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MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL
AND FINANCIAL REGULATION

35 SHS, Augusta, Maine 04333

 
Phone: (207) 624-8500
Fax: (207) 624-8690
TTY: Please Call Maine Relay 711

Department of Professional and Financial Regulation Issues Warning to Consumers about an Unlicensed Former Certified Public Accountant

 

December 4, 2013

 

 

Commissioner Anne L. Head of Maine?s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation warned consumers that Valerie Alex of Rockport has not had a license to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in Maine since 2010, and her certificate as a Certified Public Accountant (which is the basis upon which annual permits to practice are issued) was revoked more than a year ago by the Maine Board of Accountancy.

In a September 19, 2012 order, Ms. Alex was found to have been holding herself out to the public as a CPA long after the expiration of both her individual and firm certified public accounting licenses. The Board?s order also found that Ms. Alex had failed to comply with a prior Board order, issued in February 2012, resulting from her failure to properly file an income tax return, failure to follow-up with the IRS to resolve that matter, and failure to provide documents requested of her by the Maine Attorney General?s Office. In the September order, Ms. Alex was ordered to remove her office signage in Warren, Maine and to shut-down her website www.valeriealexcpa.com.

Despite receiving a copy of the Board?s September 19, 2012 order, and subsequent contact from Board staff, Ms. Alex has continued to hold herself out to be a licensed CPA. Ms. Alex has continued to advertise her CPA firm through signage in Warren and through her website, which advertises the firm?s work with the motto ?Quality. Service. Ethics?.

At a meeting of the Board of Accountancy held in November, 2013, members expressed concern that Ms. Alex has continued to ignore the Board?s 2012 order. It has referred the matter to the Maine Attorney General?s Office for further enforcement action.

?Consumers should be aware that Valerie Alex?s certificate as a Certified Public Accountant has been revoked. She is not a Certified Public Accountant,? Commissioner Head said. ?Her certificate has been revoked because of a history and pattern of misconduct and failure to comply with orders of the Maine Board of Accountancy. Although she has continued to advertise herself as a Certified Public Accountant, consumers should not hire her to perform work as a certified public accountant.?

Ms. Alex was additionally the subject of Board disciplinary action in 2005. The most recent order of the Board can be obtained at http://pfr.informe.org/almsonline/almsquery/ShowCaseCommDetail.aspx?TOKEN=13FDF77637FDBD6BA2E04A9CAFB5C362799F91E04D665B6669781DB81B6DBE7B.

Consumers can check the license status of accountants and licensees in nearly 40 other professions by visiting www.maine.gov/pfr (direct link to list of professions: www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions.htm).