Accounting and Auditing Update (E1705059)

Richard M. Fuchs is a Senior Manager in the firm’s Assurance practice. Mr. Fuchs specializes in providing accounting, audit, and consulting services to Registered Investment Advisers, hedge funds (including offshore entities), broker-dealers, and private equity firms. Prior to joining the firm, he spent over 10 years with a national accounting firm in their Financial Services Industry Practice where he focused on performing audits of the aforementioned entities as well as ensuring compliance with SEC and FINRA Rules and Regulations. He also performed audits of employee benefit plans such as defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans. In addition, in his various roles, he has taken a leadership role in the area of quality control. Throughout his career, Mr. Fuchs has been active in mentoring younger professionals through the learning programs he’s helped craft, designed to identify and develop rising stars within the profession. At his prior firm, he was selected to participate in the Partner Academy Development Program and pioneered and co-lead the Junior Rainmaker Academy Program. Mr. Fuchs is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey Society for Certified Public Accountants. He serves as a committee member on the New York State Society of Certified Accountants’ Stock Brokerage & Investment Companies Committee. A former ice hockey player, himself, Mr. Fuchs currently inspires young players through his extracurricular role as head ice hockey coach at Randolph Middle School. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Sacred Heart University and a Masters of Business Administration in Professional Accounting from Rutgers University’s Business School. He is licensed as a CPA in New Jersey.

Margaret (“Peggy”) Gallagher, CPA, is in the Technical Resources department at WithumSmith+Brown’s Morristown office. Ms. Gallagher focuses her work on interpreting and applying technical accounting and auditing standards, and independence matters. With more than 25 years of accounting and auditing experience, her industry expertise includes manufacturing, distribution, construction, life sciences, real estate, non-profits and employee benefit plans. A frequent lecturer, she develops and presents accounting and auditing education classes for statewide audiences.

Ms. Gallagher is a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) and serves on the NJCPA Accounting and Auditing Interest Group. She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and a board member of Student/Partner -Alliance, Millburn, NJ. Ms. Gallagher received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fairfield University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She was awarded the 2013 NJ BIZ Best 50 Women in Business Award.

Julie Helman serves as an Audit Manager for Sobel & Co.’s Nonprofit and Social Services Practice. She has more than twenty years of experience in nonprofit accounting, including ten years in public accounting for multiple firms (including a “Big 4” firm) and ten years with two different nonprofit organizations. This experience of serving nonprofit clients from both the audit/consulting perspective and the client perspective enables her to provide clients with unique insights.

At Sobel & Co., she actively participates in our internal training program, ensuring that our staff receives appropriate nonprofit training to allow us to meet Government Auditing Standards for audits of federal and state grants. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and serves on the Nonprofit Interest Group of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. She also volunteers with her son’s Troop 8, Boy Scouts of America.

Ms. Helman is a graduate of the University of Richmond, Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

Roy H. Kvalo, CPA, Director of Litigation & Valuation Services, The Curchin Group, LLC, Red Bank, NJ. He has more than 20 years experience providing forensic accounting services. Mr. Kvalo is responsible for managing all of Curchin’s litigation and valuation engagements from initial contact to final report and/or expert testimony. He has been involved with numerous matrimonial, commercial litigation cases as well as valuations for estate and gift tax and buy-sell agreements. He has served as a court appointed expert in Monmouth County and has provided expert testimony in matrimonial engagements. Mr. Kvalo has also provided court room consultation in federal court to defense counsel during criminal proceedings. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the New Jersey Society of CPAs. He serves as vice president of the Estate and Financial Planning Council of Central New Jersey. Mr. Kvalo earned a B.A. in accounting from Rutgers University.

Jay is a partner at Prager Metis, a member of Prager Metis International Group. He has over 30 years of experience in the accounting profession, servicing family businesses and manufacturing, advertising, public relations and wholesale and distribution clients with accounting, audit, and advisory services. Jay has particular expertise in all matters related to mergers and acquisitions, such as financial due diligence and budgeting for businesses. He helps provide his clients with peace of mind, often acting as a sounding board or confidant, and ensures that they achieve their goals, financial and otherwise. Jay is a noted presenter. Prior to joining Prager Metis, he was a member of LFL Veritas LLC. Jay is a member of the NJCPA and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).

Brad is an assurance principal at CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP). He has significant experience in financial reporting, tax compliance and planning for closely held businesses, SEC registrants, nonprofit organizations and strategic business planning, and in industries, such as real estate, construction, architectural and engineering, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. Brad is a member of the AICPA and the NJCPA, and was a former NJCPA president. In addition, Brad has served as an adjunct professor of accounting at William Paterson University and the College of Saint Elizabeth.