CPA Observation Post

Fred Nitting Joins J.H. Cohn as a Partner in Cohn Consulting Group

Fred Nitting, CPA, has joined Roseland-based J.H. Cohn LLP, as a partner in Cohn Consulting Group, a division of J.H. Cohn.

Nitting will work closely with clients in the financial services industry, including banks, investing management firms, broker/dealers, insurance companies, and credit unions, delivering governance, performance, and other value-added consulting services.

Prior to joining J.H. Cohn, Nitting was the chief executive officer of a large provider of internal audit, IT audit, regulatory compliance, and risk management services. Prior to that, he held various senior management positions within the financial services industry. Nitting worked for a Big Four accounting firm in both the auditing and consulting practices at the beginning of his career.

Nitting is a member of the New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJSCPA).

J.H. Cohn Announces 2012 Partnership Elections

Roseland-based J.H. Cohn LLP has announced the elections of Kevin Hedden and John Toscano to its partnership. 
 
Kevin Hedden, CPA, joined J.H. Cohn in 1996 and is based in the Roseland, NJ office. Kevin is a member of the Firm’s Manufacturing and Distribution Industry Practice, Technology and Life Sciences Industry Practice, and the Capital Markets and SEC Practice, and has focused on publicly held biotechnology clients. Recently, he joined the Firm’s Quality Control department. Kevin serves as treasurer and board member of Mrs. Wilson’s House, a nonprofit organization in Morristown, NJ, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is a graduate of Montclair State University, from which he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

John Toscano, CPA, currently leads the efforts of J.H. Cohn’s Educational Institution Industry Practice in New England and is a member of the Firm’s Not-for-Profit Industry Practice. He has more than 20 years of experience providing accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting services to clients in a wide variety of industries, including not-for-profit, manufacturing, and construction. Prior to joining J.H. Cohn’s Glastonbury office, John worked for a regional firm in Connecticut for many years. John is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA) and actively participates in the CSCPA’s Not-for-Profit Committee as well as the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Council. Currently, he serves on the finance and audit committees of Capital Workforce Partners, a not-for-profit organization in Hartford. John has been recognized for his professional accomplishments as a past recipient of the Hartford Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award. John is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

NJSCPA Member Karen Young named one of NJ’s 2012 Best 50 Women in Business

Karen C. Young of PricewaterhouseCoopers has been named one of New Jersey’s 2012 Best 50 Women in Business.

The award program, produced by NJBIZ, is sponsored by Wells Fargo, WithumSmith+Brown, PC and Wolff & Samson PC.

The Best 50 Women in Business awards program honors New Jersey’s most dynamic women in business that have been making headlines in their field. To qualify, a nominee had to meet selection criteria that included living or working in New Jersey and holding significant authority for decision making in a for-profit company.

An independent panel of judges selected the top 50 winners based on their dedication to business growth, professional and personal accomplishments, community involvement, and advocacy for women.

NJBIZ and the program sponsors will honor this year’s winners during an awards ceremony on March 27 at The Palace at Somerset.

ParenteBeard Promotes Professionals in the New Jersey Metro Region

ParenteBeard announced today that the following professionals have been promoted in the firm’s New Jersey Metro region.

Promoted to Senior

• David Benson has been promoted to senior in the Tax Services practice. Benson graduated from Moravian College where he earned a BA degree in accounting. He is a member of the NJSCPA and AICPA. He resides in Morristown, NJ.
• Damian Janasek has been promoted to senior in the Tax Services practice. Janasek graduated from Moravian College where he earned a degree in accounting. He resides in Warren, NJ.
• Jason Lauretta has been promoted to senior in the Audit and Accounting Services practice. Lauretta graduated from Monmouth University where he earned a BS degree in business administration. He is a member of the NJSCPA and AICPA. He resides in Forked River, NJ.
• Henrique Miguel has been promoted to senior in the Audit and Accounting Services practice. Miguel graduated from Berkeley College where he earned a BS degree in accounting. He is a member of the NJSCPA. Miguel resides in Union, NJ.

Promoted to Manager

• Steven Dioguardi has been promoted to manager in the Audit and Accounting Services practice. Dioguardi graduated from Rutgers University where he earned a BS degree in accounting. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association – NJ Chapter. Dioguardi resides in Piscataway, NJ.
• Allison Ligori has been promoted to manager in the Audit and Accounting Services practice. Ligori graduated from Elon University where she earned a degree in accounting. She is a member of the NJSCPA. Ligori resides in Livingston, NJ.

Promoted to Senior Manager

• Eileen Cabatu has been promoted to senior manager in the Audit and Accounting Services practice. Cabatu graduated from Rutgers University where she earned a BS degree in accounting. She is a member of the Financial Managers Society – NY/NJ Chapter, as well as the AICPA and NJSCPA. Cabatu resides in Union, NJ.

Gerald Brignola, CPA PA Merges with Traphagen Financial Group

Traphagen Financial Group recently announced a merger with Gerald Brignola, CPA, PA (GB) a Paramus based accounting firm effective January 1, 2012.

Brignola has more than 30 years’ experience in both public and private accounting. He worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Citigroup before starting his own CPA firm in 1988.

 

ParenteBeard Welcomes New Hires in NJ

ParenteBeard announced yesterday that the following professionals have joined the firm’s Clark, NJ office.

Vincent Capodanno has joined ParenteBeard as a senior manager in the Tax Services practice. Capodanno graduated from Rutgers University where he earned a BA degree in accounting. He resides in Monroe, NJ.

David Lentz has joined ParenteBeard as a senior in the Audit and Accounting Services practice. Lentz graduated from Georgia Tech where he earned a MBA. He resides in Westfield, NJ.

Stacey Varano has joined ParenteBeard as a senior in the Audit and Accounting Services practice. Varano graduated from Monmouth University with a degree in business administration. She resides in Manchester, NJ.

NJSCPA Member Bridget Day, CPA Joins WeiserMazars' As New Partner

WeiserMazars announced last week that Banking Specialist, Bridget Day has joined the firm as a partner in its Financial Services Group. Day has more than 20 years of accounting experience and has worked extensively with clients in the financial services, insurance and banking industries. She will be based in the WeiserMazars office in Edison, NJ.

Prior to joining WeiserMazars, Day served as a partner in the financial services group at EisnerAmper, where she led the firm's banking practice and contributed to the firm's Quality Assurance and SEC practice groups. In addition, she spent 14 yeasr at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where, for two years, she was dedicated to the Risk and Quality SEC Services Group at the national level.

Day earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and holds an Associates Degree in Business Administration from St. Francis College.

Keith S. Balla, CPA joins Fazio, Mannuzza, Roche, Tankel, LaPilusa as Principal

Fazio, Mannuzza, Roche, Tankel, LaPilusa, LLC of Cranford announced that Keith S. Balla, CPA, CFF, PSA, FCPA has joined the firm as a Principal. With more than 25 years experience, Balla heads the Firm's Government and Business Litigation groups.

A frequent speaker, Balla has appeared on several broadcast news segments as an authority on various tax and white-collar crime investigation issues. He produces and hosts a half-hour interview broadcast program featuring some of New Jersey's most influential business leaders. In addition, he has contributed to the Forensics and Accounting textbook.

Keith received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting and Economics from Rutgers University. He is a Certified Public Accountant in New Jersey and New York and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Currently, Keith is the President of the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy. 

Local Firms Join Forces with RRBB

Somerset- and Maplewood-based accounting firm RRBB announced today that Zucker & Associates, LLP and CFO Partners, both of Morganville, New Jersey have joined the firm. Brian Zucker, CPA will be joining RRBB as Partner and will be on the Board of Directors and Lee M. Reingold has been named Director of CFO Services.

With the new additions, RRBB has grown to 10 partners in 2 offices with over 50 employees. In addition, they have created a new entity, CFO Financial Partners LLC.  CFO Financial Partners LLC will focus on meeting the financial operations needs of hedge funds, public companies and broker dealers wishing to outsource their back office operations.

Holman & Frenia Promotes Three

Holman & Frenia, P.C. announced the promotions of Tiffany Egan, Sarah Snell and Brian Waldron.

Tiffany Egan, CPA of Toms River, has been a member of the firm since 2007 and has been promoted to Senior Accountant. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Master of Accountancy from Rider University. Egan received her certification as a Certified Public Accountant in April 2011.

Sarah Snell, CPA of Barnegat, joined the firm in 2007 and has been promoted to Audit Supervisor. She is a 2005 graduate of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies. Snell received her certification as a Certified Public Accountant in March 2008 and received her certification as a QuickBooks Proadviser^® in 2011. 

Brain Waldron, of Lanoka Harbor, has been a member of the firm since July 2007. He has been promoted to Senior Accountant. Waldron earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Coastal Carolina University in 2007 and received a Bachelor of Accountancy from Villanova University in 2010.

Egan, Snell and Waldron are based in the firm’s Toms River office. All three are members of the New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJSCPA).

  

      Tiffany Egan               Sarah Snell             Brian Waldron