Objective:
This assignment is designed to explore the reasons behind the current shortage of accounting majors and to propose solutions to address this issue. You are encouraged to analyze the factors contributing to the decline in interest in accounting as a major and to develop actionable proposals to attract more students to the field. This question is deliberately open-ended to encourage independent thinking and an analysis of the topic. While your response should be substantiated by factual information, feel free to express your opinions throughout the paper.
Instructions:
You are required to write an essay of approximately 875 words addressing the following topic:
Why do you think there is a shortage of accounting majors, and what proposal(s) would you suggest to rectify this problem?
CPA pipeline challenges: Addressing the root causes
ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL
Increase exposure and
influence more students
to major in accounting.
High school AICPA membership
Provides useful resources to students.
Expanded social media presence
Use all social media channels, including
TikTok, to tell profession’s story.
Accounting Opportunities Week
Build on successful pilot week-long event.
Future weeks are scheduled for 2023.
Collaborate with DECA Inc., Business
Professionals of America (BPA),
and NAF
Partner with leading student organizations
to promote profession.
AP course exploration
Accounting fundamentals is being considered
for inclusion in the 2025 launch of an AP
Business Principles course.
Develop promotional resources working
with state CPA societies
Develop updated resources such as Career
Day template and career assessment tool.
Expand Dual-Credit and 2+2
Articulation Agreements
Work with National Alliance of Concurrent
Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) to develop
best practices and model for dual-credit and
2+2 articulation agreements and
provide resources.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY
EXAM AND LICENSURE PROCESS
Encourage more
individuals to enter the
accounting profession.
Maintain rigor
while streamlining
the process.
Experience, Learn and Earn (ELE)
Work with National Association of State
Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to deliver
ELE and other creative ways to meet the
150-hour education requirement.
CPA Evolution
Initiative boosts the skills and
competencies needed of today’s CPAs
and enables dynamic changes to the
CPA Exam.
Expand AICPA scholarships
New microsite: “Unlock a Dynamic
Career: CPA Exam Explained”
New site provides students with a
clearer picture of the entire process —
from college through the CPA Exam.
Streamline student and candidate
digital resources
Enhance digital user experience and
resources to guide the journey to
CPA licensure.
30-hour guidance
Campaign underway that demonstrates
how to meet the 30-hour requirement and
boost career readiness.
Accounting+ (Center for Audit
Quality program)
Leverage CAQ’s national brand awareness
campaign to raise awareness of accounting
careers at the high school and early college
levels, and boost DEI in profession.
Explore launch of an image campaign
Assess development of an integrated
image campaign.
Academic Champions
Promote a pro-CPA culture on
campus by expanding network of
Academic Champions.
Support for 529 college savings plans
Advocate for the Freedom to Invest in
Tomorrow’s Workforce Act that expands
529 college savings plans to include
expenses required to obtain or maintain
postsecondary credentials.
Examining Uniform Accountancy Act
(UAA) variances
Minimize unneeded differences in
requirements to smooth out bumps in
the journey to licensure.
International CPA Exam administration
The AICPA continues to promote
administration of the CPA Exam in
India and, with NASBA, will explore
administration in the Philippines in 2024
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Provide guidance and
advocate for attractive,
market-aligned work
and business models.
“Transforming Your Business
Model” toolkit
How firms are structured and operate
plays a significant role in the accounting
ecosystem and, ultimately, affects
the pipeline. To help position firms for
success, a new toolkit outlines best
practices in the areas of strategy, talent,
service offerings, technology,
and governance.
Local governmental entities – meeting
audit and hiring needs
Collaborating with National Association
of State Auditors, Comptrollers,
and Treasurers (NASACT) to help
match qualified CPA firms with local
governments, school districts, etc. to
meet audit needs, and help state and
local governments find and hire CPAs.
Develop best practices for partnering
with offshore talent suppliers
Development of these best practices will
boost talent recruitment for small- and
medium-sized firms.
Working together to drive a vibrant profession
Our pipeline focus
In its critical role as a national convener of stakeholders, the AICPA will continue to create opportunities for
meaningful dialogue and collaboration to address the underlying challenges and build the pipeline. Together with
the CAQ, state CPA societies, accounting firms, academia, state boards of accountancy and their organizing body,
the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), we can make a difference.
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Advocacy
STEM (federal and state advocacy)
•
The profession is advocating for accounting to be recognized as a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
curriculum under the technology field. We believe that designating accounting as STEM will increase student engagement
with the accounting profession, significantly increase funding for accounting education through STEM scholarships,
and directly benefit international students considering post-graduate accounting work in the United States. Bipartisan,
bicameral bills that would help bolster the argument that accounting is a STEM field are expected to be reintroduced in the
first half of 2023, supported by the AICPA and state CPA societies.
•
The AICPA is also working to secure a STEM designation through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (which
manages the STEM designation process).
•
The AICPA released a toolkit in February 2023 to help state CPA societies and others working with colleges and universities
to change their Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code and obtain STEM recognition. An AICPA-sponsored
article in Politico, “7 Reasons Why Accounting Should Join Other Tech Professions as a STEM Field,” was released on April
4, 2023. This article is designed to be shared with students, deans, department chairs, state and federal policymakers and
key stakeholders to aid in advocating with this important initiative.
Research
The AICPA is calling on all stakeholders to assess and address the
forces deterring students from pursuing a CPA career. Here are some
efforts that are underway.
•
The AICPA will publish the 2023 Trends Report in July 2023.
•
A CAQ research study focused on students from diverse
backgrounds was completed in 2021. Additional research by
the CAQ with Edge Research is underway, to be reported in the
second quarter. The AICPA will be updating its communications
and strategy based on the research findings.
Study of Gen Z motivations
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Expand the use of 529 savings
•
The AICPA has endorsed the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (H.R. 1477), a bill that would expand the use
of 529 savings plans to include expenses required to obtain or maintain recognized postsecondary credentials (including
CPA-related credentials).
Examine Uniform Accountancy Act variances
•
The CPA profession has made the uniformity of licensing requirements across state lines a priority through the adoption
of mobility and substantial equivalency provisions contained in the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA). The AICPA, in
partnership with NASBA, continues to work with state CPA societies and state boards of accountancy to identify
opportunities for greater alignment with the UAA. Progress was made this year through the completion of state-level
research which identified potential pipeline challenges. These areas include differences in experience requirements, the
need for recommendation letters, and clarifying how candidates document their experience. Stakeholders will continue to
assess and address these differences and develop an action plan through 2024 and beyond. This will result in a reduction
of barriers to entry for CPA candidates.
Raise awareness
Improve perceptions
Enhance training and education
Transform firm culture and business models
Encourage diversity and inclusion
Partner with educational institutions
The AICPA has engaged Clearview Research for a study of
Gen Z motivations, with findings to be shared later in 2023.
The objectives of this research are to:
•
Build high-level understanding of what is important to
Gen Z and what motivates them when making educational
and career choices
•
Build understanding of Gen Z perceptions of accounting,
finance, and business as a career
•
Develop insight into the routes young people take into
accountancy, finance, and business and why
•
Build understanding of what young people need to feel
supported in this process
Research into student behavior
•
We are conducting research into student behavior to
understand why students do not enter the CPA Pipeline and why
CPA candidates drop out from pursuing licensure; results are
due in the fall of 2023.
Your feedback is always welcome. Follow up with any AICPA
staff member or via email to cpa-pipeline@aicpa-cima.com.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
May 2023
Version 4
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
14
Addressing root causes of pipeline challenges
The accounting profession is grappling with a talent shortage. Meaningful, quick action is
needed. That action must be anchored in data that identifies root causes and measures
the impact of new and existing efforts.
In its role as a national convener of stakeholders, the AICPA is creating opportunities for
dialogue and collaboration to address the underlying challenges and build the pipeline of
future CPAs. Together with state CPA societies, accounting firms, academia, state
boards of accountancy, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
(NASBA), the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) and others, we can make a difference.
Considerable attention, discussion, investment, and research is being focused on a range
of initiatives at each stage of the CPA pipeline — from the CAQ-led Accounting+ student
awareness campaign to CPA Evolution and the launch of the new CPA Exam in January
2024.
In collaboration with stakeholders, the AICPA has identified initiatives that address the
following key areas:
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Awareness: Increasing awareness about the accounting profession and
promoting the benefits of a career in accounting
Improved perceptions: Dispelling outdated perceptions and leveraging updated,
positive messaging that can help the profession resonate with today’s students
Training and education: Providing high-quality accounting education and training
opportunities
Firm culture and business models: Equipping firms with the tools to offer
competitive salaries and benefits, as well as career advancement opportunities
and compelling work
Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Attracting and retaining a broader range of talent
Partnering with educational institutions: Affiliating with colleges and universities
to offer internships, scholarships, and other programs to attract individuals to the
profession, help defray costs, and assist students in developing the skills needed
to succeed as a CPA.
As part of building this larger, cohesive effort, the AICPA is partnering with stakeholders
to implement activities in the near, medium, and long term that address certain root
causes of pipeline issues. This plan should be viewed as one set of priority initiatives but
not as an exhaustive look at all pipeline efforts. The title of the plan has changed to
reflect the expansion beyond the eight initiatives that were introduced earlier this year as
a starting point for input and discussion. Certain additions and expansions to the plan
have been made based on recent feedback and are outlined in this version of the plan.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
1
The intent of the plan is to identify ways to integrate the changing needs of new recruits
and young professionals; increase flexibility and accessibility in the licensure pathway;
and drive awareness of the wide range of career pathways within the profession in ways
that result in a more robust supply of new CPAs.
What follows is an overview of the plan, which will continue to evolve and expand as
existing milestones are met and new initiatives are added.
To help delineate the likely time horizon for each initiative, near-term items expected to
be completed in 2023 are labeled in green; mid-term items expected to be completed in
2024 are labeled in blue, and long-term items to be implemented beyond 2024 are
labeled in orange.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
2
EXPERIENCE, LEARN & EARN (ELE) PROGRAM
Providing a route for students who need the means and a plan to earn 150 credit hours
The Experience, Learn & Earn Program blends paid work experience and online courses
for the final stretch of credit hours and focuses on licensure.
The AICPA and NASBA program is designed for students who have completed between
120 and 150 college credit hours and core accounting courses. The program is not an
internship or an apprenticeship. The graduates are paid first-year staff with a reduced
workload and time to complete academic courses.
As a participant in the program, a student will:
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Graduate with their bachelor’s degree and core accounting classes at fewer than
150 credit hours
Join a firm right away as a paid first-year staff member
Get up to 30 credit hours through online courses in areas relevant to their careers
at the firm while working a flexible schedule and getting paid work experience
Complete their credit hours and continue their journey to CPA.
Goals of the program include increasing accessibility to accounting and making entry
into the profession more affordable for a diverse pool of candidates. The cost of a
college education remains a major factor in student decision-making and is an
undeniable component of the pipeline. ELE’s online learning will be priced at or below the
average cost of a community college credit. The projected cost for the full 30 credit hours
is approximately $4,500 or $150 per credit hour. Students who need fewer than 30 credits
are able to tailor the program accordingly.
Students in the program will earn the credits while in a flexible, paid position at the firm,
helping to further offset the cost of the education. Participants will not be awarded a
master’s degree through the program.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
3
ELE will launch as a pilot in fall 2023 with up to 1,000 students. Outreach to firms to
secure pilot participation is underway.
There will be one university partner for the pilot phase. A request for proposals will be
issued in summer 2023 for universities interested in joining the program after the pilot.
This approach is designed to accelerate the launch of the pilot phase while allowing
interested universities time for discussions and due diligence for subsequent
participation.
A key principle of the program is that it is scalable to work for firms of all sizes. Firms can
tailor the experience to fit their needs. For example, a firm may not want its participants
to take courses during busy season and instead would allocate time for coursework
during other parts of the year.
An advisory group of leaders from state societies and state boards of accountancy is
helping to shape ELE state outreach and materials.
Timing: ELE’s pilot is a near-term initiative launching in fall 2023
Post-pilot phase is a mid-term initiative launching in 2024
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
4
ADDRESSING FIRM CULTURE AND BUSINESS MODEL CHALLENGES
Focusing on attractiveness of the culture and work
The CPA pipeline decline is the result of many factors, ranging from lower college
enrollment and higher costs to the expense of exam preparation and the disconnect of
starting salaries from new market realities. The AICPA is calling on all stakeholders to
address the forces deterring students from pursuing a CPA career. In our research and in
discussions with stakeholders and students, we heard a common theme emerge that has
elevated the focus on firm culture and business models among the calls to action.
How firms are structured and operate plays a significant role in the accounting
ecosystem and, ultimately, affects the pipeline. To help position firms for success,
AICPA’s Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS) is developing a “Transforming Your
Business Model” toolkit designed to help firms challenge the status quo in how they
approach significant topics, such as:
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Strategy
Compensation for staff and partners
What services they provide
Identifying their ideal clients
How they staff engagements
Developing career paths for all team members that provide a sense of belonging
and purpose
Offering flexibility to integrate work and life.
This ongoing resource development project will have an overall focus on culture within
firms that will attract, retain, and develop talent to ensure the success of the profession.
Resources will highlight firms of all sizes that are changing their way of doing business to
reflect a changing landscape in the profession.
More broadly, the AICPA and other stakeholders are convening conversations with firms
through town halls, forums, and other venues about talent trends and business model
shifts.
Timing: The first set of toolkit resources, focused on strategy, will be available in June
2023. Talent resources focused on aligning compensation to the market and
employee/leadership alignment on expectations and priorities will be available in July
2023.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
5
30-HOUR COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN
Career readiness and success stories
Candidates are developing competencies needed to succeed in an ever more complex
and technology-focused business environment, as they work within guidelines set out in
the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) and with an eye toward the revised CPA Exam in
2024. This awareness campaign, which began rolling out in the second quarter of 2023,
focuses on how students can best use the 30 credit hours required for licensure
beyond a typical 120-credit hour degree to increase career readiness. Videos and blogs
are available on This Way to CPA..
This campaign is supported by data from firms of all sizes that responded to a recent
AICPA poll about the key first-year skills and competencies they most value. Their
responses also are helping define the Experience, Learn & Earn coursework while
informing this awareness campaign.
The campaign spotlights success stories and data to help guide students. Key audiences
include college students and their influencers, including professors, advisers, and other
faculty. Because career-shaping decisions can often be made much earlier, we will look
for opportunities to leverage these resources at the high school level.
Timing: Videos and blogs are available on This Way to CPA (see resources section in this
plan document for links).
A summary draft report outlining valuable competencies will be released in June.
The report draws on poll data; interviews with young CPAs, academics, and firm
employers; CPA Exam Practice Analysis reports and the AICPA Foundational
Competencies Framework for Aspiring CPAs.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
6
EXTENDING THE 18-MONTH EXAM WINDOW
Ensuring flexibility in the licensure path
Working with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), the
AICPA has been exploring what changes are needed to keep students progressing
through the CPA Exam to licensure while ensuring the Exam testing window isn’t shutting
out qualified candidates.
Significant progress has been made on a permanent extension of the 18-month
window to pass all parts of the CPA Exam. The Uniform Accountancy Act has been
amended to allow candidates 30 months to pass the CPA Exam after they pass the first
part. This step toward additional flexibility for candidates who wrestle with time
constraints would not have been possible without the engagement of so many
stakeholders, including state CPA societies.
The next step is for state accountancy boards to amend their rules, and we will work with
state boards to make that a reality. Current Exam candidates will remain under the 18month rule until such action is taken.
Separately, NASBA is exploring the feasibility of a relief program through which
candidates who have lost credit from 2020 to-date will have their credits restored. This
program would benefit upward of 18,000 candidates who lost credit during the global
COVID-19 pandemic.
While this proposal and its implementation is being discussed:
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NASBA’s CPA Evolution Transition Policy extends any CPA Exam section credit
held on January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, to ease the transition to the CPA
Evolution Exam
NASBA and Prometric continue to send reminder emails to candidates alerting
them of pending expiration dates. Emails are also being sent to both passing and
failing candidates to assist them in their journey.
Timing: Consideration and adoption by states of the rule amendment to 30 months is
likely to continue into 2024.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
7
EXAMINING UNIFORM ACCOUNTANCY ACT VARIATIONS
Inconsistencies in state licensing rules and laws result in CPA candidate confusion and
frustration. Minimizing unneeded differences in requirements will smooth out bumps in
the journey to licensure.
For decades, the profession has worked on uniformity across state lines through the
mobility and substantial equivalency provisions in the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA).
The AICPA, in partnership with NASBA, will continue conversations with state societies
and state boards in examining rules and laws as they relate to the UAA, and where
opportunities exist for greater alignment.
Progress made in Q1 included the completion of state-by-state research that revealed
differences in experience requirements, as well as requirements for recommendation
letters and candidate submissions of experience “portfolios.”
Collaboratively, stakeholders are continuing to assess and act on these identified
differences. Examples of state CPA society and state board of accountancy successes
include:
• Indiana — A law passed this year begins the rule development process to
change the experience required for licensure from two years to one year.
• Nevada — Legislation to change the experience requirement from two years
to one year passed in the Nevada Senate and is currently under consideration
in the House.
• Oregon — A law passed this year will require experience obtained for
licensure be verified rather than supervised. This change allows candidates
to meet the experience requirement without having to work directly for a
CPA.
Key stakeholders will jointly develop an action plan for 2024 state legislative sessions
and beyond to tackle either regulatory changes, legal changes, or both. The result will be
a more transparent and efficient route to the CPA across the United States.
Timing: Mid-term
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
8
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE INITIATIVES
State societies play a powerful role as community-based conveners of programs and
events that spark student interest in the accounting profession and CPA licensure. Firms,
too, have an important role to play in outreach and awareness. The AICPA will continue to
assist local events, where needed, with data, toolkits, and resources.
High school students’ awareness and perceptions of accounting have improved, as
profession stakeholders have leveraged data from 2021 CAQ research. Student
engagement will benefit from targeted and improved messages, and the AICPA has
adjusted outreach efforts accordingly.
To enhance the student and CPA candidate experience, the AICPA has consolidated the
websites “Start Here Go Places” and “This Way to CPA” into a single point of entry with
updated messaging and navigation to improve engagement, reduce confusion, and better
promote the profession.
High school students can also tune in to an AICPA-produced webinar series that
discusses exciting accounting careers, including forensic accounting and sustainability
matters.
These initiatives resulted in 12,000 new student memberships in 2022 and an anticipated
16,000 new student members in 2023. These newly established connections are helping
to drive awareness accounting profession career opportunities.
Social media platforms like TikTok have become powerful tools in reaching high school
students and communicating the dynamic nature of the accounting profession. This Way
to CPA, our high school communications arm, is on TikTok, and its follower count is
growing beyond 13,000.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
9
Raising awareness: AICPA Career Launchpad
To help students prepare for and get excited about their future accounting career, the
AICPA is rolling out a Career Launchpad program. This program will include information
about the accounting profession, as well as skill building and interview preparation —
presented in a fun and engaging way at the university level. Students who complete the
program will earn a LinkedIn certificate, as well as gain valuable insights into landing their
first job in the accounting profession.
Timing: Launch in August 2023
High school education: AP courses and the College Board
Accounting topics are targeted for inclusion in an AP Business Principles course as a
result of AICPA collaboration with the College Board. The success of the Business
Principles course and progress toward STEM (science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics) recognition for accounting will factor into future consideration of an AP
accounting course.
We’re continuing our exploration with Everfi and other vendors on a plan to deliver high
school accounting education and/or an awareness module(s) to promote the accounting
profession and the CPA license.
Timing: Potential launch of the AP Business Principles course in 2025
Research at the high school level
Stakeholders across the profession are seeking data upon which to base pipeline
strategy and investments. To help supply needed data, the AICPA has engaged
ClearView Research for a study of Gen Z motivations. The objectives of this research are
to:
•
•
•
•
Build a high-level understanding of what is important to Gen Z and what motivates
them when making educational and career choices
Gain understanding of Gen Z perceptions of accounting, finance, and business as
a career
Develop insight into the routes young people take into accounting, finance, and
business and the reasons behind their choices
Increase understanding of what young people need to feel supported in this
process.
Timing: Research to be completed in 2023
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
10
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
The AICPA is focusing on awareness and promotion of the accounting profession and
CPA licensure on college and university campuses. Here are just some of the efforts that
are established, underway, or planned:
Expanded messaging The AICPA is leveraging CAQ research to improve messaging to
today’s students and educators. Messaging channels include social media, YouTube,
webinars, in-person and online student Q&A presentations, blog posts, articles, and
toolkits. The AICPA will launch a new microsite for students that tells the story of
becoming a CPA, from college through the CPA Exam licensure process.
Timing: Site launch in second quarter of 2023
On campus pro-CPA culture
Academic Champions act as CPA advocates and promote university best practices, and
our network is expanding. This program will be expanded on a priority basis focused on
large college and universities with large accounting populations with a focus on
increasing the number of students pursuing CPA licensure. AICPA is also exploring how
to best leverage its college and university initiatives with state CPA societies.
•
Specific strategies are being developed to promote accounting and the CPA via
engagement with:
o Online universities
o Universities with large diverse populations, including historically Black
colleges and universities (HBCUs); and
o National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion (NCDI) diversity partners.
Timing: 2024
Data sharing
A centralized website is being planned to share research and the status of various
pipeline initiatives for public review and feedback. The site will be the main destination for
stakeholders to have a comprehensive overview of pipeline activities and share their own
experiences and initiatives.
Quarterly Exam candidate information and a comprehensive annual update will be shared
with the state societies.
Timing: 2024 site launch and quarterly/annual update
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
11
Dual credit
The AICPA is developing a dual-credit strategy including:
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Documenting best practices from community colleges
Understanding student behavior and ROI
Working with state CPA societies to promote adoption of dual credit
Understanding the role the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment
Partnerships (NACEP) plays in promoting dual credit.
Intro and intermediate courses
Potential partnerships with the American Accounting Association (AAA) and other
stakeholders can help us explore changes to the Introduction to Accounting and
Intermediate Accounting course curricula, delivery mechanisms, and content.
STEM RECOGNITION
Broaden STEM education to include accounting
Interest in professional careers starts with exposure and awareness. The AICPA, state
CPA societies, the academic community, and other stakeholders are working diligently to
win recognition of accounting as a STEM field under the technology banner.
Bipartisan, bicameral bills that would allow STEM K-12 grant funding to be used for
accounting awareness and education, with a focus on increasing access to
underrepresented groups, are expected to be reintroduced in the first half of 2023,
supported by the AICPA and state CPA societies.
At the higher education level, stakeholders are working to urge colleges and universities
to expand their accounting curricula to include additional technology-focused courses to
meet the profession’s current and future needs.
State societies can access various resources via the STEM toolkit to collaborate with
colleges and universities to change Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes
and obtain STEM recognition. For additional support, state societies can reference and
share the AICPA-sponsored article in Politico “7 Reasons Why Accounting Should Join
Other Tech Professionals as a STEM Field.”
Additionally, we are working to secure a STEM designation through the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), which manages the STEM designation process. We expect to
renominate any remaining CIP codes in 2023 for reexamination.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
12
We are also leading research on STEM designations and technology and data analytics in
the curricula of college and university accounting programs with a target completion date
of fall 2023. The primary purpose is to support the resubmission to DHS for STEM
recognition of accounting and accounting-related CIP codes.
Timing: The AICPA and stakeholders are working to get STEM legislation reintroduced
this year. STEM will be a major focus of Capitol Hill visits at AICPA Spring Council.
AICPA FOUNDATION AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Concentrating funding on those on a CPA path
The AICPA Foundation has shifted its focus to primarily helping students who plan to
pursue CPA licensure or those who are currently CPA candidates. The Foundation, which
is projected to award more than $2 million in scholarships and grants in 2023, will assist
individuals with financial needs through a variety of scholarship programs. An estimated
60% of grants and scholarships are expected to go to diverse candidates in 2023 and
future years.
The Foundation :
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Provides ongoing financial aid, mentorship, scholarships, internships, and
fellowship for those in need
Provides needed support for targeted students (must be pursuing CPA or Ph.D.)
Creates annual cohort of grant recipients for promotion, mentoring and
monitoring.
The Foundation is exploring partnership and collaboration opportunities with state
societies, review course providers, diversity partners, and others.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can partner with or support
Foundation activities, email foundation@aicpa.org.
When viewed collectively, the combined giving of the Foundation and state societies is
helping to make the pursuit of a CPA more affordable for more candidates.
Timing: 2023 implementation
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
13
ADDITIONS TO THE PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION
Response to the Draft Pipeline Acceleration Plan (and its prior version, titled the 8-Point
Plan) was thoughtful, robust, and forward-looking. Several suggestions have been added
to the plan’s initiatives as a result of feedback, and others are under exploration.
Expansion of 529 funds to CPA Exam costs
The AICPA is working with federal legislators on the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s
Workforce Act (H.R. 1477). The bill would allow the use of 529 college savings plans to
include expenses required to obtain or maintain recognized postsecondary credentials,
including CPA-related costs such as Exam fees and exam review courses. The AICPA is
working to move the bill through the House and then the Senate.
Timing: Potential passage of legislation in 2023
Government audit and finance collaboration
Concerns have been expressed about whether state and local governmental entities are
able to find skilled auditors and finance professionals to meet current and future need. To
help address these concerns, a joint AICPA-NASACT (National Association of State
Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers) working group is being established to address the
challenges of CPA public sector resources, from the perspective of hiring CPAs to work in
state and local government, as well as finding qualified CPA firms to audit local
governmental entities. The working group will include key stakeholders — state auditors,
state comptrollers, state treasurers, CPA firm representatives, local government
representatives, etc. — and the outcome of their work is expected to be a joint issues
paper outlining the opportunities, best practices, and recommendations in this area.
Timing: Launch in 2023
Best practices for offshore talent
The AICPA is examining the need for best practices and other potential resources that
would help small and medium-sized firms partner successfully with offshore talent
suppliers. This is in addition to the expansion of the administration of the CPA Exam in
India and South Korea, and exploration of offering the CPA Exam in the Philippines.
Timing: Consideration in 2023
CPA image campaign
We further heard a desire to support an image campaign that would create positive
awareness of our profession with middle and high school students. The initiative would
build on the Center for Audit Quality’s Accounting+ initiative. The AICPA will work with
state society input and perspectives to draft a feasibility plan for what such a campaign
might look like.
Timing: Full consideration of the feasibility, funding, scope, and objectives make this a
near-to-mid-term item.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
14
CONCLUSION
Collectively, these initiatives paired with ongoing investments such as CPA Evolution, aim
to increase flexibility for CPA candidates and enhance the reputation of the profession.
They are designed to deliver action and drive results. Continued dialogue with
stakeholders will shape and expand this plan. The AICPA will provide updates through
quarterly progress reports.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
15
APPENDIX
Increased collaborations with state societies
State CPA societies play a critical role in bolstering the CPA pipeline. State societies raise
awareness of the accounting profession and CPA licensure. They demystify educational
pathways at the high school, community college, and university education levels. They
also support firm demand, the profession, and overall CPA retention.
While the AICPA advocates at a national level can identify and catalog best practices,
state CPA societies bring the expertise and the close contacts and relationships
necessary to ensure successful implementation of each initiative.
The following table illustrates key initiatives and the potential collaboration opportunities
for the AICPA and state societies.
Initiative
Role of AICPA
Role of state society
Advocate for federal STEM
adoption/legislation
Secure reintroduction of
bipartisan, bicameral federal
legislation and build cosponsor list
Ask congressional members to
co-sponsor bills to
demonstrate wide support for
STEM legislation
Review recently completed
AICPA research on awareness,
high school and college
accounting education, and
potential next steps to promote
the CPA pipeline
Draft and share the research
with state societies,
collaborating on next steps
Collaborate with the AICPA on
next steps
Increase high school student
engagement: Accounting
Opportunity Weeks, career
days, awareness programs,
etc.
Develop promotional
communications materials,
presentation materials, speaker
training, etc.
Recruit presenters and match
them with teacher and school
prospects, customize materials
as necessary, oversee
implementation and provide
ongoing feedback
Expand and strengthen
“Partner Network”: Junior
Achievement, DECA Inc.,
Business Professionals of
America (BPA), NAF, etc.
Develop collaborative national
strategy and provide necessary
resources
Identify and implement statebased partner opportunities,
and share feedback to guide
the collaborative national
strategy
Foster college student
engagement: Accounting
Opportunity Weeks, career
Develop promotional
communications materials,
presentation materials, speaker
training, etc.
Match schools with presenters,
customize materials as
necessary, oversee
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
16
Initiative
Role of AICPA
days, awareness programs,
etc.
Role of state society
implementation and provide
feedback
Expand dual credit and 2+2
articulation agreements
Work with National Alliance of
Concurrent Enrollment
Partnerships (NACEP) to
develop best practices and
model for dual credit and 2+2
articulation agreements and
provide resources
Explore how dual credit and
2+2 articulation agreements
work in each state and create
opportunities for greater
adoption
Grow and strengthen
relationships and activities with
diversity partners: NABA Inc.,
National Society of Black CPAs
(NSBCPA), ASCEND, etc.
Develop national strategies and
provide necessary resources
Identify and implement statebased partner opportunities,
and share feedback to guide
the collaborative national
strategies
Boost CPA candidate
engagement: Collaboration on
scholarships, internships,
mentorships, fellowships,
employment, etc.
Provide ongoing strategic and
operational updates on all
areas of the student and
candidate pipeline for
collaboration with state
societies
Provide feedback and
collaborate on student and
candidate collaborative
initiatives
Increase efforts of AICPA
Foundation: Collaboration on
fundraising, scholarship
programs, internships,
mentorships, fellowships, etc.
Share Foundation strategy,
scholarships and fundraising
efforts, and explore
opportunities with state CPA
societies for collaborative
fundraising, aggregating
scholarship processes, and
greater support for scholarship
recipients
Explore opportunities for
collaboration between AICPA
Foundation’s work and state
society initiatives on
scholarships, fundraising, and
other candidate support
programs
Please note that state CPA societies have implemented numerous other successful
pipeline activities in addition to the activities highlighted in this plan, and the AICPA and
state societies will continue to share information and ideas to grow the CPA pipeline.
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
17
RESOURCES
30-hour communications blog and video links available on This Way to CPA:
“Soft Skills and Analytical Skills Are Key for New Hires, Say Experienced CPAs”
“Young CPAs Share the Benefits of Soft Skills and Knowledge of Data Analytics”
“Soft and Technical Skills for Students”
STEM resources:
The STEM toolkit contains resources including a primer on the benefits of STEM
recognition for accounting, a list of college and university STEM-designated accounting
programs, and sample documents. Download the assets by clicking here.
AICPA-sponsored article in Politico “7 Reasons Why Accounting Should Join Other Tech
Professionals as a STEM Field.”
CONTACTS
Pipeline Acceleration Plan:
Mike Decker
Mike.Decker@aicpa-cima.com
T:+1-609-671-2906
State society relations:
Cynthia Lund
Cynthia.Lund@aicpa-cima.com
T: +1-202-434-9257
Jessica Sacco
Jessica.Sacco@aicpa-cima.com
T: +1-202-434-9255
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
18
State legislative issues and the Uniform Accountancy Act:
Marta Zaniewski
Marta.Zaniewski@aicpa-cima.com
T: +1-202-591-0908
Experience, Learn & Earn (ELE) Program:
Julia Woislaw
Julia.Woislaw@aicpa-cima.com
T: +1-440-552-8129
AICPA Foundation:
Mike Decker
Mike.Decker@aicpa-cima.com
T: +1-609-671-2906
High school and college initiatives:
Jan Taylor
Jan.Taylor@aicpa-cima.com
T: +1-919-402-2693
Press inquiries
Bill Ferguson
Bill.Ferguson@aicpa-cima.com
T: +1-908-803-2958
Pipeline Acceleration Plan
Version 4 May 11, 2023
19
As of May 2024
Update on Pipeline Acceleration Plan
Initiatives
The Pipeline Acceleration Plan includes both new initiatives and expanded existing
programs designed to promote the image of accounting, raise awareness of careers in
the profession, and help those interested in accounting as a major and pursuing a CPA
license. Here’s a brief update on the status of the plan’s initiatives.
Experience, Learn, and Earn (ELE) Program
The AICPA and NASBA launched an integrated education and experience program for
students who need or want a path to the 150 credit hours of education required for CPA
licensure that allows them to earn up to 30 educational credit hours while they are
employed. The ELE program combines meaningful online academic coursework
integrated with work experience.
Tulane University was announced as the ELE pilot school in July 2023. More than 200
CPA firms of all sizes across the US have expressed interest in participating, and the
program is also open to participation from employers in business, industry and
government. To aid interested firms, a recruitment toolkit is now available on
https://experiencelearnearn.org.
The first round of students took classes in the Spring 2024 semester from January-May.
We had 38 students in the inaugural class, and we’ve begun collecting feedback from
participating firms and students. Summer semester kicks off in late May and enrollment
for Fall 2024 is now open.
For the latest information on the ELE program, please visit
https://experiencelearnearn.org or email feedback@experiencelearnearn.org
Addressing Firm Culture and Business Model
Challenges
The AICPA Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS) “Transforming Your Business
Model” project provides ongoing resources that support and enable changes within
firms to create cultures that attract, retain, and develop talent. This multi-year project will
focus on five main areas:
•
•
Strategy
Talent
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Institute of Management Accountants, respectively, and are registered in the US, the EU, the UK and other countries. The Globe Design is a trademark of the Association of
International Certified Professional Accountants.
As of May 2024
•
•
•
Service offerings
Technology
Governance
A new toolset focused on compensation has been added recently. It was developed in
partnership with ConvergenceCoaching®, LLC and provides strategies, tactics and tools
to develop and evaluate your compensation approaches. The toolset contains
customizable tools, templates and articles, including a 9 Box Tool, Business and STEM
Salaries Comparative Tool, Compensation Study Grid & Video, and a Nine Professional
Motivators Ranking Exercise.
The Transforming Your Business Model resource was named one of Accounting
Today’s Best New Products for 2024. Toolkits in all five focus areas will be updated with
new resources on a continual basis, so please visit the Transforming Your Business
Model landing page to stay up-to-date on these resources.
30-Hr Communication Campaign
(The initial campaign is complete, and additional communications are ongoing)
Videos, blogs and a summary report are available to help students decide how to best
use their final credit hours to better prepare themselves for career advancement. The
resources are based on the results of a CPA firm poll on skills and competencies most
valuable for new hires to acquire as they complete their education, as well as interviews
with young CPAs, academics, and firm employers. Those inputs align with CPA
Examination Practice Analysis reports and the AICPA Foundational Competencies
Framework for Aspiring CPAs. The summary report for student advisers is available on
the This Way to CPA web site.
Extending 18-Month CPA Exam Credit Rule Period
For some CPA candidates, time constraints and other pressures on their exam
preparation made completing all parts of the CPA exam within 18 months (what had
been the common requirement) a challenge. The Pipeline Acceleration Plan called for
an expansion of that time limit. In April 2023, NASBA amended the Uniform
Accountancy Act Model Rules to extend the CPA exam credit rule period from 18
months to 30 months. State boards are in the process of granting candidates that added
flexibility. All states and jurisdictions have since voted to go to a 30-month period, with
some states opting for 36 months. The map below visualizes the status of actions by
jurisdiction.
Note also that all state accountancy boards have approved the CPA Evolution
Extension policy whereby candidates holding credit on January 1, 2024, will have their
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©2024 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. All rights reserved. AICPA and CIMA are trademarks of the American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants, respectively, and are registered in the US, the EU, the UK and other countries. The Globe Design is a trademark of the Association of
International Certified Professional Accountants.
As of May 2024
credit extended until June 30, 2025, thereby easing the candidate’s journey through the
CPA Evolution transition.
Credit Relief Initiative
NASBA’s CBT Administration Committee is formally recommending that boards of
accountancy consider adopting a credit relief initiative that could attract previous CPA
candidates back into the pipeline. AICPA supports this concept, which would create an
opportunity for those who have already passed 1 or more sections of the Exam in recent
years to get those credits restored.
The program extends credit consideration periods through June 30, 2025, for CPA
Exam credits that expired between Jan 30, 2020, through May 11,2023 and could bring
as many as 18,000 candidates back into the system. As of February 2024, 33
jurisdictions have taken up the CRI initiative for candidates.
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©2024 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. All rights reserved. AICPA and CIMA are trademarks of the American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants, respectively, and are registered in the US, the EU, the UK and other countries. The Globe Design is a trademark of the Association of
International Certified Professional Accountants.
As of May 2024
Examining Uniform Accountancy Act Variances
A legal review of UAA variances is now complete, and NASBA and AICPA held
prioritization conversations to prioritize the following for the 2024-2025 legislative
sessions:
•
•
•
Elimination of letters of recommendation requirements; elimination of experience
portfolio requirements.
Pushing for uniformity across states for a one-year experience requirement;
Nevada recently changed its law to one year of experience.
Alaska and Indiana are exploring a change to a one-year experience requirement
in the near future.
The AICPA continues to coordinate with NASBA, state boards and state societies to
address other identified inconsistencies.
High School and College Initiatives
There are numerous initiatives focused on high school and college students and
academia, many of which are progressing collaboratively with state societies, firms,
colleges and universities, and other key stakeholders. To spotlight a few:
•
•
•
•
•
Accounting and finance will be included in the Advanced Placement Business
Principles course with a pilot scheduled for the Fall of 2025.
Based on a comprehensive survey of AICPA Academic Champions and
interviews with 13 universities who were experiencing increased accounting
enrollments, we published a report: Strategies for Boosting Accounting
Enrollment on February 27, 2024. This report uncovers how universities are
increasing their accounting enrollments by expanding access to accounting
degree programs, enhancing student outreach and engagement, and
empowering students for success.
We are focused on expanding educator outreach by growing audiences of
the Faculty Hour webcast series and Academic Update newsletter.
We continue to work with partners in education (e.g., DECA, BPA, Beta Alpha
Psi, AAA, Junior Achievement, ASCA) to promote accounting on high school and
college campuses.
Customizable presentation templates, videos, and facts/figures are available
here for firms to use when presenting to high schools and colleges. The resource
page now includes a new welcome video from Okorie Ramsey.
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©2024 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. All rights reserved. AICPA and CIMA are trademarks of the American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants, respectively, and are registered in the US, the EU, the UK and other countries. The Globe Design is a trademark of the Association of
International Certified Professional Accountants.
As of May 2024
Accounting Opportunities Experience (AOE)
Following a successful accounting opportunities week in 2022, the expanded
Accounting Opportunities Experience (AOE) took place during November 2023. Fortytwo state CPA societies participated in the 2023 initiative, and the AICPA aided 10
states in educator outreach. The 2023 AOE was shaped by a working group comprised
of state society staff volunteers, and several resources were developed to aid state
societies in their efforts. The resources can be downloaded here.
This year’s AOE built on the success of the 2022 pilot; 914 volunteers visited 690
schools, reaching 23,939 students.
Dual Enrollment
(No updates to report)
There is strong interest in developing initiatives to support dual enrollment, and we
know that, in some areas, dual enrollment programs that allow high school students to
get college credit are working. After conversations with dual enrollment accreditors and
several colleges with dual enrollment for accounting, our key takeaways include:
• More teachers are needed in high schools to teach a college-level Introduction to
Accounting course; and
• Each college and high school develop their own articulation type agreements,
often having the community college professor teach the high school course.
Given the lack of a single point of outreach and the size and complexity of these
programs, we will continue to monitor dual enrollment programs and look for
opportunities to promote them in the future.
Career Launchpad
The AICPA’s Career Launchpad course was made available to AICPA student
members in September 2023. Students complete up to six modules of career-related
content, including viewing video testimonials from accountants in the fields of tax, audit,
forensic accounting, technology, ESG, and more. Throughout the course, students hear
about how accountants can create work/life balance and create a rewarding career
path, and learn about resume writing, interviewing, and how to succeed in their first job
search.
In the final module, offered in partnership with Interflexion, students can participate in
simulated real-world interviews. Students receive real-time feedback, driven by AI, to
refine performance and boost confidence. At time of writing, more than 300 students
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Institute of Management Accountants, respectively, and are registered in the US, the EU, the UK and other countries. The Globe Design is a trademark of the Association of
International Certified Professional Accountants.
As of May 2024
have started the course, with 19 completing mock interviews. Five classrooms are using
or plan to use Career Launchpad as part of their course, and the next phase of
promotion will involve outreach to educators for adoption in classrooms.
Social Media
An overhaul of our student social media strategy began in December 2022, and has
resulted in reaching more than 40,000 students through our social media channels. In
addition to featuring user-generated content from student ambassadors, our social
media reaches students where they are: TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram.
Currently,
•
•
•
•
Our student TikTok account promoting the accounting field has 21,000 followers.
We’ve tripled our followers on Instagram from 2,000 to 6,000 in 2023 alone, with
the vast majority of our users between ages 18-24.
In total, our posts reach around 40,000 students across platforms, and we
continue to grow.
In exciting news, the social media team is also working to expand the reach of
pipeline initiatives through AICPA’s entire suite of social media. We continue to
be dedicated to reaching students, academics, members, and stakeholders to
grow the CPA pipeline with fresh, exciting, and informative content about the
accounting profession.
The direct links are as follows:
•
•
•
@aicpastudent
https://www.instagram.com/aicpastudent/
https://www.youtube.com/@AICPAStudent/shorts
•
https://www.facebook.com/AICPAstudent
STEM Recognition for Accounting
We are deploying a multi-pronged strategy to get accounting recognized as a STEM
field.
REGULATORY
AICPA and state CPA societies nominated accounting and five other curricula (CIP
codes) to be designated as STEM by the Department of Homeland Security in August
2023. We are awaiting the DHS decision, which should be released in the summer of
2024. Based on intelligence we gathered after our August 2023 submission, we
anticipate that DHS will decline to add our nominated CIP codes to their list of approved
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©2024 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. All rights reserved. AICPA and CIMA are trademarks of the American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants, respectively, and are registered in the US, the EU, the UK and other countries. The Globe Design is a trademark of the Association of
International Certified Professional Accountants.
As of May 2024
“STEM” codes and that we will need to submit some or all of these nominated codes
again in 2024. In anticipation of that need, we are working with a consultant who has a
track record of getting codes onto the DHS list and whose expertise would help improve
our 2024 submission. For the 2024 submission, we are also making the argument that
accounting is STEM under both the T (technology) and M (mathematics) fields. We
have also engaged an academic consultant who is providing guidance regarding
academia’s response to the changing landscape of accounting and is providing
evidence for both of these fields (T and M).
A toolkit was developed to use in working with colleges and universities to expand their
accounting curricula to include additional technology-focused courses, and at least 83
accounting programs have adopted STEM CIP codes.
LEGISLATIVE
The profession supports bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would establish the
accounting profession as a STEM career pathway and support efforts to diversify the
future accounting workforce. In the House of Representatives, H.R. 3541, the
Accounting STEM Pursuit Act of 2023, was introduced by Representatives Haley
Stevens (D-MI) and Young Kim (R-CA); in the Senate, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME)
and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced S. 1705, the STEM Education in Accounting Act.
These bills, which would allow federal grant funding to be used for K-12 accounting
education, highlight the clear and logical integration between accounting and technology
and note the value of accounting professionals, including CPAs, as technological
leaders. The House bill has 51 cosponsors and the Senate bill has 4 cosponsors. The
AICPA government affairs team anticipates that adding cosponsors to both bills and
working with committee staff to identify a moving legislative vehicle that could carry the
accounting STEM language in 2025 will be priorities for this year.
The AICPA government affairs team has also created a new toolkit for state societies to
use when engaging with members of Congress. The toolkit contains a number of
resources, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Logo and branding
Advocacy materials
Infographics
Social posts
Articles and op-eds
Letter templates
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Institute of Management Accountants, respectively, and are registered in the US, the EU, the UK and other countries. The Globe Design is a trademark of the Association of
International Certified Professional Accountants.
As of May 2024
State societies were also encouraged to participate in STEM Awareness Week, which
took place March 12-15th, and a letter signed by the AICPA and several state societies
in support of designating Accounting as STEM was sent to both the House and Senate
in early May.
Expansion of 529 Funds to CPA Exam Costs
The AICPA has endorsed federal legislation (H.R. 1477 / S. 722) that would allow the
use of Sec. 529 funds to include expenses required to obtain or maintain recognized
postsecondary credentials. Allowable expenses would include:
• CPA exam fees
• Exam review courses
Thus far, the House bill (bipartisan) has 128 co-sponsors, and the Senate bill
(bipartisan) has 22 co-sponsors. In addition, AICPA submitted a Statement for the
Record in support of the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee post-hearing in
November 2023.
AICPA Foundation and Scholarships
In 2023, the AICPA Foundation awarded $1.6 million to 318 scholarship recipients. The
Foundation experienced a growth in donor contributions of 19%. In addition, 85 students
were able to attend the Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop with financial
support from participating firms. The Foundation continues to expand its fundraising
activities and a 2024 focus will be in greater collaboration with state societies,
ASCEND, ALPFA, NABA, NSBCPA, and others. In light of the Supreme Court ruling on
affirmative action, we are exploring how the ruling may broadly impact DEI efforts and
scholarships. Our current understanding is the decision does not bear directly on
scholarships from private organizations. The AICPA and the AICPA Foundation
continue to review case law as we seek to comply with the Supreme Court decision.
Government Audit and Finance Collaboration
A joint working group of the AICPA and the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers,
and Treasurers (NASACT) has been established to study the reasons for a lack of CPA
resources within state and local governments and the CPA firms that audit them . The working
group includes key stakeholders (e.g., state auditors, state comptrollers, state
treasurers, CPA firm representatives, local government representatives, etc.)
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©2024 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. All rights reserved. AICPA and CIMA are trademarks of the American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants, respectively, and are registered in the US, the EU, the UK and other countries. The Globe Design is a trademark of the Association of
International Certified Professional Accountants.
As of May 2024
The working group is looking at the the following areas:
•
• Factors affect the hiring of CPAs by government entities.
• Strategies government entities have used to successfully hire and retain CPAs.
• Important factors to CPAs currently working for government entities.
• Advantages of working for a government entity and how they can best be
communicated.
• State considerations when establishing audit requirements for local governments.
• Factors that impact engaging a qualified CPA firm to perform a governmental audit.
• Successful strategies that governments have used to engage qualified CPA firms.
Following initial outreach to inform their understanding of the challenges in this space,
the working group met with small focus groups, which included representation from
various stakeholders in the governmental audit and accounting community. A survey
was sent out in January 2024 and over 900 responses were received.
The working group is finalizing its analysis of the survey results and is drafting a report
that will detail the findings and include recommendations. The report is expected in July
2024. Initial indications from the survey results appear to cite strong factors being a lack
of competitive salaries on the government side impacting hiring and retention and audit
fees that are too low on the CPA firm side. However, more analysis is needed to form
any final conclusions.
Best Practices for Offshore Talent
Over the past few years, we have focused on expanding international administration of
the CPA Exam in key markets, including India. We have seen significant growth in India
and have since begun initial exploration of other markets, including the Philippines,
South America, and South Africa.
We have also evaluated how significant the need is for offshoring resources and what
resources are needed. So far, two studies have been conducted to assess the demand,
and we are evaluating next steps.
In addition, CPA.com continues to explore how to support firms’ talent and capacity
needs through outsourcing and managed services providers (MSPs). Broadly, this can
be done multiple ways, and across multiple practice areas, through:
•
•
Outsource labor (Contractors, offshore talent, etc.)
Outsource deliverables (Tax services, payables, etc.)
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©2024 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. All rights reserved. AICPA and CIMA are trademarks of the American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants, respectively, and are registered in the US, the EU, the UK and other countries. The Globe Design is a trademark of the Association of
International Certified Professional Accountants.
As of May 2024
•
Managed services (Labor + capabilities/tech stack)
PCPS published an Outsourcing/Offshoring toolkit in December 2023. This new toolkit
examines different approaches to utilizing outsourced talent, best practices and key
considerations. It will be available to AICPA & CIMA members for a limited time, before
becoming a PCPS member-only benefit.
Image Campaign
(No updates to report)
The AICPA continues to support and look for opportunities to amplify the work of the
Center for Audit Quality’s Accounting+ initiative, a national brand awareness campaign
aimed at introducing students to the possibilities that exist within accounting, while
tackling unflattering misperceptions about the profession head on.
Accounting+ meets students where they are – on social media platforms and in the
classroom through the voices of trusted messengers, for example, the Pittsburg
Steelers. As part of that effort, the CAQ has partnered with education technology firm
EVERFI to develop and deliver Accounting Careers: Limitless Opportunities, a digital
course, to over 3,000 high schools in 49 states, sparking interest and excitement with
more than 40,000 students and 2,300 teachers nationwide. Classroom Connect is a
scalable solution that connects Accounting+ volunteers with teachers looking to provide
learning opportunities in their classrooms.
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©2024 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. All rights reserved. AICPA and CIMA are trademarks of the American Institute of CPAs and the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants, respectively, and are registered in the US, the EU, the UK and other countries. The Globe Design is a trademark of the Association of
International Certified Professional Accountants.
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