Our Credentials

The core competencies of the practice include audit, review, and compilation services; corporate, non-profit, and individual tax planning and preparation; business and personal consulting; and estate planning and trust services. Some of the major industries to whom we provide these services include real estate development and management, physicians and other health care providers, hospitality, retail, construction, convenience stores, and professional service companies.

The core competencies of the practice are based on real-world experience and continuing education. In addition to the years of experience, our professionals bring to each engagement, they also obtain an average of forty hours (one week) of continuing education each year, provided by registered authorities on timely topics. We not only invest in our personnel, but we utilize the latest computer hardware, current software offerings, and available research materials to increase our productivity, stay up to date on current issues, and enhance our competence. 

The Firm has participated in the AICPA Peer Review program since its inception in 1990. This program involves a detailed inspection of firm practices and work products identified by the industry as the standards for professional competency. We have consistently engaged peer review firms larger than ourselves to draw on their expertise as it relates to our practice.

Click here to see our latest peer review report.

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Our People

ROBERT J. SCHUTRUMPF, JR., Partner - Deceased 

Rob has lived in the Richmond area since 1952. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1973. Rob worked with the regional CPA firm Derieux, Baker, Thompson, and Whitt, where he specialized in auditing and corporate tax work. Rob began his own practice in 1978. Soon afterward, he purchased an existing CPA firm and affiliated himself with other practicing CPAs until 1981, when the firm of Schutrumpf & Associates was formed, eventually becoming Schutrumpf & Company. PC Rob specializes in individual and trust taxation but has experience in trust administration, auditing, estate taxation, and acquisitions. He is also active in dealing with corporate and partnership tax issues. Rob is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA), is on the Board of Directors of Connect With a Wish, Inc., and was for many years a board member and treasurer of the Virginia Yacht Club.

HELEN S. MCMAHON, Partner

Helen has lived in the Richmond area since 1967. She began her accounting profession in 1979 with Gary, Stosch, Walls, and Company. In 1981, Helen became the manager of the Small Business Department, overseeing a staff of paraprofessionals and being responsible to the managing partner for all facets of accounting for their "small business" clients. In 1982, Helen started her own bookkeeping company on a freelance basis. In 1984, she joined our firm, specializing in accounting and tax work for small business clients. In 1998, she became a principal and part-owner of our firm. Her areas of focus are individual and corporate income tax preparation, payroll taxes, and tax planning. Helen is a Certified Quickbooks Advisor and a member of the VSCPA. Over the years, she has served as a board member of various non-profit organizations, including the Richmond Neighborhood Soccer Association, WIC Foundation (a support group for women in prison), and PTA President of a local elementary school. She also served as financial secretary for her church.

SUZANNE K. PALLOTTA, Staff Professional

Sue is a native Richmonder. She lived away for about 10 years but returned to the area in 1989. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 1976 with a university major degree in chemistry, biology and psychology. During the 1990s, she returned to school for business courses and passed the CPA exam in 2000. Sue worked with the firm of Cheeley, Burcham, Eddins, Rockenbrod, and Carroll in the audit and assurance section. She then worked for a sole proprietor CPA for a year to gain experience working with small businesses, and in 2003, she joined Schutrumpf & Company. PC Sue specializes in payroll processing tax preparation for individuals and small businesses and has experience with auditing under the audit guides of the VHDA, HUD, RD, and Yellow Book requirements issued by the GAO. Sue is a member of the AICPA and the VSCPA. 

CHRISTINA ARENA, Partner

Christina has lived in the Richmond area since 2008. She graduated from Dowling College in Oakdale, NY, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in 1999. Christina worked as a bookkeeper for a local manufacturing firm until 2000, when she passed the CPA exam. She began working for a local CPA firm, specializing in audits of nonprofit organizations. In 2007, she worked for a CPA firm where she supervised junior auditors of nonprofit agencies and acquired tax experience before relocating to Virginia. In 2008, she became certified in the state of Virginia and joined our firm. Christina specializes in bookkeeping, individual and corporate taxation, and auditing under U.S. GAAS and the audit guides of VHDA and HUD. She is a member of the AICPA and the VSCPA.

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Our History

Robert Schutrumpf, Jr., CPA, started his first public accounting firm in 1978. Eventually, he formed Schutrumpf & Associates, Inc. in June 1981. The firm name was later changed to Schutrumpf & Company, PC. The office is located in the Bon Air suburban area of Richmond, Virginia, in a professional office park. Other principals in the firm include Helen McMahon, Partner, Christina Arena, CPA , Partner and Sue Pallotta, CPA. Helen has been with the practice since December1984, and Christina has been with the practice since March 2008. Sue has been with the practice since November 2003. The principals' combined years of accounting experience is over seventy years. The practice currently employs seven individuals, which includes six professionals and a support person. Five of the professionals are Certified Public Accountants. The Firm is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA).

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