DEFREITAS & HILCHERCertified Public Accountants

Certified Public Accountants · Since 1989

Big‑Four Knowledge. Personal Touch.

White-glove accounting, tax, and advisory services, led by professionals with EY experience.

Schedule a Consultation Our Services

Peer-Reviewed Firm · NJ · NY · TN · PA

Tax

Proactive tax strategies designed around your goals.

Accounting

Accurate financial reporting for clarity and control.

Advisory

Private-client insight for individuals and small businesses.

Estate & Trust

Guidance through complex, multi-generational planning.

IndustriesConstructionReal EstateProfessional ServicesHealthcare PracticesFamily-Owned Business

About DEFREITAS & HILCHER LLC

A boutique tax and advisory practice built on Big-Four standards and personal client relationships.

The practice began in 1989 as John D. Hilcher CPA and became DEFREITAS & HILCHER LLC in 2023, built around a simple mission: deliver the precision, clarity, and professionalism of a Big-Four accounting firm, paired with the white-glove attention only a boutique practice can provide.

Our Big-Four experience at EY showed us how often individuals and small businesses go without the focused financial guidance they deserve. Here, every client works directly with experienced professionals who understand both the technical and the personal sides of financial decisions.

Precision
Every detail matters
Clarity
Clear, actionable steps
Care
Never just a number

Why Clients Choose Us

Seasoned professionals, not junior staff.

  • Leadership with Big-Four experience at EY
  • High-touch, relationship-centered service
  • You work directly with seasoned professionals
  • Tailored tax and advisory strategies, never templates
  • Clear communication and responsiveness year-round

How We Work

  1. 1

    Understand your needs

    We start with a thorough conversation about your goals, challenges, and financial picture.

  2. 2

    Build the right strategy

    We design clear, customized tax and advisory solutions, not one-size-fits-all plans.

  3. 3

    Support you year-round

    We stay accessible, responsive, and proactive so you have guidance when you need it.

Professional Services

Comprehensive tax, accounting, and advisory support.

Tax Preparation & Planning

Accurate, compliant, forward-thinking tax work for individuals and businesses. We don't just file your returns; we help you make smart decisions all year.

  • Individual & business tax returns
  • Strategic tax planning
  • Credits, deductions & optimization
  • Estimated tax calculations
  • Year-round tax guidance

Accounting & Reporting

Reliable numbers are the foundation of a strong business. Accurate reporting so you always know where you stand.

  • Financial statement preparation
  • Financial reporting
  • Account reconciliation
  • Payroll
  • QuickBooks support

Advisory & Consulting

EY-level financial insight for individuals and business owners who want to make confident, informed decisions.

  • Budgeting & cash-flow planning
  • Business formation guidance
  • Growth planning & forecasting
  • Financial strategy & decision support
  • IRS correspondence & issue resolution

Estate & Trust Taxation

Specialized support for estate and trust matters, keeping families compliant through complex financial situations.

  • Trust tax return preparation
  • Estate tax filings
  • Coordination with fiduciaries & attorneys
  • Multi-generational planning

Small Business Support

We partner with owners to run smoothly, grow sustainably, and stay compliant.

  • New business setup
  • Entity selection guidance
  • Sales tax compliance
  • Ongoing advisory & support

Not sure what you need?

We tailor our services to each client. If you're not sure where to begin, we'll help you find the right level of support.

Schedule a Consultation

Our Team

The people who answer the phone.

  • Carl DeFreitas, CPA

    Carl DeFreitas, CPA

    Partner

  • John D. Hilcher, CPA

    John D. Hilcher, CPA

    Partner

  • John R. Hilcher

    John R. Hilcher

    Senior Tax Consultant

  • Ken Walker

    Ken Walker

    Accountant

  • Mollie Chancellor

    Mollie Chancellor

    Administration

D&H Gives Back

Some things matter more than numbers.

Since 1989, our clients have been our neighbors. We give back to the people and places that make this community what it is, and to the men and women who serve it.

Who We Support Support Tunnel to Towers

Tunnel to Towers

Supporting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation honors the sacrifice of America's military and first responders. It provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families, builds adaptive smart homes for catastrophically injured service members and first responders, and works to end veteran homelessness.

The foundation is named for FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, and gave his life saving others.

Visit t2t.org →

Close to Home

  • Local Catholic parishes

    Supporting the churches that anchor our families and neighborhoods.

  • Adult athletic clubs

    Sponsoring the local clubs and leagues that keep our neighbors competing and connected.

  • Community organizations

    Standing behind the local groups doing the work across Bergen County.

Ready for a higher standard of accounting and financial care?

Take the next step with guidance you can trust

Schedule a Consultation

Contact

Contact DEFREITAS & HILCHER LLC

We welcome inquiries from individuals, families, and businesses looking for tax, accounting, or advisory support. Call or email us directly.

Office
14 Vervalen St
Closter, NJ 07624
Phone
(973) 743-6000
Email
mollie@dhcpallc.com