As ETL GLOBAL marks 10 years of empowering SMEs, attention turns to the people and firms that have shaped its growth. Among the very first to join the network was Rogoff & Company, PC., a long-established accounting firm based in New York City. With nearly eighty years of history, the firm has become a trusted partner for businesses across the United States. In this interview, partner Alan Dule looks back at his career, the story behind Rogoff & Company, PC.’s connection with ETL GLOBAL, and how the profession has evolved over the decades.
A New Yorker through and through
From the windows of Rogoff & Company, PC.’s Manhattan office, you can see the rhythm of the city below: people moving fast, taxis cutting through the traffic, the sound of New York never really stopping. Alan Dule smiles when asked about living and working here. “I love it,” he says. “Everything is at my fingertips. It’s exciting and, at the same time, it feels like home.” That feeling has been constant throughout his life. Born in the Bronx and raised on Long Island, Alan has always stayed close to the city. “I’ve been here my whole life,” he says. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
Since his childhood, accounting had also been part of his surroundings. His father was an accountant and, despite his good intentions, tried to steer Alan in another direction. “He told me not to do it,” Alan recalls, amused. “He said it was hard work, and he was right. But I went ahead anyway.” He studied accounting at the University of Maryland and returned to New York as soon as he finished. His first position was at a small accounting practice not far from where he works today. After five years there, a recruiter contacted him about an opportunity at Rogoff & Company, PC. “I went for the interview,” he says. “And I’ve been here ever since.”
Rogoff & Company, PC., Then and Now
When Alan joined Rogoff & Company, PC. in 1985, the firm already had a long history behind it. Founded in 1946, it had spent decades building a solid reputation in New York, known for its reliability and close client relationships. At the time Alan came on board, the team counted just six employees and a small but loyal group of clients. “We were tiny,” he says. “Everyone did a bit of everything, but that’s how you learn.” Over time, he grew with the firm, moving from junior to partner as the business expanded.
Today, Rogoff & Company, PC. has nearly forty professionals and a broad client base. The team handles tax, audit, and advisory work for both individuals and companies, with strong experience in corporate tax, real estate, and retail. One of their particular areas of expertise is union audits, a long-standing part of the firm’s practice. “Unions are a big part of the economy here, and they need regular audits,” Alan explains. “It’s something we’ve specialised in for years.”
The First Connection with ETL Group
Rogoff & Company, PC.’s connection with ETL GLOBAL began with a simple email. “One of my colleagues received it out of the blue,” Alan recalls. “He thought it was spam and forwarded it to me to check.” It turned out to be from the ETL Group, which at the time was beginning to build its presence outside Germany.
A few weeks later, two representatives from ETL visited New York to meet the team. “They came to our office one summer afternoon,” Alan says. “There were four of us around the table, just curious to hear what they had in mind.” The meeting was straightforward and friendly. “They talked about referring clients who needed help in the U.S., and we could do the same in return. It made sense for us, as it could give us a broader reach and the opportunity to be part of something larger.”
Not long after, ETL invited him to their annual event in Berlin. Alan decided to go. “I didn’t really know what to expect,” he says, “but I thought it would be interesting to see what this group was about.”
He still remembers one story from that first morning in Berlin with a laugh. “They were speaking in German, and I had the headphones on to listen to the translation,” Alan says. “I don’t think the interpreter had started yet, so I was just sitting there quietly when the speaker suddenly started looking at me and everyone turned my way. Apparently, he was introducing me… it took me completely by surprise!” That spontaneous moment broke the ice. “I stood up, said a few words, and that was my introduction to ETL,” he says. “Everyone was so welcoming. You could tell right away that it was a network built on people, not just business.”
Becoming Part of ETL GLOBAL
Berlin was followed by another event in Düsseldorf and, later, by the first ETL GLOBAL Conference as such, held in Barcelona in 2015. Each meeting deepened the sense of belonging and strengthened the firm’s place within the network. “It was very nice. We talked to a lot of people and got friendly with everyone. It was a good experience.”
Joining ETL GLOBAL opened new opportunities for Rogoff & Company, PC. The collaboration quickly led to cross-border work, with referrals coming in from Europe. Over the years, the firm has worked with both corporate and individual clients referred through the network. Some of those clients are still with them today. “We’ve had cases of American citizens who’ve lived in Germany or Spain for most of their lives without realising they still had to file U.S. tax returns,” he says. “Helping people like that has been one of the most interesting parts of this collaboration.”
Rogoff & Company, PC. remained for many years ETL GLOBAL’s only member in the United States. That changed in 2024, when the law firm Baker Donelson joined the network, marking another step in strengthening ETL GLOBAL’s presence in the country.
Alan Dule with ETL GLOBAL Network Head, Anne-Kathrin Steinröder, during her visit to Rogoff & Company in 2023.
Looking Ahead
When asked how he sees the profession today, Alan says: “As it happens in many other countries, it’s becoming more difficult to find accountants,” he says. “There are fewer people going into the field, and that’s been one of the biggest changes in recent years.” Despite the challenge, he remains optimistic. Technology has reshaped the way Rogoff & Company, PC. works and opened possibilities that didn’t exist a decade ago. “A lot of things have moved to the cloud,” Alan explains. “Even before COVID we had started putting systems in place, so when it came, we were ready.”
That preparation paid off. The firm can now collaborate easily with clients and employees wherever they are. “We prefer having people in the office, but it’s not always possible,” Alan says. “Working remotely has become part of how we operate, and the technology allows it to run smoothly.” He believes this flexibility is one of the key changes that will define the profession in the years ahead. “You can work with good people from anywhere now,” he says. “It’s widened the pool of talent and made things more efficient.”
When it comes to advice for those just starting out, Alan doesn’t hesitate. “It’s hard work, just like my father told me”, he says, laughing. “But it’s worth it. You build great relationships with clients and colleagues, and that’s what makes it rewarding.”
After nearly forty years in practice, his view of the profession is both pragmatic and steady. “It’s not an easy career, but it’s a meaningful one,” he says. “If you stay curious and work hard, there’s a lot to learn and a lot to enjoy.”
