In 1993 if you opened the garage door of Ken Cerini's home you would not find a car, or bicycles and boxes. No, instead you would see a couple of desks, some computers, a table and chairs, 2 of which were eagerly awaiting some clients. This marked the beginning of what we now know as Cerini & Associates, LLP.

Cerini & Associates, LLP was started on the basis of strong client relations. With 8 years experience working for a "big six" accounting firm, Ken had a different vision of what an accounting firm and its staff should embody in how it served its clients and the impact each accountant had on his/her client's operations and ultimately their bottom line. It wasn't about building a practice that focused on its own bottom line profits or extolled big corporate philosophies that didn't leave room for creativity and responsiveness, it was about building a relationship with clients that went way beyond a balance sheet and a tax return - a vision that continues to guide the way Cerini & Associates, LLP still does business today.

Early on, developing client relationships required a much more non-traditional approach. For example, when the firm first started, Ken put on a suit, grabbed his briefcase and left his office, uh garage, in pursuit of signing new clients. He walked into a sports collectible store in Huntington, Long Island. The company informed him that they already had an accountant. As he was walking out the door, Ken turned back and asked, "Yeah, but does your current accountant work for baseball cards?" Intrigued, the owner asked him to come back to further discuss this prospect with her husband. The rest is history. Ken signed on one of his first big clients, a $1,200 job. Upon completion, the firm got paid $600 in cash and $600 in baseball cards. This philosophy is what Cerini & Associates, LLP is all about. No, we don't accept baseball cards as payment anymore, but our staff does care about its clients and their industry more than we care about making a bottom line profit.

Since then we have moved our offices to Bohemia, expanded our office space three times, and enhanced the services we serve to meet the growing needs of our clients. Through newsletters, seminars, and our website, we continuously strive to keep our clients and friends informed about issues facing their industries.

The late 90's brought on Eliatt Di Lieto, who has since been named Partner, and who shares the same vision as Ken while bringing different skill sets and expertise to the firm. Eliatt brings to the firm not only a practical approach to dealing with his client’s issues, but he has over 10 years of management experience in the retail industry…as a result, he brings with him first-hand knowledge gained through trial and success.

Combined, Ken and Eliatt boast nearly 60 years of accounting and business management experience. They are members of numerous boards and committees across Long Island which keeps them knowledgeable of and active in the industries they serve - an important philosophy that certainly filters down to staff at all levels. "It's important to give back to the profession and the community," explained Eliatt. "We try to go out and make a difference in people's lives every day. That's what makes it fun."

Thus far in 2009, we've accomplished the following: