelligence solutions. We enable smarter decision-making and transform our client’s operations with cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems.

Our award-winning team of best-in-class experts, which includes Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) as well as OneStream-certified architects, consultants and developers, offers a proven blend of technical expertise and industry knowledge. Our certified data experts further enhance our strategic capabilities by specializing in platforms, analytics, data engineering, and artificial intelligence. It is this unique combination that enables us to deliver innovative solutions that align with the ever-evolving landscape of today's technology.

Furthermore, our leadership team, combining over 100 years of total industry experience and 25+ years of collaboration, provides strategic support and advisory guidance every step of the way. By leveraging our team's diverse skill sets, proven methodologies, master applications, and templates, we consistently deliver results that not only save our clients time and money but also best position them for future success in their industry.

Our goal

Our commitment to client value permeates everything we do. Known for innovation in the finance and data technology space, we’re fueled by a passion for creative problem-solving and inspired by our clients’ success. We believe trust, transparency, and collaboration are essential — and through open communication, we've built lasting partnerships with clients, technology providers, and each other. At Ascend, we do more than deliver services — we act as dedicated partners, guiding organizations through transformation and helping them scale with confidence.

From day one, we help clients find operational success through financial insights. Our solutions are purpose-built to provide finance leaders with a true competitive advantage by supplying the tools to be more responsive and effective than ever before.

Colin Sawford
Managing Partner

Meet the our Executive Team

Colin Sawford

Managing Partner & Co-Founder

I’m incredibly proud of the work we do in OneStream because the tailored solutions we deliver truly make a difference for our clients.

Peter Popalis

Managing Partner & Co-Founder

One of the best parts of our line of work has been collaborating with so many talented, passionate, smart individuals and seeing those relationships grow over the years

Lisa Yurkiw

Vice President, Sales & Marketing

Ascend’s culture is something that’s so unique. Our team truly works together and brings out the best in each other.

Mike Dewis

Vice President, Application Delivery

Here at Ascend, we’re problem-solvers; we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in innovation.

Richard Masterman

Vice President, Project Delivery

Being part of OneStream implementation projects at Ascend means helping our clients achieve financial excellence, which is incredibly fulfilling.

Bruno Di Pietro

Vice President, Application Delivery

Every client, every project and every solution is unique. And that’s what I love about the work we do. There’s never a dull moment at Ascend.

Darryl Romano

Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

I love being at the forefront of technological advancements and seeing the tangible impact of our work on both the company and our clients.

Skylar Bayliff

Vice President, Finance & Operations

Working at Ascend means being part of a team where collaboration drives smart, forward-thinking decisions, and that’s where finance can truly make a difference.

John Davis

Chief Revenue Officer

Working at a company that embraces innovation and collaboration the way Ascend does is incredibly fulfilling.

Join our team

Working at Ascend means being part of a collaborative culture that genuinely believes in the power of teamwork. We foster strong relationships within our team, investing in growth and development. Integrity and passion are at the heart of everything we do, and we take pride in delivering exceptional results without ever taking shortcuts.

Our actions are intentional, and we foster a culture of collaboration that values everyone's input. We believe in cultivating a community that champions initiative, curiosity and problem-solving skills, and we're committed to excellence in everything we do.

At our core, we believe every individual is valuable and deserves to be part of a team striving for greatness.

Our employees enjoy the following benefits

Coaching and mentorship

Receive personalized guidance and support from experienced leaders to accelerate your career growth.

Annual training budget

Invest in your professional development with an annual budget that empowers you to access relevant training and skill-building opportunities.

Group benefits plans

Access comprehensive group benefit plans to prioritize your well-being, including healthcare, dental and more.

RRSP/401K matching program

Secure your financial future with our matching program that helps you save for retirement.

Health and wellness

Prioritize your well-being with a health and wellness spending program designed to support a healthy work-life balance.

Creating the next generation of OneStream professionals.

CLIMB (Consultants Learning IT, Management, and Business) is a career development program crafted by Ascend Partners to empower new graduates and working professionals with practical expertise in Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) through OneStream.

As cohorts make their way through our 12-week paid apprenticeship and 2-year associate program, they’ll receive dynamic training, personalized mentorship, and hands-on business applications to become a sought-after OneStream expert and visionary leader in a competitive, talent-hungry landscape.