Biography - Peter Jason Riley

email priley@cpa-services.com

I have been in business in Newburyport for almost 20 years. The practice originally started out as individual tax return preparation and gradually grew. I officially started the firm of Peter Jason Riley, CPA in the fall of 1991.

My initial education was pure liberal arts - English, music, philosophy and history at Northeastern University in Boston. In my thirties I went back to school and received my Associates Degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill. I then continued my education at Merrimack College in Andover and received a BS in Accounting in May of 1992. In December of 1990 I took the two-day I.R.S. Enrolled Agent's tax certification exam and passed in the first sitting. On graduation from Merrimack College I sat for and passed the C.P.A. exam at the first sitting. The Massachusetts Society of C.P.A.'s consequently awarded me a special certificate for being one of only 169 first time passers out of the approximately 3,800 that took the exam that year in the state of Massachusetts. I have continued to make rigorous education a part of my career.

My passion outside of my business is music. I am an amateur guitar player and CD collector. I write monthly music reviews in Newburyport's biweekly journal "The Undertoad" on a wide variety of music from folk and blues to jazz and rock. When you visit our office be sure to take time to view my extensive collection of autographs. It features people such as blues greats Muddy Waters & Howlin' Wolf, jazz giants Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington and rock legends Little Richard & Bruce Springsteen (among others).

My Favorite Websites

BLUES WORLD - Links to many great sites for lovers of Blues music.
Rhythm & Blues Foundation - Preserving America's Soul
The Delta Blues Museum - The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, MI
Tax History Project - Fun tax history site with copies of Presidential Income Tax Returns
Levenger - Tools for Serious Readers - Our favorite office supply provider
Fountain Pen Hospital - My favorite site for fountain pens
All Music Guide - The Internets best reference for recorded music and CD's in print
The Jazz Store - Best place for Jazz products on line
Fender Guitars - My favorite brand of guitars
Paul Rishell & Annie Raines - New England's (and indeed the worlds!) premier blues music duo
Blue Mountain Arts - Best online greeting cards
The Sopranos - The only TV show that matters
Backstreet Magazine - Best Bruce Springsteen website
Pollstar - Music site that lists all touring schedules for all artists currently on tour
Goldmine Magazine - One of my favorite music magazines
Ultimate Band List - Clearinghouse of website links for music artists
The All Movie Guide - Comprehensive source of movie information