Professional development news and resources

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October 12, 2023

Pool of accounting graduates shrinks, AICPA report finds

The AICPA 2023 Trends report shows a significant decrease in accounting graduates, but university accounting departments foresee an increase in enrollment. That, combined with a projected increase in the general student population, presents an opportunity for the profession.

October 5, 2023

Harnessing collaboration for workplace transformation

Advances in technology are turning the business world upside down — and accounting is no exception. The paradigm shift taking place calls for radical innovation and transformation. Collaboration is the key.

October 1, 2023

The state of DEI: A Q&A with Crystal Cooke

Crystal Cooke, director of Diversity and Inclusion at AICPA & CIMA, assesses the state of DEI initiatives and attitudes in accounting.

September 21, 2023

Summing up Sid: The ultimate CPA and friend to all

Hear the voices of four CPAs sharing memories of their interactions with Sid Kess, a pioneer who loved to share knowledge and grow the profession, one conversation at a time.

September 20, 2023

Sidney Kess, a personal remembrance

For accountants, especially those in the tax and personal financial planning worlds, the passing of Sidney Kess at age 97 is “like losing a parent to the profession,” writes Andrea Millar, CPA/PFS, who shares her memories of a legend who educated countless CPAs and helped her grow the AICPA Personal Financial Planning section.

September 19, 2023

Remembering the mentorship and impact of Sidney Kess

Kess, who died at age 97, was “a friend to everybody” – and a strong proponent of sharing knowledge with others.

September 14, 2023

No regrets: Reflections on a family-owned CPA firm’s ‘great run’

A CPA grieving the death of his father, who was also a CPA, shares how writing about “beautiful” memories led to a book that teaches business lessons and more. Listen to his words or read the transcript.

September 11, 2023

How to close the talent gap without hiring

An expert in workplace dynamics shares simple strategies that can significantly increase the productivity of current employees while changing company culture for the better.

September 7, 2023

Why the outlook of CPA decision-makers has improved

A quarterly survey of CPA decision-makers reveals that inflation is no longer the top challenge for the respondents’ organizations. Learn more in this podcast episode with transcript.

September 1, 2023

How 3 firms tackle the audit talent crunch

Nontraditional career paths, international expansions, and automation are among the approaches three firms are using successfully.

September 1, 2023

CPA engagement boosts student interest in Exam, public accounting

Practitioner participation in college capstone class teaches relevant workforce skills and increases desire to pursue licensure.

August 24, 2023

3 keys to building a strong team: Partnerships, people, goal alignment

A CFO with a focus on talent development shares the importance of partnerships, people, and goal alignment in this podcast episode with transcript.

August 10, 2023

‘All in this together’: Addressing the CPA pipeline issue

The chair of the newly formed National Pipeline Advisory Group shares how a group of stakeholders aims to address the profession’s talent shortage in this podcast episode with transcript.

August 9, 2023

Future C-suite leaders banking on continued hybrid work model

In a survey of manager-level professionals at financial services institutions, 66% said they likely would leave their current roles if required to return fully to the office. At the same time, the large majority see value in some in-office work hours.

August 7, 2023

Program to ease path to CPA licensure partners with Tulane University

Tulane’s School of Professional Advancement will provide a library of online courses for the first class of accounting graduates completing their 150-credit-hour requirement while earning a paycheck via the AICPA and NASBA’s Experience, Learn & Earn program.

August 3, 2023

How one small firm drastically cut its busy-season hours

Two CPA firm leaders share both their family journey and their firm’s journey to a streamlined work environment, including advice on how to shed unwanted clients, in this podcast episode with transcript.

July 31, 2023

Accounting talent shortage is focus of new advisory group

The AICPA said the National Pipeline Advisory Group will “play a critical role in guiding” the conversation and making calls to action to address the slowdown in young people choosing accounting as a career.

July 27, 2023

Fraud, football, and a viral video: A midsummer compilation

This episode is a midsummer look back at insights from selected 2023 podcast guests, from a Super Bowl CFO to the AICPA vice chair

July 20, 2023

At the ripe old age of 21, he’s advising the IRS on change

Aidan Hunt was appointed at age 20 to the IRS Advisory Council, a panel that advises the IRS commissioner and recommends administrative and policy changes.

July 12, 2023

Update on the AICPA Pipeline Acceleration Plan

The AICPA continues to work on the Pipeline Acceleration Plan, a set of initiatives aimed at addressing root causes of the declining number of students becoming licensed CPAs.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

4 ways solo practitioners can stand out

Five years ago, a grieving Angel Zhen started his own CPA firm with no clients and no revenue. Today, he has 300 clients, $600,000 in revenue and 12 weeks of annual vacation. In this JofA article, he shares how he set up his firm and how you could do the same.