Robert Fingerman (BS Accounting, UB School of Management ’80) works with individuals in the music, art and entertainment industries providing accounting and tax services to a wide range of companies and individuals. Rather than becoming “just a number” in the large pool of SUNY Buffalo graduates, Fingerman chose to use his degree and experience to propel himself into the media industry as a specialized accountant and consultant. He didn’t just settle for a usual career tract; he made his own—and it paid off. Currently, Robert Fingerman is a partner of Fingerman & Macke, CPA, PC, a Long Island-based CPA firm. He is also the founder & president of Independent Films Production Consultants, Inc.
Robert S. Fingerman
After graduating from UB with a BS in accounting, were you able to immediately begin your successful career and CPA firm, or were there stepping stones along the way that you can tell us about? Every CPA has stepping stones. I worked first for small regional firms, then for larger, before going out on my own. Getting experience in dealing and conversing with clients at an early stage of my career gave me an enormous advantage over my colleges.
Why have you chosen to work primarily with the independent film industry? I originally worked for an accounting firm that dealt with the music industry. I was a tour accountant for rock groups. After leaving that situation, I maintained contacts of lawyers, managers and agents in the music industry. They approached me later to get involved with independent film production. There are similarities.
Tell us about some projects that you are currently working on. We are presently wrapping up the filming of a Keanu Reeves film, Henry’s Crime that was filmed in Buffalo, NYC and LA.
Can you tell us about any internships, symposiums or jobs that you landed as an undergraduate that you feel gave you a leg up in the business world after graduation? I actually never did internships, nor attended any symposiums, or worked while I was an undergraduate.
If you could go back to your undergraduate days at UB, what are some things that you would do differently? Wow, I definitely would have asked more girls out on dates then I did. I also would not have listened to my roommates as much. Other than that, not a thing. Had a great time.
What types of students do you think will benefit most from the talk that you have planned for this year’s Coast to Coast symposium? Students that want to work in the Entertainment & Media industry who have superb people and communication skills. The future is so wide open for them.
What would you consider to be the smartest career decision that you have made? Not settling for a work environment that stymies growth and personalities in the accounting industry.
How is the career path that you have taken similar or different than what you had envisioned for your future-self when you were an undergraduate? It is so different than what I had envisioned. I have nothing in common with most accountants, however I was told the job market was good, so I went in that direction. In the beginning I thought I was going to operate as just a number in a large, unsocial environment.
What types of things do you enjoy doing in your free time? Golf, traveling and driving my Porsche.
What advice would you offer students and recent graduates looking to break into the media industry? Feel confident that the youths understand better what the media industry is about, but be patient. Learn and pay your dues. Never get complacent at a position.
