Robert Slootmaker, Office Managing Partner, New Jersey, Citrin Cooperman

Robert Slootmaker, office managing partner at Citrin Cooperman – New Jersey, spoke with Invest: about the firm’s footprint across a broad swath of industries. “We are totally focused on being the best accounting and advisory firm for private companies and high-net-worth individuals, and that means we are an advisory-focused firm, regardless of the specific service we’re providing to a given client. Our partners work tirelessly to truly know their clients, both as individuals and their businesses, so we can constantly bring new ideas about how to improve their personal or business situations.”

Reflecting on the past year, what have been the most significant internal and external changes that have shaped how Citrin Cooperman operates in New Jersey?

Internally, we have grown our capabilities in several industries within New Jersey, including financial services, manufacturing, real estate, automotive, and high-net-worth individuals. The joining of two Citrin Cooperman offices has been a significant change. We took two locations in North Jersey and pulled them into one. We brought 150 people under one roof, which brought together many different industries and opened many eyes as to what the firm can offer. We expanded our presence with a smaller office opening in Iselin to focus on the Central New Jersey area. The opening was a market-facing strategy and brought our talent pool there from New York City. These strategic moves have allowed us to deliver more integrated services to clients across the state, helping them navigate complex challenges and seize new growth opportunities. Our expanded footprint and industry specializations are directly translating into measurable success for our clients. 

What types of businesses or sectors are driving the most demand for accounting, tax, and advisory services in the region?

There is a combination of industries that are growing fast, and industries that are undergoing stages of growth, uncertainty, or regulatory change. Within our middle-market client base, we are seeing increased demand from several industries, including real estate, which is continuing to see both post-pandemic challenges in the commercial sector, and rapid growth and opportunities in the multifamily residential sector. Traditional strong points for the New Jersey economy, like manufacturing and technology, are areas where we are seeing substantial growth, as well as financial services, where we’re continuing to see growth from traditionally New York-based companies choosing to settle and grow in the state. We’re excited for the prospects of these and other industries in New Jersey, and continue to invest in specialized talent to meet the demand in these industries. 

How is Citrin Cooperman planning to adapt to the evolving landscape of tax services, especially considering the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)?

Our National Tax Office has been deeply focused on OBBBA since the early legislative discussions, and we were among the first firms to release a full analysis of the entire bill. This team focuses exclusively on providing guidance on regulatory and tax law changes, helping our clients fully understand and plan for the new law’s impact, and consulting alongside our partners. In addition, we conduct regular internal training so our staff and professionals are well-versed when speaking to our clients. We aren’t simply waiting to collect data and give them a tax return. We are advisors to our clients and in touch with them regularly to help them navigate changes in their situations and in the regulatory environment.

What are the most pressing challenges that your industry faces in New Jersey, and how is your firm addressing them?

The biggest challenge is the shortage of accountants coming out of college and the smaller pool of talent we have to pull from. We are increasing our on-campus presence and pushing our internship programs. We are revamping our internship programs to encourage interns to take a full-time position within the firm. Further establishing the Citrin Cooperman brand on New Jersey-based college campuses is a key focus. We’re also pleased to see that New Jersey is proactive in trying to fix this problem. They have been supportive of changing certain requirements for the CPA exam, such as the 150-hour work experience requirement. There was a recent bill passed that reduces the requirement to 120 hours, along with requiring two years of general work experience. This would encourage students to get back into the accounting industry without leaving school with an additional year’s worth of incurred debt. 

With advances in AI and automation transforming accounting, how is the firm embedding technology to improve efficiency while maintaining quality and trust?

AI is evolving quickly, and the firm continuously evaluates new capabilities to keep pace with this changing landscape. We have an AI governance team that also overlaps with vendor procurement, privacy, security, and innovation to ensure this work is within our overall corporate risk standard. We also have a strict policy and controls over the use of public-facing AI tools. To help our clients, we launched an AI consulting service within our Digital and Cloud Services Practice, which helps clients navigate all of the complexities related to adopting AI and identifies and prioritizes the use cases that can make the most impact. We are looking at ways to enhance efficiencies while maintaining or even improving the high-quality work we provide to clients. AI is here to stay, and we need to be at the forefront of implementing technology platforms. Any firm not focused on AI will be left behind. 

As the New Jersey office managing partner, what role are you playing in guiding the firm through increased globalization of your clients’ businesses?

We’re proud of our Jersey roots and will continue to emphasize our local teams and capabilities. As we grow nationally, it opens doors to pull in other resources and tap into different industries. We can find leaders from industries coming to New Jersey and can connect them to professionals within the firm. We are focused on continuing to build out our advisory model on a national level, including, but not limited to, digital and cloud services, outsourcing solutions, and transaction advisory services. We are tapping into those national resources and expanding on what we can bring to our clients. For clients requiring global resources, we’re also an independent member firm of the Moore North America, Inc. (MNA) Association, which is itself a regional member of Moore Global Network Limited (MGNL), one of the world’s leading accountancy and advisory networks with over 37,000 professionals across 227 independent firms working in more than 114 countries.

In what ways is Citrin Cooperman engaging with the broader New Jersey business ecosystem?

We are focused on making sure our partners are getting out into the marketplace and finding associations and committees tied to their industry. We have many partners who sit on various committees. We work closely with different professional service firms, such as attorneys, financial advisers, and insurance brokers, to ensure our clients can access the complete circle of advisors. Our staff is encouraged to find what they are passionate about and get involved in community outreach, whether it’s volunteering their time or seeking a donation from the firm. 

What is your outlook for the firm and the accounting advisory industry in New Jersey over the near term? What will be your top priorities?

Our primary focus is on growth, for our firm and for our clients. We have a great brand in the middle market and high-net-worth space that we will continue to grow within all the industries we serve. We are focused on getting into the marketplace to grow the brand and help New Jersey. From an accounting standpoint, we want to ensure our firm has a strong presence with the NJCPA. It’s a way to give back to the state and enhance our student recruitment efforts. We want to be a firm that people are proud to make referrals to. We also want to foster a culture that inspires our professionals to collaborate, engage, and grow in their careers.