The Extraordinary Possibilities of the Accounting Profession

I was a kid from a blue-collar immigrant background, growing up in a neighborhood where most adults cobbled together a living from two or three jobs. When I turned 12, our community got its first CPA resident. That’s when I learned what a CPA was, and that it could lead to a better life. Thanks to the CPA profession, I grew up to be able to live the great American Dream.

I am honored and excited to write to you as the new AICPA Chairman of the Board of Directors. I believe the CPA profession is full of even more promise today than it was when I first started my career. For those with determination, adaptability and persistence, the profession offers extraordinary possibilities. I’ve learned the key to achieving that success: embracing change and seeing the opportunities in it.

Does Your Organization Invest in its Employees’ Training and Skills Development?

Organizations around the globe face extraordinary challenges when navigating through the current global economy. To thrive in the long-term, organizations must constantly innovate, evolve and transform.

One of the most critical factors that determines an organization's fate in this environment is the quality of its human capital and the way it manages its talent pipeline.

A recent report from the AICPA and CIMA showed that while most companies understand the importance of human capital, they do not appear to have the right systems, processes and information in place to manage talent effectively. Think about your organization for a minute. Does it invest in training and the development of talent and skills? Or does it view training as a compliance tool?

In the News: CGMAs Can Bridge the Gap in Human Capital Management

David McCann at CFO.com spoke with Arleen Thomas, CPA, CGMA, AICPA SVP of management accounting, about a recent talent management survey for Chartered Global Management Accountants conducted jointly between the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The report found that 43 percent of the CEOs, CFOs and human resource directors surveyed said their companies have missed financial goals in the past 18 months because of inadequacies in human capital management. Almost the same number, 40 percent, indicated that such shortcomings—which could include insufficient systems, processes or management information—have hindered their ability to innovate. “We believe that talent and the human dimension drive business growth and companies haven’t focused enough on that,” said Thomas. “Too many companies look at talent in terms of what they have to do to comply with labor laws and regulations, rather than understanding that it can be a competitive differential.”

A New Chapter in the Profession’s Extraordinary Story

It’s amazing to see what can happen within a single year. That’s one of my main observations as I complete my extraordinary time as your chairman.

I was honored to serve as chairman during the AICPA’s 125th anniversary. The Institute’s founders wanted to make a difference in the lives of CPAs and the people and organizations with whom they worked. They clearly succeeded, and I am confident we will continue to create value for our clients, employers and the public as the 21st Century progresses. As this year draws to a close, I see an increasingly vibrant profession preparing for the immense challenges facing us. Most of all, I see a profession that, throughout its history, has served with integrity and unleashed opportunities for success.

Stakeholders Invested in Sustainable Business Practices

Have you seen the CGMA Report “Thirsty Planet”? The report expertly underscores the need for businesses to consider social and environmental sustainability as a means to sustain business. Ensuring that natural resources, such as water, are safe and clean for future generations, communities and businesses to come should be a priority for businesses. 

A sustainable enterprise has a clear strategy not only on how it will make money, but also on its social and environmental impact. An organization’s ability to create and preserve value for itself, its stakeholders and society at large, depends on the strength of its business model;  the sustainability of the financial, social, economic and environmental systems within which it operates; as well as on the quality of its relationships with, and assessments and decisions by, its stakeholders.  Businesses need to consider environmental and social impacts in order to have a genuinely sustainable business that makes money—not just because it is the right thing to do, but also because it makes good business sense. 

Compelling Research and Helpful Tools for CGMAs

As a busy CPA in Business and Industry, you may not have time to seek out resources to help you in your day-to-day work. More than 33,000 CGMAs are already enjoying access to valuable benefits like innovative thought leadership reports and tools. The following is just a sample of the dozens of resources available on CGMA.org.

Outlook for the Global Economy Declines in Latest CGMA Forecast

On July 10, the AICPA and CIMA released the results of the most recent CGMA Global Economic Forecast, which showed the world’s CEOs, CFOs and senior management accountants hold an increasingly pessimistic outlook for the global economy over the next 12 months. The shift to a more negative sentiment appears to reflect the worsening of the sovereign and financial crisis in Europe and its effects on other regions, as well as slower growth in China and political and fiscal uncertainty in the U.S.

The CGMA Global Economic Index – a comprehensive gauge of executive sentiment within the Forecast – declined 7 points to 58 from the first quarter 2012 reading of 65. The Index is a composite of 10 equally weighted survey measures on a scale from 0 to 100, with 50 considered neutral and numbers above that signifying positive sentiment.

CPAs: The Startup Community Needs You

There is a joke in Hollywood that no matter what one’s day job is, everyone has a headshot in their back pocket. In business, the back pocket accessory isn’t the headshot—it’s the business plan. The startup community is exploding across the U.S. Whether it’s Silicon Valley, New York City or Detroit, state and local governments are embracing startups and encouraging talent to call their fair city home. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, there was a 60% increase in startups from 2010 to 2011. But there is one important thing most startups are missing: financial guidance.

You and I know the value a CPA brings to any organization. But many startups don’t. The qualities a CPA possesses—integrity, competence and objectivity—are needed and missing from some startups. Not to mention the financial and business knowledge that makes CPAs trusted business advisers. Recently, a report was released that examined the appointments of accounting and financial experts to audit committees, exploring whether concerns about the status of these experts discouraged companies from appointing them.

Case in point: Groupon.

Fostering a More Ethical Business Culture

A few weeks ago, I shared with you my (reasonable and totally understandable) enjoyment of data points and survey results in all their shapes and sizes. I have also always been a huge fan of The Ethicist column in the New York Times Magazine, and put serving as ‘The Ethicist’ near the top of my dream jobs list. Needless to say, the recent results of the global business ethics survey from the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants were right in my wheelhouse.

It’s encouraging to see that four out of five businesses worldwide report that they have committed to ethical performance. But according to Managing Responsible Business, a global survey of almost 2,000 CGMAs, the rhetoric does not always match the reality. While 80 percent of organizations provide a code of ethics to employees, only 36 percent collect ethics information such as the number of employees attending ethics training and actions taken on hotline reports. The report suggests that companies need better processes to really operationalize their ethics programs.

In the News: U.S. Economy Takes Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

In the midst of continued uncertainty, the nation – and by extension, news coverage - has been increasingly focused on the economy. Yesterday, the AICPA released the results of the second quarter Economic Outlook Survey, which showed that CPA business executives who hold leadership positions, such as chief financial officer or controller, in their companies, had grown more pessimistic about the U.S. economy, compared with last quarter.

The survey results were covered in the Wall Street Journal’s Real Time Economics Blog, which noted that the CPA outlook index slipped to 67 this quarter from 69 in the first quarter. A reading above 50 indicates a generally positive outlook with increasing activity. The index has ranged between 60 and 70 for the past two years.

“What we're seeing is the same ‘two steps forward, one step back’ cycle we encountered last year,” said Arleen R. Thomas, CPA, CGMA, the AICPA’s senior vice president for management accounting. “There's no question survey takers have grown more pessimistic about the U.S. economy, and, with expectations muted for profit, revenue and employment growth, there appear to be few catalysts to change that view.”

Creating Social Capital for Not-for-Profit Support

Ask any non-for-profit development director and they will tell you there are two ways to fundraise: 

• Ask 1000 people for $10
• Ask 10 people for $1000

Which is the easier task? In terms of time and resources spent, certainly option B is the easier option. But in terms of broader reach and influence over a large audience, option A is a formidable contender because of something called social capital. Social capital is a concept that points to the power of networks to build a powerful entity, such as support for a cause, political candidate or even a corporate brand.

5 Valuable CGMA Resources for Business People

The AICPA and CIMA continue to make available valuable management accounting reports and tools available for CPA, CGMAs and those considering the CGMA. Check out the following to help you develop new skills and bring best practices to your organization.

Live Blogging the CGMA Launch

AICPA Insights live blogged from the interactive business forum celebrating the launch of the Chartered Global Management Accountant on January 31. Follow the real-time event as it unfolded in New York and London and was viewed live in other regions around the world. A launch event in Kuala Lumpur took place earlier in the day. The CGMA was established through a joint venture between the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Internal Control - Integrated Framework - 20 Years Later

Almost 20 years ago, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), of which the AICPA is a member, produced the landmark Internal Control – Integrated Framework. With this published framework, COSO, an organization providing thought leadership and guidance on internal control, enterprise risk management and fraud deterrence, established a common internal control model against which companies and organizations may develop and assess their control systems. It became the world’s most widely used internal control framework.

But a lot has happened since 1992, such as the Internet! With advances in technology and business operations, the time was right for the framework to be updated so it could remain relevant and useful. In November 2010, COSO announced such a project. An online survey in January 2011 gleaned input from a broad audience. Last month COSO released the proposed updated Internal Control – Integrated Framework Exposure Draft to obtain input from the users of the framework and the general public. As a member of COSO, the AICPA has a representative on the COSO Board and a representative on the project’s Advisory Council.

In the News: Big Tax Changes to Come in 2012

The Wall Street Journal recently spoke to Melissa Labant of the AICPA’s tax team about tips for taxpayers as they wait to see if Washington addresses major tax questions in 2012; a number of major tax cuts are set to expire at year's end. Labant noted that several changes for this tax year could pose traps for those who are unaware.  Among the changes is the elimination of the charitable IRA donation, which expired at the end of 2011. IRA owners 70½ or older were previously able to donate up to $100,000 of assets per year to a tax-exempt charity. Individuals were able to use this donation as part of their required IRA payout, if they hadn't taken one. Adding to the confusion, many experts expect Congress to reinstate the law at some point in 2012. "If you want an IRA donation to be all or part of your required withdrawal, wait for Congress to act," advised Labant.

Chair's Letter: Resources for a Successful Future

What’s your dream, your long-term professional goal, your plan for the future of your career? I ask because whatever your answer, I’m pretty sure the AICPA has resources that can help you meet that goal. I’ll tell you about my own experience.

After spending many years at a large national accounting firm, I joined with two other partners nine years ago to follow my dream and launch my own firm. Today, we have three offices and 100 people. How were we able to grow so quickly into the kind of firm we dreamed of being? I have to give some of the credit to the AICPA Private Companies Practice Section. PCPS serves in a combination of roles, providing tools, publications and resources created especially for small and medium-sized firms. It also acts as an advocate on behalf of our interests, speaking out on issues that affect us and our clients.

Chair's Letter: Overcoming Challenges

Welcome to my first blog post as the new AICPA Chairman of the Board of Directors. I am honored to serve you and our wonderful profession during the next year and hope to meet many of you as I travel around the country.

It’s a great privilege to take on the role of chairman in the year the AICPA celebrates its 125^th anniversary in 2012. A source of pride for all of us, this milestone signifies both the historic and contemporary importance and relevance of our profession, and its staying power as a career.

CPAs: Professional Development Gurus

CPAs are known for providing sound guidance. We are, after all, called trusted advisors for a reason —whether our area of knowledge is related to tax planning, estate planning, spending and saving or making business decisions.

Over the last year, I’ve found my CPA colleagues are a particularly good source of advice regarding professional and personal development. Since the AICPA launched its BusIndNews monthly newsletter in the fall of 2010, readers have been writing in to provide their career profiles, insights into how to advance within an organization, tips on how to be the go-to-person in your office, how to find professional development opportunities and how to enjoy a happier, more successful or more balanced career.

The profiles and tip articles your colleagues have submitted demonstrate how interesting and diverse the work of a CPA is. Most important of all, there’s a running theme in all of the submissions we’ve received: CPAs love their jobs and are enthusiastic about making them more interesting, challenging and fulfilling.

Reading about how your colleagues maximize their time or take advantage of volunteer opportunities can help spark ideas to help you increase your satisfaction with your job or your personal life, so be sure to have a look at our BusIndNews CPA Profiles and Tips  web page.

Do you have a story to share or any tips to help your fellow CPAs in personal or professional development? Tell us how you go the extra mile at work, maintain a better work/life balance or motivate your staff. We’d love to read about it!

Carol Scott, CPA, Vice President - Business, Industry and Government, American Institute of CPAs.

Importance of Management Accountants

The impact of regional economies over global financial markets is intense. This past month was particularly tumultuous as investors reacted to current events and economic conditions in Europe, Asia and the U.S. The rocky ride has organizations struggling to maintain the inroads they’ve made over the last two years. Corporations must navigate the risks and opportunities to move forward. That’s why I think there is great potential for management accountants to lead businesses toward success in the future.

What makes me so optimistic? Because the skill sets of management accountants have never been more appropriate for business success. In addition to solid accounting fundamentals, management accountants’ competencies in monitoring, assessing and forecasting performance; helping colleagues understand income and costs; and assisting management in making tough decisions are critical for organizations to move in the right strategic direction.

The AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants are preparing for the early 2012 launch of the Chartered Global Management Accountant designation. The CGMA will showcase the management accounting expertise of qualified AICPA voting members, and open up an international community of colleagues for sharing ideas and gaining knowledge. The targeted resources and continuous learning opportunities that the AICPA and CIMA are preparing will enhance CGMA holders’ business acumen and help them bring long term value to their organizations. I am excited to be a part of this effort to establish what will be a gold standard for management accountants worldwide. If you want to learn more about what the CGMA, visit the CGMA website.

Carol Scott, CPA, Vice President - Business, Industry and Government, American Institute of CPAs.