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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work and created even more dire staffing shortages for businesses around the country. It’s possible there’s a new way to approach staffing when it comes to your internal accounting needs. Enter Outsourced Accounting at GJM.

Established in 1996, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD (GJM) is the largest public accounting firm in Northwest Ohio, with offices in Maumee and Findlay. Locally owned, GJM offers cloud-based accounting and provides comprehensive services including assurance, business advisory, tax, risk advisory, healthcare management and outsourced accounting. The firm’s professionals specialize in industries including construction & real estate, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution and utilities.

Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD (GJM) is pleased to announce a number of staff promotions in both the Maumee and Findlay offices, effective July 1, 2021.

Caitlin Bainter, CPA and Amanda Lewis, CPA have been promoted to Senior Manager. Ryan Avery, CPA, Ryan Emerson, CPA and Mackenzie Gross, CPA have been promoted to Manager. Adam Larkins, CPA, Alyssa Lecurgo, Dana Lumbrezer, CPA and Chris Scherley are promoted to Supervisor and Cassi Cronin, CPA, Emily Eckroth, CPA, Thomas Keyser, Hayden Neese and Grace Reddick, CPA are promoted to Senior Associate. 

“These promotions reflect hard work, dedication and commitment. The past year has been anything but normal. Our staff, including all those promoted this month, have done a remarkable job of staying focused, getting the work done and staying connected as a team,” says Managing Partner Kevin Gilmore. “It is gratifying to see our staff advance in their careers and professional development.”  

There are currently several opportunities at GJM for those just beginning their careers, and for more experienced professionals in tax, assurance, and risk advisory. Learn more at GJMLTD.com/careers.

Established in 1996, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD (GJM) is the largest public accounting firm in Northwest Ohio, with offices in Maumee and Findlay. Locally owned, GJM offers cloud-based accounting services and provides comprehensive services including assurance, business advisory, tax, risk advisory, healthcare management and outsourced accounting. The Firm’s professionals specialize in industries including construction & real estate, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution and utilities.

Cases of unemployment fraud are rampant across the country, as criminals use stolen information to fraudulently file for unemployment benefits across many states, including Ohio. The explosion in fraud cases comes as many Americans impacted by the pandemic, have legitimately filed for unemployment benefits due to loss of employment or a cutback in hours. The fraudulent claims, however, are utilizing the personal information of people who have not lost their jobs and have not filed for unemployment.

In this article, we’ll tell you how to know you’re a victim, how you should report it to authorities, and what you can do to protect your personal information from identity thieves moving forward.

Red Flag: How to Know You’re a Victim

The U.S. Department of Labor says most people aren’t even aware they’re victims of unemployment identify theft until they receive a notice in the mail related to unemployment benefits they didn’t receive. The IRS form 1099-G is a tax form used to report unemployment benefits received. Your employer may also receive a notice requesting information about an unemployment claim in your name, even though you haven’t received any benefits and remain fully employed.

What Should You Do?

The U.S. Department of Labor has guidance for anyone affected by this widespread fraud. The IRS also offers good guidance.

Employee:

1. Report the fraud to the state. The state will need to issue a corrected form 1099-G. Ohio and Michigan residents can use the links below:

Report Ohio fraud

Report Michigan fraud

2. Tax Filing:

• Only include income you actually received on your tax return. Don’t wait for your corrected 1099-G, if you haven’t received it. Do include legitimate unemployment benefits as income, as they are taxable.
• If you’ve already filed your taxes, don’t file an amended return.
• Watch for further information and guidance from the IRS.

Employer:

GJM Human Resources Manager Jeanne O’Riordon has assisted some GJM clients as they deal with unemployment benefit fraud affecting their employees. 

“As an employer I recommend you set up your online account with Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and monitor your Correspondence Inbox for any notices of separation. The online account lets you see information faster than waiting to get it in the mail,” she says.

O’Riordon says as an employer you should report the ID theft online as well as the employee. It will help the state confirm that, indeed, a fraudulent claim has been filed. She says Ohio employees and employers should use this link to report fraudulent claims.

What Else Can You Do?

Check your credit. O’Riordon also suggests you place a free one-year fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting any one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies online or through their toll-free numbers. You’ll only have to make one call, as the bureau you contact must tell the other two. For further peace of mind, you can consider putting a freeze on your credit.

• Equifax: 800-525-6285
• Experian: 888-397-3742
• Trans Union: 800-680-7289

You can also report the fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud, which helps police stop future unemployment ID theft.

While it is an inconvenience, and a certainly a real concern that so much unemployment fraud is taking place, with a few steps you’ll be on your way to notifying the right authorities what happened to you, and hopefully protecting yourself from any potential future fraud.

Established in 1996, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD (GJM) is the largest public accounting firm in Northwest Ohio, with offices in Maumee and Findlay. Locally owned, GJM offers cloud-based accounting and provides comprehensive services including assurance, business advisory, tax, risk advisory, healthcare management and outsourced accounting. The firm’s professionals specialize in industries including construction & real estate, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution and utilities.

Gilmore Jasion Mahler (GJM) Managing Partner Kevin Gilmore recently announced some exciting changes in the firm’s leadership team. Jamie Dixon, CPA and Matt Hoverman, CISA have been promoted to partner and Jessica Nunn, CPA has been promoted to senior manager.

Dixon is a member of GJM’s Healthcare Specialist Team. He also took on the role as GJM’s firm administrator in 2020. He has over thirty years of experience in both private and public accounting, providing consulting services to a broad range of healthcare entities, specializing in home health and long-term care. He has been with GJM since 2013. 

Matt Hoverman’s expertise is in risk advisory. He has over two decades of professional services experience in systems implementation, information security, internal and external audit, risk management, compliance, and management consulting across multiple industries. Matt joined GJM in 2016 and has since built a team offering risk advisory services.

Jessica Nunn is a member of the firm’s Manufacturing Specialist Team. She specializes in for-profit entities and has over a decade of public accounting experience at Gilmore Jasion Mahler. She’s been responsible for tax planning, preparation, and review of tax returns, in addition to general consulting largely related to corporate and multi-state tax issues.

“Congratulations to Jamie, Matt and Jessica on their well-deserved promotions,” says GJM Managing Partner Kevin Gilmore. “I’d also like to thank them, and all of our staff for the incredible work they’ve done over the past year helping our clients through all of the uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. We know our clients need our guidance now, perhaps more than ever.”

The promotions were effective January 1, 2021. 

Established in 1996, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD (GJM) is the largest public accounting firm in Northwest Ohio, with offices in Maumee and Findlay. Locally owned, GJM offers cloud-based accounting and provides comprehensive services including assurance, business advisory, tax, risk advisory, healthcare management and outsourced accounting. The Firm’s professionals specialize in industries including construction & real estate, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution and utilities.  

Gilmore Jasion Mahler CPA Amanda Lewis recently went back to school. Well, sort of. A Consulting and Assurance Manager with GJM, she’s a member of this year’s Hancock Leadership class. The nationally recognized 9-month program offered by the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce is designed to foster professional and personal growth and encourage participants to further embrace community service.

And, there’s no doubt Amanda experienced all of that, and more.

With GJM for almost seven years, it is safe to say that she already has a strong professional network. But Amanda says being a part of the 2021 class helped with further professional development, allowing her the opportunity to network and meet a number of professionals across various occupations.

"A great experience..."

“I think it’s been a great experience to learn more about the community and meet others. I was so impressed with how the Chamber presented our sessions. Even in the middle of a pandemic, sometimes wearing masks, or meeting virtually, I really felt like I got to know my fellow classmates and learned so much,” she says.

Chamber Executive Director Dionne Neubauer oversees Hancock Leadership. She says early on in the program, Amanda took on a leadership role as committee chair, overseeing fundraising efforts for the History Walk, this year’s class project.

“While her classmates drew on her financial skills, Amanda’s ability to engage and empower her committee led to exceeding the project goals,” says Neubauer. She describes Amanda’s involvement as one of the key drivers in the success of the class project. 

About History Walk

“Our class project is a History Walk at Brucklacher Memorial Park (by the little red schoolhouse),” says Amanda. “It was completed in partnership with The Hancock Historical Museum and Kiwanis Club of Findlay. There are 12 stations along the walk that each feature a panel with a description of a historical event specific to Hancock County.”

The class not only oversaw fundraising for the History Walk, but also handled construction of the path, including landscaping and donor recognition displays.

While seeing their project come together was exciting, Amanda says on a personal level, probably the most rewarding part of being involved in Hancock Leadership was learning more about the Findlay-Hancock County community as well as connecting with her classmates. The class met once a month for nine months to learn more about core community information and organizations. Topics and sessions ranged from economic development to agriculture to the justice system.

Amanda says some of the most enjoyable sessions for her personally included the Findlay Airport session, and going out on the runway, as well as justice and law day. She says the class was able to tour several county facilities and sit down and speak with a number of county officials. One of the more interesting things she learned was that Findlay has two large water reservoirs outside of town that she was unaware of. One session day they traveled by bus to the reservoirs and drove around them.

Asked if she would recommend the Hancock Leadership experience to others, Amanda said most definitely. She described it as a great experience to learn more about the community and meet others.

Many other GJM staff members are prior graduates of Hancock Leadership, including Andrea Jennex, Mike Brough, Chuck Stumpp, Cindy Larrigan, Kit Augsburger, Matt Long and Tracy Kennedy. Many other GJM staff are graduates of Leadership Toledo.

Congratulations to Amanda and her classmates, who graduate on June 8^th. If you think you know of someone who might be a good candidate, Hancock Leadership is currently accepting applications for the upcoming class year. Applications are due on June 9. To learn more or download the application, visit Findlay Hancock Chamber.com/HancockLeadership.  

Established in 1996, Gilmore Jasion Mahler, LTD (GJM) is the largest public accounting firm in Northwest Ohio, with offices in Maumee and Findlay. Locally owned, GJM offers cloud-based accounting and provides comprehensive services including assurance, business advisory, tax, risk advisory, healthcare management and outsourced accounting. The firm’s professionals specialize in industries including construction & real estate, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution and utilities.