New Jersey Society of CPAs Responds to Governor Murphy’s Plan to Reopen the State

ROSELAND, N.J. – On April 27, Governor Phil Murphy outlined a broad six-point plan that included a series of public health benchmarks he said must be met before New Jersey businesses and public spaces can safely reopen. On April 28, he announced the members of a new recovery commission that will guide the economic elements of the state’s revival in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA) commends the Governor’s management of this crisis and stands ready to be a resource to the Governor’s Restart and Recovery Commission as it advises the administration on the timing and preparation for New Jersey’s recovery from the COVID-19 shutdown.

New Jersey CPAs have been on the front lines of this crisis from the beginning, fighting to sustain the livelihoods of clients and businesses while also navigating the risks to their own health and safety. As essential businesses, accounting firms took appropriate measures to ensure the health and well-being of clients and employees, including reducing the number of staff in the office, social distancing and office cleaning.

Our members work with thousands of Garden State businesses and individual taxpayers that are anxious to get back to work. According to a new business recovery survey from the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, 70 percent of business owners said they would be able to reopen under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social distancing.

But those business owners need clear guidance. Businesses recently reopened in other states remain uncertain about new operating rules and are trying to make sense of a plethora of messages from federal, state and local officials.

When New Jersey opens for business, the state’s recovery and reinvention framework must be comprehensive, specific, phased and contain hard dates for when businesses can resume. Additionally, the plan must be coordinated with medical experts, New Jersey’s business community and surrounding states. Without a clear statewide strategy, it is possible, and maybe probable, that business owners and their employees will continue to suffer.

New Jersey businesses are counting on the Restart and Recovery Commission and state lawmakers, as well as business groups and coalitions, to deliver an effective plan of action. We offer our assistance to the Governor in meeting the multitude of challenges ahead.

We’re all in this together.

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The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, with more than 14,000 members, represents the interests of the accounting profession and advances the financial well-being of the people of New Jersey. The NJCPA plays a leadership role in supporting the profession by providing members with educational resources, access to shared knowledge and a continuing effort to create and expand professional opportunities.