BALA CYNWYD, PA  - September 2006 – Joseph S. Barbagallo, CPA, CVA, CFFA, CFD, CFS, CFI, ABV of Bucks County PA, has earned the certification of Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV).

Joe Barbagallo, a principal of Margolis & Company P.C., has fulfilled all the established requirements of eligibility by demonstrating the necessary qualifications, including the passing of an examination, and is thereby entitled under the conditions prescribed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) to hold and use the certification Accredited in Business Valuation (“ABV”).

Joe has nearly thirty years experience in the areas of public accounting and consulting. He currently provides accounting, audit, tax, business consulting, business valuations and litigation support services for both individuals and businesses in a wide array of industries. Joe leads the Bucks County office of Margolis & Company P.C., located in Newtown, PA.

The ABV credential, established in 1996 by the AICPA, recognizes CPAs with extensive professional experience in business valuation. The ABV credential is granted exclusively to CPAs who elect to demonstrate their business expertise and experience by earning the credential. Since inception, over 2,100 CPAs have earned the ABV credential.

“The demand for business valuation services by CPAs has increased tremendously in recent years especially from owners of family businesses who are concerned with estate and gift tax issues, succession planning, divorce settlements, or who need guidance on selling their business or buying a new one,” says Ron Seigneur, CPA, ABV, Chair of the AICPA’s ABV Credential Committee. “CPAs have had a long history of providing advice to clients on a variety of financial and business matters. The ABV credential recognizes the growing importance of this service and the CPA’s expertise in delivering it.”

Joe Barbagallo met the requirements to earn the credential, including holding a valid CPA certificate, providing evidence of substantial experience and continuing education in business valuation, passing a written exam covering the business valuation common body of knowledge, including the areas of professional and regulatory standards, valuation methods and report writing.

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Based in Bala Cynwyd, PA, Margolis & Company is one of the largest regional accounting and business consulting firms in the Philadelphia area. The firm provides accounting, business advisory and strategic & tactical business planning services to middle-market, privately-owned and publicly-held companies, primarily in the Philadelphia tri-state region.