Q&A with Robert A. Reitman, Partner with Cornick, Garber & Sandler LLP

Q&A with Robert A. Reitman, Partner with Cornick, Garber & Sandler LLP

Q: When did you decide to become a CPA?
A. Originally, I wanted to be a physical education teacher. However, my uncle had a successful business and he was a public accountant specializing in the insurance industry. I decided that pursuing a career in accounting would be more lucrative than being a gym teacher.

Q: Which school’s accounting program did you attend?
A. Herbert H. Lehman College of CUNY, where I received my bachelor of science degree.

Q: Where did you get your start? What led you to your current position at Cornick, Garber & Sandler LLP?
A. My first job was with Norman Reitman Company, which serviced the insurance industry and specialized in reinsurance accounting and insurance claims verifications, among other services. After five years, I decided to switch to a career in certified public accounting, and started with Frank & Zimmerman. I started as a staff accountant and worked my way to a partner position with that firm. In November 1998, Frank & Zimmerman merged with Cornick, Garber & Sandler LLP.

Q: What were your expectations in pursuing an accounting career?
A. That I would be able to assist individuals to manage their businesses, and provide tax planning strategies to individuals. I also thought that being an accountant would always be a marketable skill no matter what type of economy we were encountering.

Q: What advice would you give to students who might want to pursue an accounting career but are undecided?
A. Accounting is a profession where one constantly is learning new things. Working with different types of industries or different sizes of organizations within an industry makes one’s career interesting on a daily basis. Accounting is not “bean counting.” An accountant can be an advisor to business owners, an investigator tracing assets, a consultant to a not-for-profit organization, or can assist a client in obtaining financing or provide many other services besides “just the numbers.”

Q: How do you think recent accounting scandals have affected the public’s perception of the profession?
A. The bulk of the population of small businesses and individuals uses smaller practice units as their professionals. I believe they still maintain a high level of respect for us as advisors and consultants

Q: What do you enjoy most about your current position?
A. The everyday interaction with different people, and being able to counsel people to assist them to grow their businesses.

Q: What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
A. Reading, golf and coaching youth sports

Q: Please describe your committee work with the Society. When did you get involved? Do you believe it’s an important networking step?
A. Over 20 years ago I was chair of the Small and Medium-Sized Firm Committee. After that committee I was a member of the New York, Multistate and Local Taxation Committee and served on some of its subcommittees. I’ve periodically served on the Real Estate Committee, which I currently chair, as well as on the task force involved in finding new offices for the Society. I believe committee service is an important networking step, as our fellow professionals are always willing to assist one another. Throughout my 20-plus years of committee work, I knew I could pick up the phone or e-mail someone with a question and would always get a response. The experiences one has serving on a committee are based upon participation. The more one takes part in a committee’s activities, the more one will reap benefits. Also, committee service helps build a network of colleagues with whom to share technical and administrative ideas.