Mary A. Bawarski, CPA
Certified Public Accountant
Mary A. Bawarski, CPA began to work with Private Schools for the Disabled in 1985 as a consulting accountant. She later formed Mary A. Krystalla, CPA, LLC as the client base expanded. The firm has been renamed to School Accounting Professionals LLC to define more clearly the type of accounting expertise provided.
Mary graduated from Montclair State University in May, 1976 with a Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude. Mary has practiced as a Certified Public Accountant in New Jersey since August, 1979. She worked for Price Waterhouse as a staff accountant and then in private industry for a fortune 500 company. She worked as an internal auditor and then a manager in the security department in the employee fraud department.
Since 1985, Mary has specialized in providing auditing, accounting and consulting services to over fifty-five New Jersey Private Schools for the Disabled. Mary has functioned as a consulting accountant for many schools, some of which have been her clients for as long as 37 years. Mary and her staff work hand in hand with the business office personnel in meeting all of the many requirements of the Department of Education. They also assist the business office in the preparation and interfacing with the auditors for both year-end audits and audits performed by the Department of Education.
In addition to preparing quarterly financial statements, Mary assists the Directors and Business Office staff in preparing their business plans for the school year. These plans include a detailed balanced budget that conforms to the many requirements including percentage allocations as required by the New Jersey Department of Education. Mary and her staff also assist in preparing responses to DOE audit letters
Mary has acted as a consultant to Private Schools for the Disabled in setting up QuickBooks general ledger packages and converting from other software packages. She has assisted business office personnel in utilizing QuickBooks reports and Excel spreadsheets in a manner that complies with the DOE regulations. Working closely with so many bookkeepers and business managers has provided Mary with a unique knowledge of what it takes to run a business office in this regulated industry.
Among her achievements Mary developed a QuickBooks chart of accounts in 2002 that was consistent with Financial Accounting for Local and State School Systems 2003 developed by the National Center for Education Statistics. This chart of accounts was approved by the Department of Education when they mandated that a uniform minimum chart of accounts be utilized effective July 1, 2002. In January, 2007, Mary developed a training course for Business Office Procedures for New Jersey Private Schools for Students with Disabilities and trained hundreds of bookkeepers, Business Managers and independent auditors statewide.
Mary is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Mary was selected as a 2024 NJBIZ Leader in Finance.
Bernadette P. Dimitui
Manager
Bernadette P. Dimitui joined the firm School Accounting Professionals, LLC in 2007. Bernadette graduated from Berkeley College with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Magna Cum Laude and received a Master’s of Science in Accounting from Montclair State University. She is currently preparing for the Certified Public Accountant exam.
Bernadette works closely with the Bookkeepers and Business Managers of Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities closing out various accounting periods in preparation for the annual audits. Bernadette is involved, on a daily basis, interfacing with business office personnel so that they can efficiently comply with the many requirements of the Department of Education. She assists in the preparation of financial and budget worksheets for APSSDs as they develop their annual business plan.
Bernadette is also a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. She maintains the installation and updating of the clients QuickBooks software as well as answering any questions regarding various functions in QuickBooks.
Ashleigh Gonzalez
Senior Associate
Ashleigh Gonzalez has been working at School Accounting Professionals, LLC since 2015. Ashleigh graduated from Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Accounting, Cum Laude and received a Master’s of Business Administration from Montclair State University.
Ashleigh assists in interfacing with business office personnel of Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities and maintaining records in preparation for the year end audits. Ashleigh prepares various spreadsheets and analyzes data to assist in the preparation of the reports generated by the firm.
Natasha Nelson
Junior Associate
Natasha Nelson has been working at School Accounting Professionals, LLC since 2017. Natasha graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with her Bachelors of Science in Accounting and is currently working on her MBA with a concentration in Finance from Montclair State University. She is also preparing for the Certified Public Accountant exam.
Natasha works with office personnel at Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities on a daily basis to maintain records for various accounting periods. Natasha prepares spreadsheets and examines data on a monthly and quarterly basis to aid in the preparation of financial reports.
Kimberly Promnitz
Support Staff
Kimberly Promnitz has been working at School Accounting Professionals, LLC since 2018. Kimberly graduated from William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting at William Paterson University.
Kimberly reconciles client accounts on a monthly and quarterly basis and helps maintain and update various spreadsheets to assist in the preparation of the quarterly and yearly financial reports.