Layman serves as Parma's new CFO

PARMA, Ohio — Martin Kopmeyer began as the Eparchy of Parma’s new Chief Financial Officer at the end of April, succeeding Father James Batcha. The native of Livonia, Michigan, has been living in metro Cleveland for 25 years, the past 13 years in Brecksville. He and his wife of 24 years, Julie, have three children.

“There’s nothing I enjoy more than spending time with my family,” he said.

The Kopmeyers belong to Immaculate Conception Parish in Cleveland, where Mass is celebrated in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite, also known as the Tridentine rite. The family also has attended St. Joseph Byzantine Catholic Parish in Brecksville on occasion for the past couple of years. 

“I sometimes joke that I’m a Tridentine-Byzantine,” he told Horizons. He said St. Joseph Parish has been very welcoming “and it’s been a great experience for our family to discover Eastern Catholicism.”

Kopmeyer earned a bachelor of science in business administration from John Carroll University in 1993, and his CPA license in 1995. He worked for KPMG, and then for Bober, Markey, Fedorovich, and McManus, Dosen & Co., before starting his own small accounting practice, Lumen CPA, which provides audit, accounting, tax and consulting services.

“Having a smaller practice has afforded me the ability to be very involved with my children as they grow so quickly…(and) flexibility to volunteer my time for causes that are near and dear to me,” he said.

Kopmeyer serves as treasurer for Cleveland Right to Life, sits on the finance council at Immaculate Conception Parish, and is on the board of St. Joseph Businessmen’s Network.

As CFO, Kopmeyer said he oversees the financial administration of the eparchy and provides support to the bishop “so that he has timely and accurate financial information.”

His duties include developing accounting policies and procedures, improving internal controls, developing a budget, monitoring spending, identifying opportunities to gain efficiencies and save money, coordinating the external audit and ensuring compliance with grant requirements, overseeing the fiscal operations of the eparchy, the Parishes Together Fund, and the priests pension fund, and providing financial analysis and support.

Kopmeyer is in the chancery office one day per week, but is reachable by calling the chancery number or by email at [email protected].
 
Photo: Martin Kopmeyer is the new CFO of the Eparchy of Parma. (Photo courtesy of Martin Kopmeyer)

As published in Horizons, June 17, 2018.
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