Baker Newman Noyes Adds Key Leadership for Growth in Massachusetts

BNN Woburn office

Drew Nagus, Jim Guarino, Jeff Rogers and Chris Giallongo join BNN in Woburn

BOSTON — Baker Newman Noyes (BNN) has welcomed four senior-level professionals in Massachusetts. Drew NagusJim GuarinoJeff Rogers, and Chris Giallongo will be based in the firm’s newest office in Woburn, Massachusetts, opening in January 2020. The Woburn office expands the firm’s presence in Massachusetts, where it also has an office in downtown Boston.

With decades of combined experience, these four professionals will greatly complement BNN’s tax and assurance capabilities, particularly in complex, fast-growing, and highly regulated industries such as commercial, manufacturing and distribution, life sciences and biotech, technology, banking and financial services, and healthcare.

“Vital to our growth is the ability to maintain the right environment and culture to attract and retain talented professionals who not only possess the technical abilities and industry specializations but also enjoy an entrepreneurial and dynamic place to work. Our commitment to Massachusetts, one of the fastest growing areas in the country, simply makes sense,” said Dayton Benway, managing principal of Baker Newman Noyes.

The Woburn office is expected to open by year-end 2019 and will be headed by longtime business leader, Bob Croak, who also oversees the firm’s downtown Boston office. “This expansion allows us to continue our significant growth in Massachusetts, not only in downtown Boston, but also in the fast growing areas in greater Boston. It is a tremendous step in continuing to meet the ever-evolving needs of our existing clients, being accessible to new clients, and providing high quality work environments for our people,” said Croak.

BNN will employ about 20 professionals in Woburn to start, with capacity up to 40, and will be looking to add additional employees in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine over the next 12 to 24 months. As the senior professionals in Woburn, Nagus, Guarino, Rogers and Giallongo will support Croak with client service in their respective areas.

About Drew Nagus, CPA

As a principal in the audit practice, Drew Nagus helps clients strategically navigate complex accounting, external reporting, and corporate accounting matters to support better decision-making. Prior to joining BNN, Drew worked in public accounting at a Big 4 firm in Massachusetts. He has experience with a variety of large-scale projects related to adopting the new revenue recognition and lease standards, ASC 606/IFRS 15 and ASC 842/IFRS 16 respectively; technical accounting support including, but not limited to, business combinations, carve-out financial statements, shared-based compensation, complex debt, and equity instruments; acting as a technical accounting subject matter resource for buy and sell side due diligence teams; External Financial Reporting (SEC & US GAAP); and transitioning to public company status.

Nagus earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in accounting, from Hawaii Pacific University, as well as accelerated advancement as an Intelligence Specialist in the United States Navy. During his military service, Nagus received two Navy Achievement Medals and one Joint Services Achievement Medal. Outside the office, Nagus volunteers on the board of the Ipswich Bay Yacht Club.

About Jim Guarino, CPA, PFS, CFP®, MST

As a managing director and Certified Financial Planner® in the tax practice, Jim Guarino provides trusted tax, financial planning, and wealth management advice and guidance, including tactical tax strategies, estate planning coordination and oversight, retirement planning, and gifting strategies. Prior to joining BNN, Guarino was a tax partner and director of wealth and tax advisory at a Massachusetts-based accounting firm. He is a frequent speaker and author on a variety of tax topics and has been featured in several national and local publications. He also serves as an adjunct faculty at Merrimack College, where he teaches courses on taxation and financial planning.

Guarino earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in accounting, from Merrimack College and a master’s degree in taxation from Bentley University. Guarino is very active within the accounting and financial planning industry, as a member of the AICPA CPA Ambassador Program, the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants Speakers/Writers Bureau, the CFP Board of Standards, and the Financial Planning Association National and Massachusetts Chapters.

Outside the office, Guarino volunteers his time on the board of The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, Inc., as well as the Essex County Community Foundation, Junior Achievement of Northern New England, and the Wakefield Basketball Association.

About Jeff Rogers, CPA, MST

As a senior manager in the tax practice, Jeff Rogers specializes in serving closely held businesses, particularly in the construction and real estate industries, as well as high-net-worth individuals and nonprofit organizations. With more than 13 years of experience, Rogers helps clients with complex tax issues, including ownership transitions, mergers and acquisitions, and multi-state reporting. He previously served as a partner and managing director for a large public accounting firm in Boston. Rogers earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Merrimack College and a master’s degree in taxation from Bentley University.

Outside the office, Rogers volunteers as a coach with the Danvers American Little League and Habitat for Humanity.

About Chris Giallongo, CPA, MST

As a senior manager in the tax practice, Chris Giallongo specializes in C Corps with exceptional knowledge in mergers and acquisitions, tax accounting under ASC 740, state and local tax, international tax, and corporate tax compliance and consulting for clients across a wide range of industries including life science, retail, manufacturing and distribution, construction and professional services.  In addition to many years in public accounting, Giallongo has experience in private multi-national tax departments.  Giallongo earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Merrimack College and a master’s degree in taxation from Bentley University.

Outside the office, Giallongo volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and coaches with Dracut Softball.