Michael Coglianese CPA

What Michael Coglianese CPA does

Michael Coglianese CPA, P.C. is a privately held, Illinois-incorporated professional services firm founded in 1989 by Michael Coglianese, a former NFA Compliance Department auditor and investigator. The firm delivers audit, tax, accounting, and regulatory compliance services exclusively to the alternative investment industry, serving commodity pool operators, commodity trading advisors, hedge funds, broker-dealers, registered investment advisors, introducing brokers, cryptocurrency funds and traders, and select not-for-profit organizations across five continents.

The firm's service portfolio comprises four core offerings — Accounting, Audits & Assurance, NFA Regulatory Compliance & Consulting, and Tax Preparation — supplemented by add-on services including Mock NFA Audit preparation and Monthly Net Capital Reviews for broker-dealers. Engagements are delivered by a team of 30+ professionals with backgrounds at Big Four firms, Fortune 500 finance teams, and regulatory bodies including the NFA, SEC, and PCAOB. The firm has been PCAOB registered since 2009 and is a member of the AICPA, the NFA, and the Illinois CPA Society. Its technical stack is conventional (QuickBooks, online accounting platforms, ShareFile for document exchange) with no proprietary platform.

The firm operates on a quote-based, per-engagement professional services model with no publicly disclosed fee schedule. Go-to-market is primarily inbound through the firm's website (consultation scheduling, downloadable startup checklist), supported by SEO-optimized thought leadership content on regulatory updates, industry panel participation, university speaking, and media appearances (The Money Show). The firm has no external investors, no parent company, and no M&A or partnership activity disclosed in the source material; ownership is concentrated with the founder.

Name

Michael Coglianese CPA

Legal name

Michael Coglianese CPA, P.C.

Website

https://cogcpa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Michael Coglianese CPA, P.C. is a boutique Illinois-based CPA firm founded in 1989, specializing in audit, tax, accounting, and NFA regulatory compliance services for alternative investment firms across five continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincolnshire

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Audit & Assurance Services: Certified audits for alternative investment firms including hedge funds, CPOs, CTAs, broker-dealers, RIAs with custody, and cryptocurrency funds. Delivered by PCAOB-registered professionals. Revenue generated on a per-engagement basis for annual audit engagements.
2. Tax Preparation & Planning: Tax preparation, quarterly estimated tax planning, partnership return preparation (Form 1065, K-1s, K-3s), multi-state and international tax representation, and Section 475(f) mark-to-market election advisory for traders. Includes preparation for individual returns, partnership returns, S-Corp returns, and cryptocurrency trading.
3. NFA Regulatory Compliance & Consulting: NFA compliance and consulting services including mock audits, regulatory filings, exemption consulting, operating procedures manuals, registration assistance, 1-FR reviews, AML reviews, disclosure document assistance, and expert witness testimony. Ongoing compliance advisory and exam readiness support.
4. Accounting Services: Financial statement preparation, performance reporting, CFTC/NFA performance reporting, QuickBooks and online accounting support, transaction processing, reconciliations, and fund accounting for alternative investment managers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Michael Coglianese CPA, P.C. is a specialized CPA firm delivering accounting, audit, tax preparation, and NFA regulatory compliance and consulting services to alternative investment firms. The firm serves hedge funds, commodity pool operators (CPOs), commodity trading advisors (CTAs), introducing brokers, broker-dealers, registered investment advisors with custody, cryptocurrency funds and traders, and not-for-profit organizations. Engagements are performed by PCAOB-registered and AICPA-member professionals including former NFA, SEC, and PCAOB regulators and Big Four alumni.

Product overview

Michael Coglianese CPA, P.C. is a specialized CPA firm serving alternative investment firms with a portfolio of professional services including Accounting, Audits & Assurance, NFA Regulatory Compliance & Consulting, and Tax Preparation. The firm offers both core compliance and audit services along with add-on offerings such as Mock NFA Audit Services and Monthly Net Capital Reviews. Services are delivered by former regulators and Big Four professionals with a focus on futures, derivatives, hedge funds, cryptocurrency, and securities industry clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accounting Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Audited financials delivered within 120-day regulatory deadline (GAAP basis); 180 days for fund of funds; 90 days for CPO annual reports to participants.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EisnerAmper LLP: Top-20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with one of the largest dedicated alternative investment practices in the country, serving hedge funds, private equity funds, broker-dealers, and crypto funds. Directly comparable to Michael Coglianese CPA in client base and service mix, though at materially larger scale.
• Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP: Mid-market New York-based accounting firm with a significant hedge fund and investment management practice providing audit, tax, and consulting services. Comparable in target customer (alternative investment managers) and service offering, with broader industry reach.
• Marks Paneth LLP: Accounting and advisory firm historically focused on hedge funds, private equity, and real estate funds, providing audit, tax, and advisory services to alternative investment managers. Closely comparable in client niche, though now operating as part of Marcum after a 2022 combination.
• Withum: Top-30 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with a substantial financial services practice serving hedge funds, broker-dealers, and cryptocurrency companies. Comparable in service mix and alternative investment focus, but operating at meaningfully larger scale.
• Citrin Cooperman: Mid-market advisory and accounting firm with a recognized alternative investment practice serving hedge funds, private equity, and family offices. Comparable in target market and service offering, particularly for emerging and mid-sized fund managers.
• Friedman LLP: Accounting and advisory firm serving alternative investment managers, broker-dealers, and family offices with audit, tax, and consulting services. Closely comparable client profile in the U.S. mid-market alternative investment space.
• CohnReznick LLP: Top-25 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with a dedicated financial services practice serving hedge funds, broker-dealers, private equity, and real estate funds. Comparable in service mix and client base, with broader industry coverage and larger headcount.

Broad incumbents

• BDO USA: Top-10 global accounting network with a substantial financial services practice covering broker-dealers, hedge funds, and crypto-related entities. Overlaps with the subject firm in service offerings but as part of a much broader portfolio rather than a niche focus.
• Grant Thornton: Top-7 U.S. accounting firm with a financial services practice serving alternative investment managers, broker-dealers, and registered investment advisors. Comparable capabilities exist, but the firm is a broad incumbent rather than a specialist in the same way as Michael Coglianese CPA.
• KPMG LLP: Big Four accounting firm with a dedicated alternative investment practice (notably built through its acquisition of Rothstein Kass in 2014) serving hedge funds, private equity, and broker-dealers. Represents the upper-bound incumbent competing for the same audit, tax, and compliance mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coglianesecpa

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michael Coglianese CPA