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Accounting Maven, Zumba Expert, Inspirational Professor B Y ELIZABETH QUIÑONE S, NJ C PA C ONTE NT SP EC IAL IS T
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ew Jersey native Nicole M. DeRosa, CPA, brings her vibrant energy not only to her role as a tax manager for WithumSmith+Brown but also as a Zumba instructor and as an adjunct professor for Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC). When she was younger, Nicole wasn’t sure what profession she wanted to pursue as an adult. But she did know that her love for math, teaching and dancing could pave a path for her in the future. That love for math transformed into a passion for accounting after Nicole attended an accounting class as a junior in high school. “That’s when I fell in love with becoming an accountant,” recalls Nicole. Her love for teaching led her to become an adjunct professor at RVCC, where she helps students on their paths to becoming accountants. Nicole takes her love for dancing to Gold’s Gym as the Zumba instructor on Tuesday nights. Nicole’s path to success was possible through perseverance, hard work and enthusiasm. While she was pursuing her Master of Science in Accounting at Fairleigh Dickinson University and studying for the CPA exam, she was a full-time tax accountant. After passing the CPA exam, Nicole immediately reaped the benefits of the credential’s prestige. “Being a CPA holds you in higher regard,” she says.
Nicole recalled an experience when she and a partner at an accounting firm sat with a client. The client focused most of his attention on the partner, ignoring her. But once the partner shared that Nicole had just passed the CPA exam, the client’s attention completely shifted. “As soon as he found out I was a CPA, it was like night and day ... the CPA credential is a synonym for respect in the profession,” shares Nicole. “After that meeting, he wanted me to do his taxes!” Zumba was one of the stress-relieving activities that helped Nicole juggle it all. She immediately loved the fitness dance classes, and she seized the opportunity to teach the class after the original instructor left. How did gaining her Zumba license compare with getting her CPA license? “Getting the Zumba license was a joke compared to the CPA exam!” she says. “The smiles and laughs I get from gym members attending my class are what keep me coming back for more.” Nicole has been teaching Zumba since 2011. One of Nicole’s favorite accounting professors at RVCC was looking for accountants interested in teaching Tax Accounting I. She decided to give it a shot. That professor had opened the door for her to work for Withum, so she wanted to give back to her alma mater and help guide students on their accounting paths. But her reason to N E W J E R S E Y C P A • M AY • J U N E 2 0 1 6
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teach was bigger than that. “It’s kind of a give-back thing, but I also wanted to get familiar with public speaking,” shares Nicole. While many people dodge public speaking opportunities, Nicole wanted to take it head on, inspiring students along the way. She shared a story about one student who was thinking about giving up accounting. Now that student is an auditor for a small accounting firm. “There is always somebody that makes [teaching] worthwhile,” notes Nicole. Whether she’s leading a class at RVCC, inspiring fitness at a Zumba class or plowing through busy season as a tax manager, what drives Nicole to success is this mantra: Enjoy each opportunity with contagious enthusiasm and positive energy. “Even when things get stressful, I always try to keep a positive attitude and stay enthusiastic,” says Nicole. This NJCPA member is always looking for new challenges, seeking different opportunities and having fun in whatever she does. Her motto certainly stands true: “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” View Nicole’s Member Story and CPA Exam Journey videos at njcpa.org/videos.