We approach every client relationship with a unique and invigorating perspective, coupled with an unwavering energy that inspires action. Our commitment to teamwork, trust, and an open-mindedness towards differing opinions creates an environment where clients can concentrate on their potential opportunities, enhance their capabilities, and ultimately succeed in shaping the future.
Together, we achieve remarkable results that transcend the boundaries of what is currently achievable and unlock the true potential of our clients’ visions for their educational institutions.
The values driving our company
School Choice CPA’s is a place where we wholeheartedly embrace the belief that a strong organizational culture founded on well-defined values is the bedrock of our leadership position in the market. Our unwavering dedication is directed towards upholding the most stringent ethical, business, and company principles. These standards stand as our steadfast guiding principles, steering every decision and action we take.
We understand that our employees are the lifeblood of our organization, entrusted with the vital responsibility of preserving and nurturing this culture. Consequently, we consider it an essential expectation for each and every member of our team to adhere to these standards in their daily interactions and professional conduct. We place significant emphasis on maintaining open lines of communication and continually reinforcing our values to ensure they are woven into the very fabric of our company.
- Client Satisfaction
Overall Satisfaction
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being highly satisfied, how satisfied clients are with the services provided by School Choice CPA & Associates
Likelihood to Reccomend
On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely clients are to recommend School Choice CPA & Associates to other schools or educational institutions.
Client Communication
How clients rated the communication between School Choice CPA & Associates and the their company throughout the service process.
Meet our partners
After a journey marked by years of dynamic business expansion and industry transformations, School Choice CPA has redefined the advisory and accounting role for both educational institutions and individuals in today’s landscape. Our core commitment revolves around helping you navigate challenges, strategically plan for growth, and secure your future. Throughout this journey, we remain steadfast in our dedication to minimizing your tax burdens, streamlining financial processes, including AUP audits, and safeguarding the financial well-being of your educational institutions.
Established in 2020 by Alex Christopoulos and Michael Press, School Choice CPA embarked on its path with just an empty filing cabinet and a single desk. Since then, our firm has thrived, now extending our services to numerous schools across Florida.
Our accomplished team comprises CPAs, advisors, and educational specialists, each well-equipped to offer tailored guidance and solutions to overcome any obstacles hindering your path to unparalleled success. Both Alex and Michael bring years of experience in the educational industry, having worked closely with private and charter school education management organizations.
We accomplish this by unwaveringly infusing every business decision and financial maneuver with the assurance of Certainty, fortifying your position and ensuring a robust financial future.
Our Partners
- Bio
Alex Christopoulos, Founder/Partner
Alex Christopoulos, a native of St. Petersburg, Florida, has established himself as a leading expert in the educational industry, with a career built on six years of executive experience in private, charter, and educational management organizations within Pinellas County. His deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by schools was shaped early on by his mentor, Uncle Steve, a pioneer in the Tampa Bay charter school movement. Inspired by this legacy, Alex has become a key figure in Florida’s school choice movement, offering invaluable financial and operational guidance to educational institutions of all sizes.
Since founding School Choice CPA & Associates, Alex has focused on streamlining accounting and financial processes for schools, providing organized and efficient solutions to help them thrive. As the firm’s founding partner and a CPA candidate, Alex’s leadership has driven the company’s rapid growth, enabling it to serve over 150 schools while delivering a superior client experience and ensuring timely, accurate results.
Key Milestones:
- Step Up For Students AUP Audits: Alex spearheaded the creation of our AUP audit service, designing streamlined processes that deliver a seamless client experience and cost-effective solutions. His leadership has saved schools thousands of dollars each year—both in fees and staff time—while ensuring top-tier customer satisfaction.
- Business Growth: Leveraging his industry knowledge, marketing and business development expertise, Alex secured 120+ new clients and drove substantial revenue growth over three consecutive years. This included a 252% revenue increase in Year 1, followed by a 216% increase in Year 2, 187% increase in Year 3 and 170% increase in Year 4, positioning School Choice CPA for sustained success and market leadership.
- Mergers & Acquisitions: Successfully led major mergers involving Educational Management Organizations and Private School proprietors, enhancing the firm’s service offerings.
- Colleges & Universities: Alex has extensive experience working with Florida’s Commission for Independent Education (CIE), guiding more than five universities through every step of their startup process. His support includes business planning, cash-flow forecasting, budgeting, strategic planning, and managing financial reporting—compilations, reviews, and audits—to ensure full compliance and smooth operations.
Alex’s commitment to excellence, private school scholarship compliance, and client success has positioned School Choice CPA & Associates as a leader in educational industry accounting. His passion for education and his expertise have earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor and trailblazer in the field
Michael Press, CPA - Managing Partner
- Bio
Michael is a distinguished accounting professional with a robust track record in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. He possesses an innate capability to elevate financial outcomes through meticulous planning and astute financial analysis. He boasts advanced expertise and demonstrates the agility to manage varied priorities, projects, and to discern their financial and tax ramifications. Throughout his illustrious career, Michael has achieved pinnacle educational accomplishments in overseeing financial investments, both in businesses and real estate.
As a Certified Public Accountant, he holds the premier licensure status from the regulatory boards of Florida, Washington, DC, and Maryland. Supplementing his CPA qualifications, Michael was also a licensed Real Estate Broker in Washington DC and Maryland.
Highlights from Michael’s Career:
1.) Spearheaded a phenomenal 400% customer growth for Multiple Listing Services, witnessing an increase from 50,000 to 200,000 customers over a span of 6 years.
2.) Orchestrated the annual budgets and facilitated reporting for entities with yearly revenues touching $150 million.
3.) Played a pivotal role in the billion-dollar acquisition of a cable franchise.
4.) Supervised the financial spectrum of 10 charter schools and an educational management company for a nonprofit entity, handling upwards of $90 million in annual revenues.
Our Team
Jai Coleman, CPA, MAFM, CGFM, CICA
Senior Audit Manager
- Bio
Jai Coleman brings extensive expertise in nonprofit, education, and government audits to her role as Senior Audit Manager at School Choice CPA & Associates. She specializes in regulatory compliance reviews and OMB federal grant requirements, ensuring that clients meet strict reporting and governance standards. Prior to joining our firm, Jai served as a Director at CliftonLarsonAllen, where she led complex audit engagements for schools, universities, and governmental entities. Her deep understanding of nonprofit financial operations and federal funding regulations helps clients maintain transparency, accountability, and confidence in their financial reporting.
Richard Omai, CPA - Senior Auditor
- Bio
Richard is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with extensive experience specializing in charter school audits and non-profit organizations.
As a Nigerian and South Florida native, he attended Florida International University, where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master of Accountancy degrees. His professional journey began at one of the Big 4 firms, KPMG in their assurance practice, where he gained foundational expertise in audits and financial reporting.
Over the years, he has worked with a diverse array of clients, ranging from large international public companies to local non-profits and charter schools. This broad exposure has allowed him to develop a deep understanding of the unique financial and operational challenges faced by non-profits and charter schools, positioning him to provide tailored audit, review, and compilation services that meet their specific needs.
When I’m not working, Richard enjoys watching sports, spending time at the beach, and traveling to explore new cultures and perspectives.
He is passionate about using his expertise to support the mission-driven work of charter schools and non-profit organizations, helping them achieve financial transparency and sustainability.
Lorenzo Coleman, CPA - Staff Auditor
- Bio
Lorenzo V. Coleman is a seasoned financial professional with over 20 years of diverse experience across industries, including Big 4 public accounting, real estate, government contracts, and manufacturing. His extensive expertise spans accounting, financial auditing, cost reduction initiatives, and workflow efficiencies, making him a versatile and impactful leader in his field.
Lorenzo’s career is marked by his proven ability to deliver measurable financial and operational gains through his analytical skills and problem-solving abilities. His roles have included directing financial audits, developing internal controls, and leading audit engagements across organizations such as Wells Fargo, Seminole Electric Cooperative, Ernst & Young, and the St. Petersburg Housing Authority. Lorenzo has a robust background in Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, financial statement preparation, and internal audit functions, with a solid track record of driving improvements and efficiencies in financial operations.
Lorenzo holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from Loyola University, New Orleans, and is a Certified Public Accountant. In addition to his professional pursuits, Lorenzo enjoys classical jazz music, cooking New Orleans cuisine, soul cycling, and traveling, which speaks to his well-rounded character and passion for both work and personal enrichment. His dedication to excellence and his wide-ranging expertise make him a trusted advisor and leader in financial management and consulting.
Krista Mallo - Academic Consultant
- Bio
Dr. Krista Mallo provides academic support to families, private schools, and other education service providers. Her specialties include solving complex problems, crisis management, school start-up, accreditation, compliance, learning management and student information systems set-up, resource management, curriculum mapping, and staff development. Dr. Mallo holds a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction and brings over 20 years of experience as a teacher and administrator, having served every level of education from preschool through graduate school. Prior to moving into the private sector, Dr. Mallo worked in public, private, and charter schools. She continues to serve on staff as an adjunct professor at several universities.
Paula Spink - Accountant
- Bio
Paula Spink is a proud graduate of the Penn State University, where she earned her degree in Accounting. She is a resident of Palm Harbor, Florida. Her passion for helping organizations achieve financial clarity and compliance makes her an invaluable asset to our firm.
Kassandra Pena - Associate
Staff Auditor
- Bio
Kassandra Peña is a proud graduate of the University of South Florida, where she earned her degree in Accounting. A native of Clearwater, FL, Kassandra brings her dedication and expertise to the School Choice CPA team as she pursues her CPA licensure. Her passion for helping organizations achieve financial clarity and compliance makes her an invaluable asset to our firm.
Madison Robertson, Digital Marketing
- Bio
Madison Robertson is a marketing and communications professional with a degree in Communications and Public Relations from Georgia Southern University. She is experienced in developing and executing strategic campaigns across hospitality, pet services, and the golf industry. She has led social media strategy, brand messaging, event promotion, and community engagement initiatives for multi-location organizations. A former collegiate golf student-athlete with a background, Madison brings a unique, experience-driven perspective to her work—blending strategic marketing with a deep understanding of content engagement, content design, and social media management.
