Call or text Us At (518) 786-3550

Address: 7 Airport Park Blvd Latham, NY 12110 | Fax: (518) 786-1538

Email us at info@cusack.cpa

About Our Firm

Cusack & Company, CPAs LLC is a certified public accounting firm in Latham, New York.

Our Firm stresses high-quality, responsive and timely service for our clients. We achieve and maintain this commitment by dedicating resources to hiring, training and supervising our professional staff.

We maintain a high level of standards by ensuring that all professional staff members have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in accounting from a reputable college. In addition, each staff member receives at least forty hours of continuing professional education annually, as well as technical updates when necessary.

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During 2016, our Firm underwent it's most recent triennial "Peer Review" in accordance with the standards established by SEC Practice Section of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. This review resulted in an unqualified opinion (the highest level of assurance) that our quality control standards met the objective of the AICPA. The result of our strong control environment is the confidence that every report issued is of the highest professional quality.

We at Cusack & Company, CPAs LLC stand ready to be more than annual income tax preparers. We believe the value added benefits and services we offer our clients demonstrate our willingness to invest in our clients future. Please contact us today to determine how we may improve and strengthen your situation through a mutually beneficial working relationship.

Our Mission

Our mission is to help clients maintain financial viability in the present, while taking a proactive approach to achieve future goals. This requires open communication to reach an understanding of our clients' needs through research and sound analysis.

Carrie Ableman

Staff Accountant

Originally from Guilderland, NY Carrie currently resides in Delmar, NY.  Carrie began her college education at Hudson Valley Community College as a Business Administration major and then transferred to Siena College where she completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Accounting. During her final year of school, Carrie became a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Throughout college, Carrie worked in banking, completed a tax internship as well as a position in the controller department at local firms.


Carrie joined Cusack & Company in January of 2019, working primarily on non-profit and  government audits. Carrie is in the process of studying and completing the CPA exams so that she can further her career and knowledge of public accounting.

Lydia Casavant

Staff Accountant

Having graduated with Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Siena College in 2018, Lydia also obtained her Masters of Science in Accounting from Siena in 2019. She previously interned with a local firm in Cohoes, NY for three years while working on her undergraduate degree, and obtained experience in both not-for-profit and for-profit accounting there. She is currently working towards obtaining her Certified Public Accountant certification. Lydia currently assists with non-profit, government and commercial clients which includes audit and review engagements along with tax return preparation.



Originally from Hoosick Falls, NY, her family owns and operates a goat dairy farm. In her free time Lydia enjoys spending time with her dog, Phoenix, cooking, and reading. She is a member of the AICPA and The Humane Society of the United States.

Kenneth B. Claflin, CPA

Partner

Originally from Connecticut, Ken came to the area in 1980 after receiving his degree in accounting from Bryant College in Rhode Island.  Ken spent ten years with Urbach Kahn & Werlin P.C. in Albany rising to the position of principal.  After a few years in the insurance and manufacturing industries, Ken returned to public accounting joining Cusack & Company, CPA’s LLC in 1997, where he is currently a partner.  Throughout his career, Ken has specialized in non-profit and government auditing and consulting which comprises the majority of his current business.


Ken was Treasurer and Finance Committee Chairman of Equinox, Inc. for eight years, treasurer of the Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. for two years, was Vice-Chairman of the City of Cohoes Planning Commission and City of Cohoes Historic Preservation Commission for several years and has been Chairman of the Audit Committee for the Center for Disability Services since 2004.  Ken is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Governmental Finance Officers Association.  Ken has been a speaker for the Council of Community Services of New York State, the Capital District Community Loan Fund, the American Lung Association of New York State, Inc. and others on a number of different financial topics.


Ken lives in Cohoes and is married to his wife Margaret and has three adult children. 

John A. Criscone, CPA

Managing Partner

Originally from South Colonie, New York, John Criscone received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Siena College in 1998. Immediately after graduating he was hired at an accounting firm in Saratoga Springs, NY.  In the summer of 2000 he joined Cusack & Company as a staff accountant and worked his way up the ladder through the years under mentor James M. Cusack, CPA, the firm’s Founding Partner.  In January 2012, he was promoted to Partner and in January 2020 he was promoted to Managing Partner.  During his career, John has specialized in a number of areas from individual and business tax to non-profit and government auditing and consulting.


John volunteers as a coach for his son’s little league baseball team (Guilderland Bulldogs).  John is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.


John lives in Guilderland, NY with his wife Rebecca and their two young kids, Sebastian and Scarlett.

Paul Cuda, CPA

Partner

A lifelong resident of the Capital Region, Paul is a graduate of Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons High School, and the State University College at Plattsburgh with a degree in Professional Accounting.  Upon graduation in 1987, Paul immediately began his career in public accounting with a local firm.  During December 1990, Paul assisted in the founding and continued growth of Cusack & Company, CPA’s LLC.


Throughout Paul’s 30-plus year career, he has assisted many non-profit organizations, business and individual tax clients navigate the daily and annual challenges they faced.  Currently, Paul concentrates on the business and individual income tax discipline, along with ad-hoc consulting engagements.  Paul also heads up the firm’s financial, retirement and estate planning alliance with the affiliated professionals of Albany Financial Group.


Paul is a duly licensed member of the American Institute and New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, and also holds Series 6, 63 and insurance licenses as part of the financial planning affiliation.

James M. Cusack, (former CPA)

Founding Partner

Originally from Hoosick Falls, New York Jim went to college at the University of Scranton, PA obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Accounting in May 1978. Upon graduation, he initially worked for a year in government as a supervisor in the Rensselaer County Bureau of Finance assisting family friend William Murphy who was then County Executive. In 1979 he began his public accounting career at the Albany office of Urbach, Kahn and Werlin PC, obtained his CPA license in 1982, continued with the Albany office of Coopers & Lybrand and eventually formed Cusack & Company CPA’s, LLC in 1990. Throughout his career, Jim had specialized in individual, corporate and estate tax as well as audits and reviews of non-profits, governments and commercial entities.


Jim had been a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of Public Accountants and previously served as an audit review committee member for United Way of Northeastern New York. Over his career he has served as treasurer on a number of area non-profit organizations, delivered home meals for an area non-profit and volunteered for numerous fundraising events.

 

Jim formally retired in 2022 and is enjoying spending time with his family in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  

Sara Gallacchi, CPA

Manager

Born and raised in Schenectady, Sara obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Siena College in 2011. After graduation, she continued her education at the College of Saint Rose, obtaining her Master of Science degree in Accounting in 2012. While working to obtain her Master’s she began a part-time internship at Cusack & Company during January 2011 and was hired as a full time accountant in August 2012.


Sara obtained her CPA license for New York State in February 2012. She works in both our tax and audit areas, specializing in non-profit and government auditing. She is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. She was a 4 year letter-winner in softball during her time at Siena College and volunteers annually with Equinox delivering thanksgiving meals.

Karen E Witherbee, CPA

Originally from Maine, Karen came to area after receiving her degree in accounting from St. Joseph’s College of Maine.  Karen has spent the last 20 years working in public accounting firms in New York State focusing mainly on review and compilation services for businesses, along with business and personal tax services.  She joined Cusack & Company CPAs LLC in January of 2018.


Karen resides in Nassau, with her husband and son. 

Claude P. Manna Jr. CPA

Partner

Claude graduated from Hudson Valley Community College with a degree in Criminal Justice and Siena College with a degree in Business Administration, licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in New York 1989, and Florida 2014.  Claude began with Cusack & Company CPA’s LLC in 2018 after owning his own firm, Manna CPA’s, for 27 years.  Claude specializes in individual and corporate tax as well as compilation and review engagements.


Claude is currently a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accounts, and Key West Chamber of Commerce.

Jason D. Marra, CPA

Partner

Jason received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Siena College in 1999. He spent the next 7 years working for two local accounting firms in Saratoga Springs, NY and Albany, NY. In 2006 he joined Cusack & Company CPAs, LLC as a manager and was promoted to Partner in 2019. During his career, Jason has specialized in non-profit and government auditing and consulting which comprises the majority of his current business.


Since 2012 Jason has been a community member of the Guilderland Central School District Audit Committee. He enjoys this role, being able give back to the community in which he resides. In the past he served as treasurer of Sacandaga Elementary School PTA, Literacy New York and Citizens of Law, Order and Justice of Schenectady, Inc. Jason is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the New York Government Finance Officers’ Association.


Jason lives in Guilderland with his wife Darcy and their three school aged children.

John J. Tafilowski, CPA

Partner

A lifelong resident of the Capital District, John graduated Bethlehem Central High School in 1998 and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Siena College in 2002. Shortly after graduating John joined the team at Cusack & Company as a staff accountant, earned his CPA license in 2008 and was promoted to partner in 2017. John specializes in audit and assurance services, including non-profit organizations, governmental entities and commercial businesses. John is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.


John lives in Castleton, NY with his wife Meggan and their young children, Luciana, Audrey, Dominic and Nathan.  Outside of work John enjoys spending time with his family doing outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and fishing - especially in the Adirondack Mountains.

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