Consent Order, Howard Chernoff, License #20CC00836200
Summary
The New Jersey State Board of Accountancy issued a consent order formally reprimanding CPA Howard Chernoff for professional misconduct. The Board found that Chernoff represented both parties in a divorce matter regarding their 2014 tax returns, creating a conflict of interest at the time of representation. The parties consented to resolution without formal proceedings, and the Board entered the order on August 14, 2019.
What changed
The Board found that Howard Chernoff engaged in professional misconduct by simultaneously representing both a divorcing couple in tax matters, creating a conflict of interest when representation began on or about October 6, 2015. The consent order, entered August 14, 2019, imposes a formal reprimand on Chernoff's CPA license pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:1-21(e).
Affected CPAs and accounting professionals should note that representing opposing parties in a matter, even in a limited capacity such as tax preparation, constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under New Jersey professional licensing law. Professionals handling matters involving potential conflicts of interest must exercise diligence in identifying adverse party representation and decline or withdraw from engagements where conflicts exist.
What to do next
- Formal reprimand entered on license record
Archived snapshot
Apr 20, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
NEW JERSEY STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY
GUBIR S. GREWAL
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW JERSEY
DIVISION OF LAW
224 Halsey Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 45025
Newark, New Jersey 07101
By: Toby Pelan
Deputy Attorney General
(973) 648-3696
August 14, 2019
FILED
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DEPARTMENT OF LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY
DIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY
IN THE MATTER OF THE LICENSE OF:
HOWARD CHERNOFF, C.P.A.
License #20CC00836200
TO PRACTICE ACCOUNTANCY
IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
: Administrative Action
:
: CONSENT ORDER
:
:
This matter was opened to the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy (Board) upon receipt of a consumer complaint alleging that Howard Chernoff, C.P.A. (Respondent), engaged in professional misconduct while representing the Complainant and her then spouse regarding the preparation of their 20014 tax returns. On November 3, 2016, Respondent appeared before the Board with counsel, Andrew Ulrich, Esq., for an investigative hearing. Thereafter, the board had received and reviewed multiple supplemental submissions made by both Respondent and Complainant. Upon review of the available information, the Board finds on March 15, 2018, that Respondent should have known that on or about October 6, 2015, the Complainant and her then spouse were getting divorced, and that Respondent therefore had a conflict of interest at that time representing both parties.
The Board finds that Respondent engaged in professional misconduct by representing both parties, and that grounds for disciplinary action against Respondent thereby exist pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:1-21(e). The parties having agreed and consented to the resolution of this matter without the necessity of the Board instituting formal proceedings, and the Board finding that the within Order is adequately protective of the public and that good cause exists for its entry:
IT IS THEREFORE on this 14th day of August, 2019, ORDERED that:
- Respondent is formally reprimanded for having engaged in professional misconduct, for the reasons set forth above.
NEW JERSEY STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY
By: Ainsley Reynolds, CPA, Board President
I have read and understand the above Consent Order and I agree to abide by its terms. Consent is hereby given to the Board to enter this Order.
Howard Chernoff, CPA
I consent to the form of the Order.
Andrew Ulrich, Esq.
Attorney for Howard Chernoff, CPA
Named provisions
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