Today we’d like to introduce you to Luca Cancellieri.
Hi Luca, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
A native Italian trying to become an accountant in the US? It might seem odd and far from reality, but it exactly the core of my story. So strange and so real and it’s the most wonderful part of the journey: becoming a successful professional on the other side of the planet. The reason why and also the beginnings are part of a long story, where back in 2014, I left my promising career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, my family, and my passion (soccer of course!) and moved to Miami. While attending a Master in Accounting, I started learning more and more about US tax law and consulting clients through an internship in a mid-size CPA firm in Miami named Vizcaino Zomerfeld, LLP (now ZOMMA Group, LLP), the firm that has welcomed me as a family member and taught me how to grown within the profession. After five years, I am still part of the same team and I have never been happier.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well, to be honest, not being a native American has never represented an entry barrier for the development of my career, but clearly dealing with a foreign language (two, actually… English and Spanish) had its challenging. A couple of intensive classes on Saturdays and watching movies with original audio had a huge impact on this. I would recommend this to everybody. Anyway, obtaining the CPA license was probably the most difficult side of the path: four-part exam to be mandatorily passed in 18 months, while each part required several weeks of preparation, sacrifices, and extreme dedication.
On the other side, professionally talking, dealing with clients daily, meet expectations, and being always updated with the latest news/regulation is another tough challenge to face.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed CPA (Certified Public Accountant), currently working for a mid-size CPA firm named ZOMMA Group, LLP. We are a group of 30 professionals who provide tax advice, tax preparation, financial analysis, and advisory services to businesses of all sizes. With offices conveniently located in Coral Gables & Brickell, Zomma Group is a full-service, boutique-style accounting & advisory firm dedicated to building robust and productive client relationships. We strive to make every customer feel right at home and have the added benefit of assisting them to achieve their financial goals.
Personally, as a Senior Accountant, my role is to focus on tax compliance and consulting for corporate and individual, domestic and international clients. The partners at the firm quickly became my mentors and continuously help me grow within my profession and personally. If I can add something, I would say that what I like the most about my job is that I’m able to help our clients and their businesses in handling their finances and making their financial decisions. Without a doubt, I like knowing that my clients can rely on us when they need it because we have the expertise.
What were you like growing up?
My family always described me as “the happy child” because I was always cheerful. I would say that I was also a very curious and optimistic child. My childhood was the best ever, feeling the love of my parents and my older sister, playing soccer almost every day, and succeeding in school.
In fact, I have always loved math and numbers… and I still do. In 7th grade, I already knew I wanted to be a CPA and I used to go around and tell everybody about my dream job. And now, after years, I can state that my dream came true.
Contact Info:
- Email: luca.cancellieri@zommagroup.com
- Website: https://zommagroup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luca_cance
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luca.cancellieri.94
- Other: https://www.brickell21.com/luca-cancellieri-zomma-group-llp
