January 07, 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.”
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.
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 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.”