The cliché is that accounting is dry and boring, but Cecelia Garber would tell you otherwise.
In her line of work, she can change lives with numbers. She can influence the welfare of a child by calculating what support payments should be. She can enhance the value of someone’s lifelong work by knowing how to tabulate what his or her business or company is worth. She can ease the pain and suffering of the injured or victimized by helping to decide what their compensation should be. And, in some cases, she can even keep someone from going to jail.
Ms. Garber calls her profession a cross between science and art. The science comes from familiarity with the myriad laws and regulations of accounting and all of the fields to which it applies. The art is that sort of creativity that only can flow from experience.
Like other successful accountants, she is well-paid for her work. She applies her skills in ciphering through records and such and, in the end, making it matter for her clients. A lot of what she does is called “forensic” because of its in-depth and investigatory nature. Think of it as picking something apart through paperwork.
She grew up in South Florida, the daughter of a Jewish deli owner who she calls “probably the greatest man I’ve ever known.” As a young girl, her interest in accounting was first piqued by an uncle who was an accountant and “always seemed to be the most affluent side of the family.”
She is married and has two daughters, one with a degree in hospitality management from Johnson and Wales University and who is now studying locally for a second degree in the field, and another studying corporate communications at Boston University.
As Marcum’s partner-in-charge for the Florida region, Ms. Garber typically splits her time between the firm’s offices in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Based in New York City, Marcum is one of the country’s largest independent public accounting and advisory services firms.
Over the past 20 years, Ms. Garber has handled matrimonial litigation support, bankruptcy, fraud investigation, personal injury damage calculation, commercial business calculation and business valuation. She has represented individuals and businesses in tax income matters, income tax planning and compliance, personal financial statements, business consulting services, and IRS criminal and civil cases.
She has been hired by lawyers to represent “high net worth” clients in divorce cases, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, diversion of assets and income, and child support calculations. She has testified as an expert witness and has experience with mediations.
Ms. Garber discussed her career with Miami Today reporter Scott Blake at Marcum’s Fort Lauderdale offices.