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What truly differentiates J.S. Held is our people — world-class talent driven by a common set of core values. Together, these shared values inspire a culture of integrity, excellence, teamwork, and service.
Brian Fitzgerald joined J.S. Held in 2019 as part of the Magnan Graizzaro and Associates (MG&A) acquisition. Based out of New York, NY, he is a Vice President within the J.S. Held Forensic Accounting Practice. Brian works with a team in the New York office to evaluate damages in a variety of insurance and litigation matters. “Financial loss can be complex,” says Brian, “and is often unfamiliar to those impacted. Our clients ask my team and me to apply our expertise and provide answers. It's rewarding to work hard and earn their trust.”
Brian describes himself as analytical yet laid back. “I know it’s hard to picture,” he jokes. “Making sense of data is something I enjoy, but the day-to-day interaction with colleagues, clients, and friends is fun too.”
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“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Brian on numerous files across several industries and appreciate his attention to detail, the level of service he provides to clients, and his work ethic.”
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Brian received his Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Villanova University and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), but he began his career in the Navy. “I was on an ROTC scholarship,” says Brian, “So for a while after graduation, I took a sabbatical. In the Navy, I was a division officer—a first lieutenant on a cruiser—in a managerial role. I had a division of about 25 people. There, I learned hard work, what it means to be part of a team, and what it means to be a good employee. All of these are intangibles that have helped me to grow and build relationships,” he says.
After his time in the Navy, Brian knew he wanted to go and find work in his field of study—a role in accounting. “I just happened to enter into this particular line of accounting. For about 15 years, I worked for MG&A, which led me to where I am today with J.S. Held.”
Brian specializes in the evaluation of damage claims involving business interruption, lost profits, inventory, product liability, and builder’s risk. “I've also provided analysis of business valuation and lost earnings,” he says. “My passion for helping people inspires me daily. We collect facts, analyze data, and work with people to understand the financial impact of an event. I enjoy the whole process, but I especially love that we're expected to be objective. It motivates me to truly understand the information collected so that I can prepare a calculation that is based on logic and fact.”
One of the most interesting and significant projects Brian has had the opportunity to work on, he recalls, was a New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) business interruption case. “The firm I was with at the time and J.S. Held were both working on it, and it was a substantial property damage claim. I was fairly junior at the time, but it was a huge benefit to me to observe how factually members of our team presented the information, and to see adeptly the room was able to process those facts.”
According to Brian, production loss cases are among the more intriguing projects he and his team are called to work on. “They’re a bit more complex,” he explains. “These are losses that would occur in places such as factories, and they require an in-depth understanding of how the operations are impacted and what losses resulted. We have to put all those pieces together.”
Brian says there is also regular collaboration with other J.S. Held practice groups on projects, “I’ve been involved in some cases that concern our equipment experts, building consultants, and engineers. Our Construction Advisory Practice often refers work to my team, and it has been a great opportunity to apply our expertise in that arena.” Brian describes his role as different than what most would expect of a typical accountant. “Every project is unique. A typical day involves measuring damages, but the business and the circumstances are never the same.”
Away from work, Brian enjoys camping, hiking, and most things outdoors. “For me, it's a great way to detach and spend time with my family and friends,” he says. “I live in the Hudson Valley, so I’m kind of in the woods. There are plenty of places to explore. Sometimes, I’ll head up north to the Catskills or the Adirondacks.” Brian also spends time helping coach his sons’ soccer teams on weekends and during the week.
Are you interested in learning more about Brian Fitzgerald? Send him an email at [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn.