Richard is an experienced financial professional, having served as president of Zerah & Company CPA’s, P.C, for the past 30 years. Throughout his career, Richard has used his acquired skills as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner to guide closely held businesses and business owners in all aspects of accounting and finance, cash flow planning, goals planning, tax planning, and personal financial planning. He is currently serving as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Lancelot Homeowners Association at Camelot Woods, Monticello, New York, and possesses an expertise in the accounting software used by the outside accountants of the Homeowners Association.
Richard has demonstrated Board of Director leadership qualities throughout his career. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Special Olympics New York, one of the largest such programs in the world. Richard served as Treasurer for over 10 years, responsible for a multi-million dollar budget providing athletic programs for people with intellectual disabilities throughout New York State. Richard also served as Vice Chairman of the Board for over 10 years, materially involved in all aspects of governance for the Special Olympics New York.
Richard has served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer of the NYS Society of CPA’s, Nassau Chapter, as well as a Director on the State Level Board. He has also served as chairman of the Estate Planning Committee and Personal Financial Planning Committee of the Nassau Chapter. Richard has served on the Board of Directors of the Long Island Chapter of the Institute of Certified Financial Planners, as Treasurer, as well as the Levittown Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Richard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany, where he graduated in 1979. Richard began his career with one of the largest accounting firms in the world, Touche Ross & Co. He was a member of the audit department during his tenure at the firm.
Richard is a licensed Certified Public Accountant, as well as holding the designations of Personal Financial Specialist accredited by the American Institute of CPA’s, Certified Financial Planner as authorized by the CFP Board of Standards, Certified Senior Advisor, as authorized by the Society of Senior Certified Advisors, and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor as authorized by the College of Financial Planning. Richard holds Series 7 & 63 investment licenses as recognized by the relevant licensing agencies.
Richard has published several articles in magazines such as The CPA Journal and Long Island Magazine. He has been periodically quoted in the business section of Newsday and the Daily News. He has been a guest speaker to professional and civic associations throughout his career, as well as lecturing on technical topics for the Foundation for Accounting Education.