Valerie Thorpe
CPA, Principal
You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there are no limits.
— Michael Phelps
Valerie focuses on audit, review, governmental compliance, and consulting services for closely held and family-owned businesses throughout New Jersey, as well as professional and medical practices across the tri-state area.
As Employee Benefit Plan Practice Leader, Valerie provides audit services to companies across a range of industries, specializing in 401(k) and profit-sharing plans.
She has experience providing audit and review services to manufacturing, medical, professional services, private equity companies, and business combinations, and has worked extensively with consolidations. As part of her work with medical practices, she assisted clients receiving HHS CARES Act funding with related reporting and compliance requirements.
Valerie is also actively involved in staff development, contributing to firmwide training initiatives, collaborating with the Learning and Development team, and serving as a coach to several team members. She works closely with the Accounting & Assurance partners to support departmental operations and founded the firm’s Working Parent Committee.
Before joining WilkinGuttenplan in 2012, Valerie worked at a Big Four accounting firm, where she provided audit, review, and agreed-upon procedures services to private companies, closely held businesses, and employee benefit plan clients across the manufacturing, travel, and retail industries.
Licenses & Certifications:
CPA License: New Jersey
Professional & Civic Achievements:
- 2022 Recipient, New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) Ovation Award – Women to Watch
- 2015 Featured on the NJCPA 30 Under 30 List
- Mentor, 2014 NJCPA High School Scholarship Recipient
- Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Member, NJCPA
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with a Minor in Management, The College of New Jersey
What motivates you?
Seeing or experiencing achievement—whether for myself or others—motivates me. Watching someone have a light bulb moment, helping a client reach their goals, or even crossing a task off my to-do list all serve as reminders of the effort, focus, and growth that led to that accomplishment. Each one reinforces the value of the journey as much as the result.
If you weren’t an accountant/consultant, what would you be?
A baker. I love experimenting with new recipes and creating themed desserts for my children’s events, and nothing makes me happier than seeing someone smile when they see (and taste!) an idea come to life on a plate. I’ll admit, though, I’m not a morning person, so the early bakery hours would definitely be a challenge.
What’s your proudest professional achievement?
Passing the CPA exam within one year of graduating college. I graduated in May, immediately got my study materials, and then took a bucket-list trip—visiting four West Coast baseball stadiums, hiking the Grand Canyon, stepping into the Pacific Ocean, and stopping in Las Vegas while studying between destinations. When the trip ended, I buckled down for the rest of the summer, studying and sitting for each section before starting full-time. Getting the results of my final exam and seeing that I passed was incredibly emotional.
That experience taught me early in my career that you can do both: achieve meaningful professional milestones while living a full, wonderful life with the people you love. “Work hard, play hard” may sound cliché, but looking back, it absolutely captures my journey.
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
Although there is a song called “Valerie,” my theme song would be “Awakening” by Yellowcard. Every time I listen to it, I’m inspired to reflect on what I’ve experienced and learned, then step forward, refreshed and ready for whatever tomorrow brings.
