Getting to Know John M. Szczomak, CPA

The New Jersey Society of CPAs welcomed John M. Szczomak, CPA, member of the firm at Smolin, Lupin & Co., LLC, as its 2025/26 president on June 1, replacing outgoing president June M. Toth, CPA, CFF, CITP, CGMA, principal at WilkinGuttenplan P.C.

The Early Years

John began his career with Smolin Lupin as an intern in January 1987. After graduating from William Paterson University (formerly College) and receiving other job offers, he selected Smolin and has remained there his entire career, marking 38 years in January. Today, John and his team handle high net worth, healthcare, retail and professional services, focusing primarily on tax. “Being with Smolin is like being with family. The lifelong relationships I have made with my colleagues is truly a gift,” he said. He fondly remembers his partnership announcement by senior partner and mentor John Mitros, CPA, (now deceased) at the last “getaway” NJCPA Annual Convention in Las Vegas in June of 2005.

That long-term focus also extends to John’s clients, which span nearly four decades. Seeing a client grow from its infancy to a mature corporate environment and having a role in that is truly a rewarding experience, he said. Naturally, his clients are fond of him, too. As one elderly client asked him, “Can you hold off retirement until I die?”

Mentoring Matters

When John was first hired, founder Aaron Smolin said to him, “I owe you more than a paycheck. I owe you an opportunity to grow.” That sentiment, which has stuck with John for decades, is what motivates him to give back to the profession and mentor. “A job is a job, but an opportunity is once in a lifetime, possibly,” he added. John, who is a self-described sounding board for young professionals at Smolin, explains discussions “transcend more than just debits and credits.”

As NJCPA president, John will focus on the accountant shortage and encouraging the next generation. “The more people put time into mentoring, the better our profession will be,” said John, who is hopeful of more licensing options being available with the CPA pathway legislation the NJCPA helped draft (see more on that at njcpa.org/cpapathway).

John has always exhibited a service mentality at the NJCPA, where he’s been a member since 1990. He has participated in the Cooperation with Bankers Committee, Healthcare Committee, Financial Services Resource Group and Accounting & Auditing Standards Interest Group, and he served as NJCPA trustee, treasurer and secretary as well as an NJ-CPA-PAC Trustee, on the Essex Chapter Board and as an NJCPA Scholarship Fund Trustee.

Living the Elks’ Values

Those who were around when John first joined the local Passaic Valley Elks’ chapter may have questioned his joining at age 29 — at such a young age — but certainly not his intentions. He was welcomed almost immediately in that group, which he is thankful for today.  “If you don t extend an olive branch to someone, you don t know what could happen,” he said. “You never know what that person can end up as.”  

Those who have gotten to know John can attest on any given day he embodies all of the four cardinal virtues of being an Elk — charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. Over the years, he has served as a state trustee, District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler and state president of the New Jersey State Elks Association. He also served on the national level as the area chair of the Auditing and Accounting Committee, assisting more than 200 lodges with their financial issues. John is currently a state advisor to New Jersey Elks committees and is a financial advisor to the North Jersey Elks Developmental Disabilities Agency.

He is also committed to other passions. Growing up in Paterson, John moved to Totowa with his wife, Jody, and his two dogs, Bella and Amelia. John is also on the boards of the Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation and chair of the Finance Committee at St. Bonaventure Roman Catholic Church in Paterson.

Learn more about John at njcpa.org/about/board.