Our Instructors:

MEET OUR HEAD PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Tefera Tibebu Beyene, PhD, MBA,

CPA, EA, CBA, CGMA, MCSI, CWM®, Ch.E.

Dr. Beyene has over 35 years of extensive experience in management, accounting, finance, and taxation - gained through roles in corporate, government, and international settings. His expertise in tax accounting and the structuring of complex financial instruments was honed during his time with the State of Illinois Department of Revenue and the IRS Financial Products Specialists Division.

In addition to his practical experience, Dr. Beyene is an accomplished academic, serving as an adjunct professor at numerous universities, including UCLA, Azusa Pacific University, St. Thomas University (FL), & Pacific States University, where he teaches accounting, tax, finance, and economics courses. He is also involved with the American Academy of Financial Management (AAFM), where he teaches and serves as a chief nominator for North America and Africa. Dr. Beyene holds a PhD in Applied Management & Decision Sciences with a concentration in Accounting, as well as an MBA with dual concentrations in Accounting & Finance.

He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, & the District of Columbia, and an Enrolled Agent (EA) admitted to practice before the IRS. He is a fellow and member of the AAFM and holds the Certified Chartered Economist and Chartered Wealth Management certifications. Furthermore, he is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (UK). His professional affiliations also include the AICPA, AAA, and NACM, where he holds the Credit Business Associate certification. Dr. Beyene is also an author, having written "Personal Finance Demystified" and co-authored "Financial Markets, Institutions & Regulations, Money, Capital, & Derivative Markets".

PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Joel DiCicco - Senior Instructor, School of Accounting, Florida Atlantic University

Areas of Expertise: Business Valuation, Financial Instruments

Education

PhD (2003) Public Administration - Public Budgeting and Finance, Florida Atlantic University

MS (1994) Taxation, Florida International University

MBA (1987) Finance, Manhattan College

BBA (1984) Public Accounting, Pace University

Certifications

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Business Certified Appraiser

Chartered Global Management Accountant

Certified in Financial Forensics

Personal Financial Specialist

Certified Public Accountant - Florida (active), NY (inactive)

Intellectual Contributions

DiCicco, Joel; Gendler, Richard; Dubois, Philippe. (2024). To Acquiesce or Not? The IRS's Actions on Decisions, EA Journal

DiCicco, Joel; Gendler, Richard. (2024). The Never-Ending Debate: Cost of Capital and the Small Cap Premiums, FICPA Today

DiCicco, Joel; Filatova, Uliana. (2023). Training Manual: ICVS with Advanced Studies in Financial Instruments Training Manual, International Association of Certified Valuation Specialists(3rd)

Gendler, Richard; DiCicco, Joel; Young, George; Minkova, Teodora. (2023). Tax Fraud

Dischargeability, Tax Advisor, 54(6), 20-38

PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR:

Ivan V. Rubtsov, LL.M., J.D., MST, CPA, EA

Professional Profile
Ivan V. Rubtsov is a distinguished tax scholar and practitioner with over three decades of international experience in taxation, law, and public policy. His career is characterized by a unique synthesis of high-level government service and private sector expertise across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. A prolific author, Mr. Rubtsov has published in the fields of Taxation, Corporate Finance, and History.

Public Service and Policy
As a former Internal Revenue Agent with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Mr. Rubtsov specialized in the examination of complex individual and corporate tax returns. He served as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in high-profile sectors, including sports and entertainment taxation and the taxation of professional services (legal and accounting firms). His contributions extended to federal policy development and strategic internal projects for the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, notably within the Tax Return Preparer Program.

Academic and Community Leadership
Mr. Rubtsov is committed to both academic excellence and civic engagement. His leadership roles include:

• Adjunct Professor, UCLA (2018–2026): Instructing the next generation of tax and legal professionals within the UCLA system.

• Steward, National Treasury Employees Union (2010–2019): Serving as a representative and advocate for federal employees within the NTEU.

• Local Political Participation: Actively involved in local politics, contributing to community governance and policy discussions.

• Saturday Church School Instructor (Since 2000): Providing long-term educational service and mentorship within his faith community.

Professional Practice
Mr. Rubtsov has a long-standing history of representing individuals and corporate entities before major tax authorities, including the IRS, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), and the Employment Development Department (EDD). His practice in tax preparation and advisory dates back to 1990, encompassing a global portfolio of clients across the USA, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Academic Credentials

• Master of Laws (LL.M.) – Southwestern Law School

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) – Southwestern Law School

• Master of Science in Taxation (MST) – California State University, Northridge

• Master of Economics (Banking, Finance & Money Circulation) – Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting (with Distinction) – UCLA

Licensure

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

• Enrolled Agent (EA)