EXPERIENCE
Partner - BlumShapiro
present
BlumShapiro is New England’s largest regional accounting firm, with over 450 employees, and 6 offices in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. My focus at BlumShapiro is working with emerging companies in the Massachusetts Technology and Life Science Industries, and serving as an Audit Partner for a diverse set of not-for-profit clients. My dual background in audit & accounting, as well as taxation, allows me to assist these clients with the myriad of issues and challenges they face on a daily basis. I am fortunate to have exciting projects to work on every day that challenge me to stay current with US, multi-state, and international tax issues as well as navigating current financial reporting standards and practices for not-for profits.
Partner - Friedman Suvalle & Salomon
2012-2014
As a partner at Freidman Suvalle and Salomon I had the privilege to work with dynamic, growing private companies by helping them plan and execute successful growth plans as well as providing guidance on a multitude of tax, financial reporting, and operational issues. There is a saying that CPAs are the most trusted business advisor to businesses and their owners. This position gave me an opportunity to be that trusted advisor and play a role in the success of a broad range of businesses. It was a tremendously rewarding experience. I am grateful that these extraordinary businesses transitioned with me to BlumShapiro.
Principal - Katz Nannis & Solomon
8+ yrs
My time at Katz Nannis & Solomon concentrated on the emerging business market in the greater Boston area. During my 8+ years in this market, I was fortunate to experience the thrilling pace of startups and emerging businesses. This work meant seeing the evolution of disruptive products and technology in software, hardware, mobile apps, life sciences and medical devices first hand. The range of services required by these companies is unique, from stock compensation guidance and complicated revenue recognition systems, to tax credits, international operations, and equity financings. Boston is truly a unique economic ecosystem, and I feel very fortunate to work with entrepreneurs and investors who power this vital part of our economy.
Chief Financial Officer - Bearak Reports
3+ yrs
They say you cannot truly understand someone until you walk a mile in their shoes. I can appreciate the truth of that statement after spending time as a CFO for a private technology company. As a member of the C Suite Team at Bearak Reports, I experienced the excitement of formulating product and financial strategy, forming strategic alliances, and designing and implementing best practice financial, accounting and operational practices. This position clarified the critical importance of well-informed decision making based on timely and relevant data that is also presented in a clear and concise way. Reviewing and acting on financial information is just the tip of the iceberg for a senior member of a management team. The unsung work is in designing, implementing, and monitoring effective and efficient systems as a company grows and maintains strong operations. The experience I had as a CFO greatly informed my ability to advise future clients in my other positions. It is something I would highly recommend to all CPAs interested in giving the best advice possible.
Additonal Information
please visit the download page for a copy of my full resume
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
Suffolk University, BSBA, Cum Laude
1986
I obtained my bachelors degree while employed full time in my first accounting job back in 1984. Although balancing work by day and classes by night was an enormous challenge, the ability to relate what I was learning in the classroom to what I was seeing at work was very exciting. Anyone who has worked to put themselves through school can relate to that special feeling of accomplishement, something to this day I am very proud of.
Certified Public Accountant
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I received Massachusetts CPA license number 12179 on November 4, 1988, one of the proudest days of my life. I can still picture hundreds of us sitting in the old style school chairs in the Worcester Armory, back when they offered the test twice a year over 2 1/2 days. I remember I didn’t enjoy waiting for the scores to come in the mail though, that was nerve racking!
Certified Fraud Examiner
National Jurisdiction
In response to a wave of high profile public company frauds, there were changes made to the rules governing financial statement audits. Auditors were suddenly required, for the first time, to address the risk the financial statements they were auditing were fraudulent. It seemed to me at the time that auditors needed additional knowledge, skills and experience to take on this new responsibility. This led to my studying for the Certified Fraud Examiner exam to gain the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to serve my clients better. Fraud detection is a fascinating field, and this knowledge is invaluable to my career as a CPA because I am able to have discussions and provide advice to clients in a way that was not possible before this certification. Given the seemingly never ending stream of fraud headlines this skill is invaluable and the need isn’t going away any time soon.
Certified Financial Planner
National Juisidiction
I discovered early in my career that a business owner’s first phone call when facing a question about a financial matter, investment, or other business issue was often to me, the CPA. The questions typically sounded like this: “I was talking to someone who recommended investing in such and such, what do you think”. Generally, CPAs have a working knowledge of investments, insurance products, and other financial topics, but it became clear that proper evaluation of financial transactions and products meant I needed more in-depth knowledge of investment and personal financial planning. My recommendations to clients, especially if I needed to provide a “second opinion” to compare against another financial professional, needed to be backed by training and experience. The most prestigious and well-recognized way to do this was a financial planning certification. My CFP credential is another invaluable tool for working with clients.
OTHER SKILLS
These are some of the skills I have developed while pursuing personal interests
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