Daniel Carbonella, CPA '04TCB, '05MBA Sees Accounting As More Than Numbers

September 16, 2013

Daniel Carbonella '04TCB, '05MBA doesn't consider himself a typical CPA. And his clients really appreciate it.

Carbonella is currently a Tax Manager at Daszkowski, Tompkins and Weg, a Staten Island CPA firm with expertise in accounting, tax preparation and tax planning, with an emphasis on doing financial planning for individuals. The firm is known for its proactive approach to accounting, a commitment that this energetic young professional has embraced as his own.

"As soon as we find out about a proposed new tax law that might impact our clients, I like to give our clients a little heads up so that they're ready to prepare for any eventualities, even a year in advance. If we know that certain tax laws are going into effect in a few months, we can do certain things in advance that can help our clients deal with the impending situation. Whenever I have information that may be helpful to a client, either in the short or long-term, I make certain that I reach out to them as soon as possible."

It All Started at St. John's
He credits his person-centered client approach to the experiences he had as a student on the Staten Island campus of St. John's University. It was there that he came to realize that everyone has the right to be treated with respect and as an individual, rather than simply as someone with issues to be dealt with.

"It was always very friendly at St. John's," he recalled, "almost like a family atmosphere where the students interacted with each other very well and the professors were totally accessible. I always felt engaged with the University, and had a real sense that I was valued as a person rather than simply as a student. That's the attitude I've always taken with my clients. One of the most important things that I can do is sit a client down and get to know him or her as a person. That way of treating people all started at St. John's."

For this outgoing double alumnus, the decision to attend St. John's was nearly a foregone conclusion. A number of his relatives were graduates, and the University's proximity to Manhattan offered a wide range of networking opportunities and career possibilities, both of which were an integral component of his undergraduate and graduate Accounting programs.

"During my Junior and Senior years we met with many representatives from accounting firms," he noted. "That made it easier for me when I was going out into the job world, because I already knew many people at these firms, and those contacts made for a much smoother transition for me when I was interviewing with them. At St. John's I learned that it was not only important to network, it was equally important to know whom to network with. Besides educating me on the academic side of Accounting, the University gave me a real taste of what the industry was like."

And it's an industry that he has come to love.

Giving Back
He got the first taste of his future career when he began working at his current firm during his Freshman year at St. John's. He remained there throughout his five years as a student, only leaving after graduation to accept a position in Manhattan. When his former firm made him an offer three years later, he was grateful for the opportunity to return to the place where everything always felt like home.

Carbonella believes in giving back, and willingly shares his professional expertise with other members of the St. John's community, particularly by providing tax information to alumni and friends of the University as a guest panelist at "Meet the Experts" estate planning seminars. It's a practical way for him to show his appreciation for what was done for him when he was a student.

"It's important to realize that sometimes when we're going to school, we think all that matters is to work hard and do what we have to do to succeed. But once I graduated I realized that there were a lot of people who helped me along the way, especially the professors and the alumni. And now that I'm an alumnus myself, I realize how important it is to give back and help out. Whether students or alumni, we're all connected to St. John's. That makes us a part of one big family, so if I can help them in whatever ways I can, I'm more than happy to do so."

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