Accounting Educators Workshop (E2104228)

Frank is a partner based in Withum’s East Brunswick, NJ office and has over 35 years of accounting and auditing experience. He is a licensed certified public accountant in the states of New York and New Jersey and specializes in accounting and auditing. Frank has a great deal of experience working with investment companies (hedge funds, mutual funds and ETFs), broker-dealers, private equity and venture capital funds, registered investment advisors, real estate investment trusts and closely-held businesses. He also performs peer and quality reviews of CPA firms.

A graduate of Rutgers University, Newark, Frank received his BA degree in accounting. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA), where he served as president of the organization. Frank is the chair of the NJCPA Peer Review Executive Committee, which administers peer reviews on behalf of the AICPA in New Jersey. He is past chair of both the NJCPA Accounting and Auditing Standards Interest Group and the NJCPA Accounting and Auditing Resource Group. Frank is a former member of the Audit Committee for the NJCPA and past treasurer of both the NJCPA and the Middlesex/Somerset Chapter of the NJCPA. He recently completed a three-year term on the AICPA Peer Review Board. The Peer Review Board is responsible for maintaining, furthering and governing the activities of the Peer Review Program, including the issuance of peer review standards and peer review guidance, while being mindful of the profession’s covenant to serve the public interest with integrity and objectivity. Frank is a frequent lecturer on accounting and auditing topics to professional and business groups. He has been quoted in several publications and is the coauthor of three books on accounting. Frank resides in Ocean County, NJ.

Richard Gallagher joined the AICPA Examinations team as Director of Content on December 1, 2014. Rich will be leading the Exam’s team of CPAs on the development and monitoring of the current Exam, as well as playing a key role in the Practice Analysis initiative, whose goal is to ensure that the next version of the CPA Exam assesses the knowledge and skills required of newly licensed CPAs. Rich has worked as a CPA for over 35 years. He retired from Ernst & Young’s New York based National Professional Practice Group in June 2014. In this role, Rich supported engagement teams and their clients in resolving complex accounting and auditing issues. He also served as Engagement Quality Review Partner on many of EYs New York and New Jersey based clients. Prior to National Office, Rich was a client handling partner based in the firm’s MetroPark New Jersey office. Rich also has been a frequent instructor focusing on new accounting pronouncements, evolving audit matters and IFRS. Rich began his career in Arthur Young’s Newark office in 1976. Rich attended Villanova University from 1972 through 1974 and graduated from St. Peter’s College in 1976. Rich also was an Adjunct Instructor in St. Peter’s Accountancy program in the 1980’s.

Brad is a member of the firm and director of accounting and auditing at SobelCo, serving small businesses and individuals in the areas of accounting, auditing, tax and business consulting. 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.

Alan is the managing partner of SobelCo, where he is responsible for facilitating the strategic direction and the day-to-day management of the firm. He provides expertise on financial reporting, tax planning for businesses and high net worth individuals and strategic business planning. He has considerable experience with mergers and acquisitions and delivers added value working with clients on sourcing deals, negotiating and structuring transactions, financial and business due diligence and transaction financing. Alan is the 2020/21 president of the NJCPA. He developed the concept for the Pass-Through Business Alternative Income Tax Act and played the lead role in writing the legislation and making it fit within New Jersey’s tax structure. He is also a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA). He is the former chairman of the NJCPA Audit Committee and was a former vice president and trustee of the NJCPA and a past president of its Essex Chapter and has served on various committees. Alan was a former adjunct professor of taxation and frequently lectures.

Ralph is the CEO and executive director of the NJCPA - a post held since 1999. He was appointed by New Jersey Senate President Sweeney to the New Jersey Economic and Fiscal Policy Working Group in 2018. He was also previously appointed to the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Foundation Board and the inaugural AICPA National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion. Ralph is a lifetime member and former national and chapter president of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), was appointed chair of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s (NASBA) State Society Relations Committee, and is a member of the accounting advisory boards of Lehigh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Montclair State, Felician, Thomas Edison universities and Middlesex County College. He is also the treasurer of Opportunity NJ. Additionally, he was selected for the last seven years by Accounting Today as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.”