Governmental Accounting & Auditing Interest Group Meeting & Technical Session (E1808168)

Jacqueline Grama is a CPA, licensed in New Jersey and holds a New Jersey School Business Administrator Certificate. She began her career in 1987 at Arthur Young’s Metropark Office performing audits of state and local government agencies in New Jersey. In 1999, she joined the Department of Education’s Office of Fiscal Standards to develop and implement fiscal policy for the newly established Charter School Program. She currently works in the Office of Fiscal Policy and Planning and is primarily responsible for the development and administration of fiscal policy guiding school districts and for the related provision of technical assistance. She also administers the Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI) in conjunction with the Departments of the Treasury and Human Services. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Rider University in 1987 and her Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University in 2002. Jacqueline is also an active member of the Association of Government Accountants.

Patricia Lagarenne, CPA, joined the Office of Fiscal Policy and Planning as a Planning Associate in 2012. Previously she worked for the department’s Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance. Patricia assists OFPP with all the development and administration of fiscal policy guiding school districts and related provision of technical assistance. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Wagner College in 1990. She is licensed in New York and New Jersey, holds a New Jersey School Business Administrator Certificate and is a member of the Association of Government Accountants.

Vincent Mastrocola is the Director of Special Audits Unit at the New Jersey Department of Education in the Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance. He has been with the DOE since 2001. He is responsible for performing consolidated monitoring audits of federal funds granted to school districts. He received his Bachelor of Science degree and his Masters of Business Administration from Pace University. He also has a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University. Prior to working at the Department of Education, Mr Mastrocola worked at the NJ Office of School Facilities.

Montu Patel is a Planning Associate in the Office of Fiscal Policy and Planning. He joined the Department of Education in 2015 and is primarily responsible for the development and administration of fiscal policy guiding school districts and for the related provision of technical assistance. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Rutgers University in 2006. He holds a CPA license in New Jersey. Prior to working with the Department of Education, his experience includes the audits of profit and not-for-profit organizations.