Certified Public Accountant Dr. Jean Joseph a true Caribbean success story

Certified Public Accountant Dr. Jean Joseph, who was born and raised in Roseau, Dominica, is a true Caribbean success story.

As a graduate of The Convent High school and Dominica Teacher’s College in the Caribbean, Dr. Joseph, a Brooklyn resident, distinguished herself by her dedication, attention to detail, excellence and her competency.

Dr. Joseph taught at St. Martin’s school in the vocational department for 10 years, migrated to the United States in 1978 and enrolled at Iowa State University.

Subsequently, Dr. Joseph attended Pace University in New York, where she acquired a baccalaureate of science in accounting and later attained her status as a certified public accountant.

Dr. Joseph is an expert in tax planning, estate, trust and gift tax. She served as a manager for several blue-chip tax firms that oversaw the preparation and review of financial statements for companies of various complexities. Dr. Joseph specializes in the audit and taxation of not-for profit organizations.

She has worked for American Express & Business Services; as a manager in the Tax department at Goldstein, Golub, & Kessler; Anchin, Block and Anchin as a CPA, as well as, Lionel Lewis CPA.

Dr. Joseph is the sole proprietor of Joseph Tax and Consulting Services LLC., and the chief executive officer of Joseph Tax and Consulting Services 1 Inc., excelling in servicing a whole array of clients ’individuals and corporations and not-for-profit organizations.

Her corporation has received the status of Minority and Woman owned Business Enterprise awarded by the New York State Department of Economic Development.

She has also formed Jean G. Joseph, CPA, PC. Services include audits; reviews and compilations; agreed-upon procedures; and consultation, along with customized training solutions for businesses and their clients.

Dr. Joseph was inducted by the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) as a 2007 Business Visionary and was a member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

She received a several distinguished award from the Mayor, and all four levels of Government, Congress, Senate, Assembly and New York City Council.

Dr. Joseph served as an executive member on the board of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants for the Queens/Brooklyn Chapter.

She is also the past president of Queens/Brooklyn Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants; as well as Ambassador-at-large for two years.

In 2010, she was honored by the New State Society Queens/Brooklyn Chapter for outstanding services as an executive board member.

Presently, Dr. Joseph is on the Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE) Committee and The Relationship with the Internal Revenue Service Committee of New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

She has committed to serving a long list of community projects on a pro bono basis. They include helping the Dominica Mission to the United Nations in projects such as the landmark 25th Anniversary of Independence. She provided lodging and hospitality to the delegation of artists from Dominica who performed for the event.

Dr. Joseph was instrumental in the formation of a number of non-profit organizations for Dominica, including Colihaut in Focus Inc.

She is the recipient of The Dominican Award of Honor, which is the highest honor given by the President of Dominica.

She also served as a tax adviser for AIDNOH Inc., a non-profit group dedicated to making Haiti more responsive to rural Haitians.

Dr. Joseph was instrumental in the formation of other non-profit organizations for the 69 Precinct Community Council Inc.; 69 Precinct Clergy Council; A Shared Dream, Inc.; Vincentian-American Independence; Guyana Ambassadors, Inc.; as well as Mr. Bees Hornet Basketball Group. This organization was the recipient of a New York City Council award for the leadership in helping young men acquiring citizenship skills.

She is also a board member of The Mighty Sparrow Calypso Foundation, Inc.

Dr. Joseph received the Women Celebrating Women 2006 Award from the Brooklyn-based Progressive Democrats Political Association (PDPA) headed by the Jamaican-born, trail-blazing former New York City Council Member Dr. Una S.T. Clarke.

Dr. Joseph, a former PDPA executive member, told Caribbean Life that the award “reflects the diversity of women who make significant contributions in their chosen professions in the communities in the City of New York.

Additionally, she received the Woman of Distinction Award-Justice 2010 in remembrance of Dorothy Height from the Morrisania Revitalization Corporation, Inc.

Dr. Joseph, a past chair of the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association, Inc. (WIADCA), organizer the annual massive Carnival Parade on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway, also served as a member of WIADCA’s Fundraising Committee.

She was an auditor for a number of years for the non-profit corporation to promote Labor Day Carnival, cultural exchanges, among other things, “as means of advancing knowledge of the Caribbean and its Diasporas worldwide.”

Currently, Dr. Joseph is president of the Brooklyn Canarsie Lions Club, “an organization that strengthens and supports the Canarsie neighborhood through benevolent services and grants.” She is also the past treasurer of the club.

In addition, she is treasurer of the Brooklyn Kings County Democratic Committee and serves as treasurer for multiple political campaigns. She serves as treasurer for National Congress of Neighborhood Women.

Despite her success, Dr. Joseph said she has not forgotten her homeland. She created a special Scholarship for High School students, which are awarded yearly by the Roseau Town Council to a deserving student in Roseau.

She said she wants to encourage students to be future leaders in Dominica.

Dr. Joseph introduced her country to the Public Service Institute of the University of Oklahoma and its fish-farming program. She also introduced this program to her community in Brooklyn through (CAPE).  The seminar was held in Louisiana.

Dr. Joseph has worked on a variety of projects with the Mayor of Roseau, Dominica, including initiating the naming and facilitating the funding of a soccer team after her late father, Dennis C. Joseph, who was an engineer.

She worked with the President of Medgar Evers for the State College of Dominica for the articulation of an agreement for parity of credits with the City University of New York (CUNY).

As such, the students applying in one of the CUNY schools will receive full credits for comparable courses taken at the Associate Degree level at the Dominica State College.

She said the Memorandum of Understanding also enhances cooperation in, among other areas, collaboration and personal exchanges.

Dr. Joseph has provided for the funding of medical supplies to hospitals and other health organizations in Roseau.

She was recommended by and received from the Dominica Mission to the United Nations a proclamation issued by the New York City Council.

She was also recommended by the Mayor of Roseau and received the Mayor’s Recognition from the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut for outstanding service to the Dominican People.

Dr. Joseph has received several other proclamations from Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Dr. Clarke’s daughter, for her “invaluable contributions and outstanding leadership for her country.”

She also received proclamations from Christine C. Quinn, former Speaker of New York City Council, and former Council Members Mathieu Eugene and Kendall Stewart for her “outstanding contributions to the community during the celebration of Caribbean American Heritage Month.”

Dr. Joseph also serves as chairperson and 4th Vice President of the Brooklyn-based Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club, and was recently honored with the award of “Woman of Great Esteem.”