Meet CJBS’ Newest Team Members: Stephanie Vadasz of Northshore Professional Group

In 2024, CJBS acquired the tax and accounting firm Northshore Professional Group (NSPG)–and is pleased to announce that three of the firm’s members have recently joined the CJBS team to provide support to our valued clients and partners. 

Here, we’ll introduce you to Stephanie Vadasz, who now serves as a manager  at CJBS. In this Q&A, Stephanie shares info about her accounting background, the transition to CJBS, and client relationship management and strategic goals for the future. 

Q: Stephanie, tell us about your accounting career journey. 

Stephanie: I had taken accounting classes at University of Illinois Chicago, but it wasn’t necessarily something I thought I’d be doing long-term. After graduating in 2005, I started helping my aunt and uncle’s family business with small accounting work. Then they connected me with Howard Goberstein of NSPG. It was my first job after college–I started as a staff accountant. 19 years later, here we are! It’s like a family environment where everyone sees you grow up. 

Q: Could you share more about the work you did at Northshore Professional Group and the service you provided to your clients there? 

Stephanie: At NSPG I eventually became a senior accountant and served also as our office manager, helping processes flow smoothly throughout the business. 

Having a small office allowed us to have that personal touch–you can talk to your clients a bit more. There was a “drop-by” kind of atmosphere, where clients would knock on our door to say hello and have a chat. Our clients love having those face-to-face interactions. It’s allowed us to bring strength and quality to our work. 

That’s also allowed us to build relationships where you do the parents’ tax returns, and then you start doing all the kids’ tax returns when it comes time. Or the parents will close a business, and their kids will open one. It’s been nice to see the generational shift. 

Q: Why was this merger with CJBS a great move for NSPG? 

Stephanie: It will help modernize things for our clients. We’ll be able to paperless and update other processes that we’ve traditionally done the old-school way. We’ll also be able to offer expanded services to our clients–like auditing. Moving from a firm of five people to a firm like CJBS will overall provide so much more support to better serve our clients. 

Q: Personally, what are you looking forward to most about being part of CJBS? 

Stephanie: If you know me, you’ll know I don’t like change! I’ve been with the same company for 19 years, lived in the same apartment for 15 years. This year I moved to a new place and took this big step in my career–and I’ve been embracing it. 

CJBS is a great growth opportunity for me, personally. I won’t need to worry as much about the administrative functions, so I can focus on sharpening my skills and learning more about this field. I’m excited to have an expanded pool of people to rely on, talk through issues, and solve problems with. And, I can help teach the younger staff at CJBS all that I’ve learned over the years, too. 

It’s also been inspiring to see women like Lori Engleman in leadership here at CJBS. We get along so well already, and I know I’m going to learn a great deal from her. 

Learn more about CJBS’ additional new team members from Northshore Professional Group: 

LINKS

Meet the Team: Howard Goberstein

Meet the Team: Rich Kane