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If Alexander Reyes could tell his younger self anything, it would be how important it is to embrace change.
“If you don’t [change], you could be left behind,” says Reyes, a partner and the Financial Services Industry Practice leader at Citrin Cooperman, a nationally recognized professional services firm. Reyes has weathered many changes since his days growing up in the South Bronx. He had to learn a lot on his own and believes that the ability to adapt and not be afraid to fail is critical for success.
Reyes recently reconnected with Hispanic Executive and shared the many exciting developments that have taken place at Citrin Cooperman since he spoke with us in 2019 and 2021. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Citrin Cooperman underwent immense growth through private equity investment and continues to expand its geographic footprint and suite of services. Reyes was also appointed to the board of Citrin Cooperman & Company LLP in 2021.
“We’ve grown by every metric, including revenue, clients, and people.”
Alexander Reyes
The company has significantly expanded its offerings, adding corporate performance management, enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation and other digital consulting, and portfolio valuation services along with growing its core tax, advisory, and attest services. “We’ve grown by every metric, including revenue, clients, and people,” Reyes shares. “We’re focused on continuing to expand our capabilities and solutions for clients across all industries we serve, including financial services, private equity, hedge funds, broker-dealers, real estate, registered investment advisors, and family offices.”
In 2021, Citrin Cooperman was one of the first firms to receive private equity investment and since then has invested in expanding service offerings, adding to its extensive team of specialists and cutting-edge technology. Additionally, Citrin Cooperman has welcomed over twenty firms, more than doubling its size and expanding its reach across the country to become a true national advisory and accounting firm. New offices in Illinois, California, Florida, and North Carolina have allowed the firm to explore new markets and strategies and expand the services and expertise available to all of its clients. As an industry leader, Reyes has been a driving force in expanding the firm’s financial services footprint in each location.
“It has just been a lot of fun navigating that and putting the pieces together,” says Reyes. “I’m proud of the group’s progress.”
Before joining with a firm, Citrin Cooperman looks at the company holistically, assessing not only revenue potential but also cultural fit. Reyes emphasizes Citrin Cooperman’s C-suite leaders’ commitment to the individuals who keep the company running.
“Something I love about the firm is that we have leadership that cares and wants to see you succeed,” Reyes shares. “That trickles down to the firm’s overall culture, and it’s something I foster in my teams and industry group.”
Mentorship is a key part of Citrin Cooperman’s culture. The company pairs employees with colleague coaches, but many fruitful mentor relationships develop organically because of Citrin Cooperman’s caring, supportive environment.
“At every stage in my career, having a mentor has been critical to my success. It has to be somebody honest, not just somebody who will tell you what you want to hear.”
Alexander Reyes
Reyes emphasizes that having trusted mentors has been invaluable in his own career journey. “At every stage in my career, having a mentor has been critical to my success,” Reyes says, noting that talking through problems and opportunities with someone with knowledge and experience is priceless. “It has to be somebody honest,” he adds, “not just somebody who will tell you what you want to hear.”
Reyes believes in paying it forward. He offers the kind of mentorship that he received to young professionals entering the industry today. His advice to young Latinos is to put themselves out there and build a professional network as soon as possible.
“You have to step out of your comfort zone and not be afraid to fail. Don’t try to do it alone,” Reyes says. “You want to surround yourself with people who want you to improve. You can’t be afraid to fail and must be ready to adapt, because the world is always changing.”
Disclaimer: “Citrin Cooperman” is the brand under which Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, a licensed independent CPA firm, and Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC serve clients’ business needs. The two firms operate as separate legal entities in an alternative practice structure. The entities of Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP and Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC are independent member firms of the Moore North America, Inc. (MNA) Association, which is itself a regional member of Moore Global Network Limited (MGNL). All the firms associated with MNA are independently owned and managed entities. Their membership in, or association with, MNA should not be construed as constituting or implying any partnership between them.
