On Monday, several dozen professional CPAs who provide accounting services in Ocean County participated in an hour long teleconference hosted by the Lakewood Resource and Referral Center (LRRC) to learn more about how each agency that provides family support has their own distinct reporting requirements and their differing rules of what is considered income.

The purpose of this was to ensure that those in the accounting fields can provide accurate information to their clients and to help them ensure that their clients remain in full compliance of any state or federal rules. Topics covered included scholarships, taxable income, dependents, self-employment, income eligibility for New Jersey Family Care and other family support programs for those in need, and more.

The presentation was opened by Zachariah Waxler, CPA, Partner in the Roth and Co. CPA firm. Mr. Waxler reiterated some of the main points of his recent address at the major public “Community Conversations” symposium that took place at the Fountain Ballroom and which was open to the public at large.

Mrs. Sarah Sternbach, MPA, Programs Manager at the LRRC, followed with an extensive workshop tackling frequently asked questions. She placed a particular focus of income eligibility guidelines and protocols for New Jersey Family Care, which is mostly driven by income that is considered reportable by the IRS.

Even the most seasoned accountants found the teleconference to be extremely useful. They gained crystal clarity regarding countless common questions in regards to the law – as well as financial topics not typically covered by CPAs, yet of great importance to struggling families. “There is a strong demand from the public to ensure that their financial documents be at the highest level of compliance with all applicable laws,” explains Ari (David)

Hutman, CPA, of Hutman and Hutman LLP. “Some of the regulations of the family support programs are not typically covered in our standard training that we all undergo as accountants. This teleconference was exceptionally useful for our day to day interactions with clients.”

This conference was yet the fourth in the ongoing Community Conversations series that seeks to improve the levels of compliance by those in need, through awareness and education. Previous events included a specialized workshop for directors of schools and other nonprofits, and an open to the public symposium in Fountain Ballroom. The Community Conversations series is a collaborative effort between The Lakewood Vaad, Agudath Israel’s New Jersey Office, the LRRC, and Lakewood Community Services Corporation (LCSC).

“By staying up to date local accountants can confidently guide their clients,” says Mrs. Sternbach. “We thank all these accountants and the other private practice professionals that have stepped forward to work together with us on behalf of those in need.”