Change is good

Scott D. Wiley, CAE
President & CEO
The Ohio Society of CPAs

In standard association models, it’s common for strategic planning and programming to focus on the common good; that is, where can we move the needle on behalf of a majority of our members or a significant faction of them fairly quickly?

That model has sound business implications because associations, like for-profit companies, have limited resources, making a targeted approach absolutely crucial for achieving results that members or stakeholders can point to when it’s time to join or renew.

But we also know that membership in The Ohio Society of CPAs is largely a personal, one-to-one decision in terms of what we offer of value to you, a CPA who might be working in any number of industries or disciplines across Ohio.

And that’s where I think The Ohio Society’s sweet spot is – striking that critical balance between being focused and strategic so we continue to drive the CPA profession and Ohio business environment forward while serving the important needs of individuals who rely on us as a resource for their career.

To that end, your Executive Board has begun the process of identifying what we believe are the top opportunities to move the needle on behalf of the profession over the next several years. That process kicked off in August at the Executive Board retreat, and out of that emerged four broad-based areas of focus we think are the right direction for our future. These are:

Knowledge: OSCPA will be a leading source for ideas, tools, and resources for the accounting profession.

Learning: Those in the accounting profession will attribute their enhanced performance to OSCPA’s learning experiences.

Advocacy: Ohio’s legislative and regulatory climate is favorable to business and the finance community, and the role that CPAs play in advancing the public interest is recognized as valuable.

Community: OSCPA will be a preferred community of value for CPAs and those who engage with the accounting profession.

Over the next several months, the Board and staff will undertake a strategic planning process to identify specific strategies and initiatives that fall into each of these domains. We will be aligning our priorities and lines of business around emerging issues that are directly affecting CPAs today and over the next 3-5 years.

The goal will be to build on OSCPA’s past successes while ensuring we are remaining relevant to growing segments of members who are the future of the profession. This includes young CPAs, women and other currently underrepresented populations. This will be important as we seek to widen our reach and impact for CPAs everywhere.

Bottom line, we want to be the preeminent resource and professional society for all CPAs in Ohio. That means we’ll need to change, and for the better. I look forward to bringing you news of our progress as we embark on this important journey. And I hope you’ll join us as we build the OSCPA of tomorrow for you.

Network and volunteer your way to a bright future

By Robert Zunich, CPA/ABV
2013-2014 Chair of the Executive Board

If you are majoring in accounting or are in the early stages of your career, you have a great opportunity. The demand for well-prepared accountants is high, so your chances for getting and keeping a job are great.

However, you can have much more than a job. You have the chance to embark on a rewarding career that makes a difference in the communities you care about. If you want your work to matter beyond the numbers, the financial statements and the spreadsheets, you can make it happen.

Here’s how: start now. Your 20s are your developmental sweet spot and the perfect time to advance your education, build your professional networks and engage with people who share your values.

Seek mentors within and outside your current organization. Start by asking for advice from an experienced, trusted professional in your industry. Select someone who is a good role model, listens well and is willing to be honest with you. It’s also helpful to find someone who is unlike you in a key way.

As your relationship develops, ask the person if he or she would be willing to meet regularly. You might be surprised to find how willing successful people are to share their knowledge and experience.

You can also learn from people you don’t even know yet. You can meet new people through what are called our weak ties, our friends of friends of friends. That’s where your membership in OSCPA can be so valuable. One good conversation could have an enormous effect on the rest of your life. With 21,000 members and affiliates, there are many good conversations to be had here. So make a phone call, send an email or get involved in our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

Another great opportunity is to be part of one of these programs from OSCPA and The Ohio CPA Foundation.

FETCH!® Financial Education Teaches Children Healthy Habits®

It’s never too early to teach kids the connection between managing money and future success. On Nov. 13, OSCPA members will visit elementary classrooms throughout Ohio to help students understand that connection through FETCH! This game, which was created by The Ohio CPA Foundation, mobilizes CPAs to teach kids basic financial literacy concepts now so they can better manage their money later in life.

ACAP-Ohio Accounting Careers Awareness Program

Inspire minority high school students to major in accounting and consider careers in the CPA profession. Through ACAP-Ohio, the Foundation partners with the National Association of Black Accountants to provide a week-long residential college experience for minority high school students to help attract talented individuals and foster a more diverse and inclusive profession.

Financial Fitness Ohio

Train Ohioans how to whip their personal finances into shape. Through this public service campaign, CPAs provide tips and advice for taking charge of personal finances and meeting goals. We’ll provide the resources, you provide the expertise, and together we’ll work to improve the financial outlook for Ohioans.

Young CPA Initiative

Last fall, The Ohio Society of CPAs Young CPAs sent one or more YCPA volunteers to nine Ohio college campus career fairs. The group is now planning outreach activities for this fall.

In addition to OSCPA’s CPA Day of Service, the Young CPAs will:

• Participate in American Heart Association Heart Walks.
• Serve meals to families in need.
• Collect donations for charity at group events.

The Ohio Society of CPAs is here to help you solve problems, give you a competitive edge and connect you with like-minded people – people who want to be more.

Municipal tax reform: Are you in or out?

Scott D. Wiley, CAE
President & CEO
The Ohio Society of CPAs

The past two years have been a battleground in the fight for municipal income tax reform. On one side: representatives in many of Ohio’s nearly 600 municipalities fighting to preserve a costly and inefficient system that’s stunting business growth in Ohio. On the other: a number of forward-thinking state legislators and 30 organizations in the Municipal Tax Reform Coalition. Led by The Ohio Society of CPAs, Ohio Chamber and NFIB-Ohio, this group is pushing for a more equitable system that eliminates inefficiencies and red tape in return filings and spurs business investment.

It would be an understatement to say it’s been anything but an uphill climb the entire way.

While we had hoped for a truly collaborative process, it’s resembled more of a negotiating tug of war with opponents waging an all-out misinformation campaign, and painting an exaggerated picture in the media of Ohio post municipal tax reform. Despite that, we believe we’ve landed on a piece of legislation, H.B. 5, that will help improve Ohio’s local tax compliance climate and therefore our state’s economic development attractiveness.

The substitute version of H.B. 5 will require every city and village to follow the same definitions for not only filings, appeals, audits and assessments, but also NOLs (five years), partnerships (taxed at the entity level) and occasional entrants (moving from 12 to 20 days – with withholding in the “other” city starting on day 21), reporting to a single city per day and eliminating tracking for employers earning $1 million or less in gross receipts. Simplifying the system will also help to cut compliance costs for governments.

We knew it wouldn’t be an easy row to hoe when we set out to form a coalition and drive for reform. But we did so knowing we had the strong support of a majority of our members. In a survey last year, 90% of respondents agreed that adopting more uniform rules governing Ohio’s municipal tax structure was critical.

We’ve worked hard to keep you informed and engaged in the process. A small group of CPAs worked with the coalition to draft and revise legislation, taking cities’ concerns into account. Others provided testimony during nearly 40 hours of hearings held over the past year.

Despite progress made, we need many, many more voices in the chorus. We’ve reached a critical juncture and we need hundreds of members to speak out publicly to help counter the howls of opposition coming from dozens of city officials across the state.

H.B. 5 is very close to a vote in the Ohio House – we may well see a House committee vote in early October, hopefully followed by a floor vote soon thereafter. But there are still many legislators on the fence about municipal tax reform.

It’s not for lack of education by OSCPA and our Coalition partners.

But it’s difficult to rise above the din of a consistently vocal opposition. Legislators have told us time and again that they hear plenty from municipalities on why H.B. 5 is bad for cities and bad for Ohio. But they aren’t hearing the other side of the story from local CPAs and businesses.

If you think municipal tax reform is important, you can’t afford to sit back. Don’t expect your peers or someone else to make the contacts required to help pass this bill. Speak up now. We have a short window to make an impact—just a few weeks. With 21,000 CPAs, I know we can move this bill out of the House and on to the Senate.

Call or write to your local legislators today to ask for a yes vote on H.B. 5. OSCPA can give you all the tools you need to get your message delivered.

It matters to Ohio’s future. Are you in or out?

Sales tax effort a good model for action

By Robert Zunich, CPA/ABV
2013-2014 Chair of the Executive Board

One of the best things about serving as chair of The Ohio Society of CPAs is meeting with talented, intelligent CPAs from around Ohio to discuss the timely issues important to our profession.

But what is it like to be part of these discussions?

Having served on the board and as chair-elect, I thought it would be helpful to explain how the dialogue materializes as we work to promote and protect the profession.

A good example is OSCPA’s work to remove a proposed sales tax on services from the state’s biennial budget.

As proposed in February, H.B. 59 called for an expansion of the sales tax base to potentially thousands of services, including accounting, legal and consulting.

OSCPA members were justifiably concerned. Such a plan would have harmed Ohio’s business environment, and by extension, all taxpayers.

We surveyed members, and more than 80% of you opposed an expanded sales tax on most services. Almost two-thirds of you thought the negative impact of the sales tax proposal overshadowed any gains that would have occurred from the income tax reduction.

OSCPA’s governmental affairs team worked behind the scenes, finding out why similar tax efforts had failed in other states, and getting important information to governmental leaders.

On March 5, after considering the facts and your input, the OSCPA Executive Board voted to formally oppose the sales tax expansion and to offer OSCPA as a resource to help lawmakers find alternatives that were better for Ohio. OSCPA representatives also testified on March 6 about the harmful implications of the expanded sales tax.

I’m happy to say that the budget bill that Gov. Kasich signed into state law in June did not include an expanded tax on services, in no small part because of concerns raised by OSCPA.

The bill did include several things OSCPA supported, such as $2.7 billion in tax cuts, including a phased-in 10% reduction in personal income taxes. This helps Ohio be more competitive with nearby states.

The expanded tax on services is just one example of the issues the OSCPA Executive Board tackles. Every issue has its own challenges and opportunities.

I am looking forward to having deeper discussions with my fellow board members about their goals for the Society. I also look forward to discussing those ideas with you – both in person and here in CPA Voice. It’s not about what I want to do; it’s what do we as an organization want to do. Send your thoughts to cpavoice@ohio-cpa.com.

Robert G. Zunich, CPA/ABV with Barnes Wendling CPAs, Inc. in Sheffield Village, is The Ohio Society of CPAs 2013-2014 Chair of the Board. 

CPAs can lead by translating the technical

Scott D. Wiley, CAE
President & CEO
The Ohio Society of CPAs

In the July issue of CPA Voice I discussed OSCPA’s commitment to providing quality CPE to meet your needs in a changing world.

This month I want to address the other side of the education equation, and it’s something I’ve heard mentioned repeatedly this year by leaders in the accounting profession: the importance of being a constant learner. It’s a habit that will make you not only more competitive and employable, but also a better citizen and well-rounded person.

This is an issue that extends beyond CPE, and it isn’t just for those interested in another certification or an advanced degree. Professional education for CPAs – and anyone else – should be constant and self-motivated.

Just by earning your CPA you’ve proven you have the knowledge and skills needed to be a business leader: financial savvy, strong ethics and an analytical mind. Spending time working in a particular business area also gives you expertise in that domain.

Are you developing skills that go beyond your technical expertise and underscore your value to your employer or clients? These could include communications skills, leadership, the ability to pitch and close a sale, customer service knowledge or strategic planning.

One good example is communication skills. A course on how to make financial presentations to non-financial people could provide an edge in today’s business world. The ability to relate the numbers to a strategic direction, and then explain them is a valuable skill to any organization.

Why is this important to you? Because it can position you as someone who does much more than crunch numbers, open doors you don’t even know exist, get you in contact with more people and elevate your chances of taking your career to the next level.

It’s critical to stay on top of technology. Laysha Ward, president of community relations at Target, said, “We know that, with the rate of technological change, (a career in the 21st century economy) will require a lifelong commitment to learning.”

Leaders have to be able to go even farther beyond that technical business and financial information and be able to communicate it in such a way that audiences of varying knowledge and experience understand and can internalize.

That’s just one possibility for improvement, and I am sure you can think of others. Though the CPE requirement is a cornerstone of the accounting profession, learning is lifelong and shouldn’t stop at the 120-hour requirement every three years. Its true value is intellectual development; it’s an investment that improves our work, elevates our profession and makes our lives more enjoyable.

Continuing education is getting better

By Scott D. Wiley, CAE
President & CEO
The Ohio Society of CPAs

Providing quality continuing education has always been a top priority for The Ohio Society of CPAs. As some of the state’s leading business and financial executives, CPAs must remain knowledgeable and competent in a wide range of tax, accounting and business topics. And it’s a requirement of maintaining a CPA license in Ohio.

That’s where OSCPA believes there’s a potential disconnect and a huge opportunity for the Society to provide more value in education delivery.

In our discussions with the Accountancy Board of Ohio and with our own members, it’s clear that some in the profession are far too focused on simply meeting the 120-hour CPE reporting requirement rather than viewing it as an opportunity for ongoing learning that makes them a better professional. This is in direct contrast to the intent of the rule and a point of concern for the ABO and the Society’s Executive Board and staff.

Some CPAs now think of CPE as a commodity and a chore. The proliferation of ‘all you can consume’ CPE for very low prices is feeding this trend but is not, in our opinion, a model that best serves the future of the CPA profession even if it satisfies a short-term need.

We must move beyond the mindset that easy-to-earn CPE is sufficient for maintaining a strong professional competency and edge.

Consider this fact: over the past three years, Ohio CPAs who are not members of OSCPA were nine times more likely to receive disciplinary action ranging from fines to revocation of their CPA license from the ABO. We believe there is a direct correlation between these findings and the continuing education CPAs choose to take.

As your professional society, we understand that education needs are changing. Every year, CPAs are asked to absorb and master a long list of new and complex tax laws, standards and government regulations. And taking time away from your everyday responsibilities to attend a full or two-day class to get up to speed on these changes isn’t always possible.

That’s why OSCPA continues to evolve our educational products, giving CPAs more choices for what they take and how it’s delivered – all while ensuring that it meets higher standards for content, quality and learning.

So what does that mean for you?

The Ohio Society of CPAs is committed to providing an optimal learning experience, recognizing that every CPA’s needs are unique and preferences for learning styles and formats vary from person to person.

For those who learn best in face-to face environments, we will continue to offer many live, in-person seminars and conferences each year. Many sessions from these events are available afterward in the OSCPA online store.

We’re expanding online learning opportunities to accommodate busy schedules and tighter budgets. OSCPA’s video classroom increases the variety of programs we can offer to more CPAs through webcast. High definition video and an interactive chat feature for remote participants ensures those tuning in have a quality experience similar to those sitting in the video classroom. These programs are taped and available on demand afterwards for the convenience of those who can’t participate in the live broadcast.

Finally, OSCPA will soon introduce a new series of on-demand educational courses that move beyond our traditional online CPE models. They are developed by a panel of recognized subject experts and designed to develop core competencies in key areas like tax, A&A, technology and professional development. The content is in-depth and robust, and delivered in a curriculum-based format. Successive courses will allow CPAs to define a clear cut educational plan for achieving higher competency and professional success in specific areas depending on career goals.

Best of all, you can take these courses on your own time, not just when and where they might be offered.

OSCPA is confident this direction will encourage more CPAs to embrace CPE as an opportunity for lifelong learning and building the knowledge base needed to address today’s business challenges. And we’ll continue to keep our ear to the ground so that we are continually responsive to members’ needs. What do you think?

Accounting has a diverse future

By Brendan Fitzgerald, CPA 2012-2013
Chair of the Executive Board

The CPA profession is making significant efforts to improve diversity and inclusion by hiring and retaining employees from the underrepresented classes of women and ethnic minorities.

We use the word “diversity” when describing the composition of firms and companies, the profession and the student population. Employers have created diversity initiatives or appointed managers to be in charge of encouraging diverse representation within our organizations – from entry-level positions, to the partner ranks in public accounting firms and prominence within the corporate hierarchy.

Employers implement programs centered on cultural awareness. But how effective are these programs if statistics support the notion that very little progress has been made in narrowing the gap in recent years?

The keys to achieving diversity within the accounting profession must begin with the realization that this issue isn’t about numbers. We can quote statistics on the number of minorities enrolled in bachelor’s programs as a percentage of undergraduate students and compare those numbers to the composition of our own organizations, but what does that really tell us, other than most of us are below average?

Women make up nearly half of the new accounting graduate hires in recent years but represent less than one quarter of the public-firm partner positions, and minority figures, both in terms of representation and leadership roles are even lower. The profession aspires to attract the best and the brightest, but how attractive are we to minorities? While we think we can offer the best chance for success, is the CPA profession perceived to be as attractive as medicine or law?

In addition to the many profession-wide issues requiring attention, we must also understand our individual biases. These are not institutional, but personal. Terms like “unconscious bias,” or “implicit bias” are used to describe the unreasoned judgments we all have. The fact that we are not aware of them is what makes them so hard to overcome. And even though bias is universal, it has a negative connotation. For someone to admit to bias takes courage. Rather than be fearful of repercussions, such self-awareness should be encouraged and applauded as the first important step toward change. Cultural or gender bias can be overcome only after we acknowledge its existence.

We must address the perception of our profession. In a profession dominated by white men, it is difficult to look through the door of the conference room or the board room and offer a reasoned argument that we are inclusive. We have a problem with representation at the highest levels that cannot be remedied quickly. Role models are critical to altering that perception, but if there is a dearth of candidates, where will the future role models come from? At the staff level, we must continue our efforts to encourage minority students to pursue a career as a CPA. It will take time to cultivate and encourage more minority students, but we must persevere. We cannot overlook the importance of peers and immediate supervisors in development along the way. Once on track, it will take mentors within organizations to support the effort by acting as coaches and advocates for underrepresented groups. Not all of us achieved success solely on our own merits; along the way we had someone champion our cause, which greatly contributed to our successful careers.

We must also be willing to listen and understand each other. How many times does poor communication lead to failure in an endeavor? The problem is often too little information being shared, not too much. When people are missing crucial information, they tend to fill in the blanks with their own suppositions. Lack of awareness about cultural differences leads to misunderstanding or incomprehension.

A panel comprised of women or minorities, or a combination, discussing the issues of diversity and inclusion would be very enlightening. It’s notable that what you are not hearing from these panels are arguments for lower standards for entry or promotion. All that is asked is that the same opportunities exist for all. In a profession that touts integrity as a pillar, we can do better.

Feedback from around Ohio at the Professional Issues Updates

Since April I’ve have the pleasure of traveling the state through the Professional Issues Update series. It’s been an educational and enjoyable experience to greet the more than 2,500 OSCPA members who’ve attended. They’ve provided valuable insight into the challenges CPAs face in 2013. And I’m finding it’s no small list.

I wanted to share some key observations formed from these group discussions and one-on-one conversations. During the PIUs, we conducted instant polling to get a better picture of issues commonly affecting CPAs’ businesses. Topping members’ list were increasing regulation and internal controls, leadership changes and employee retention, the economy, and health care reform.

Beyond those issues is the more important question of how can The Ohio Society of CPAs help members succeed in this swirling morass of business and environmental instability?

Take the economy, for example. On a scale of 1 to 5, CPAs’ confidence for sustained U.S. economic growth through 2013 was just 2.7. Not very optimistic, but understandable given the slow movement in Washington on issues most think will move the economy forward: slowing the deficit clock and enacting major tax reform.

Last month, I joined our Governmental Affairs team and 12 Ohio CPAs for the annual Legislative Fly-In. Over several days, we met with Ohio’s elected leaders who appreciated hearing directly how indecision in Washington caused headaches during tax season, and how laws and regulations are affecting Ohio businesses and individuals. We also urged their support of bills for mobile workforce rules and tax due date simplification. Finally, we again offered CPAs’ help to simplify our tax code.

We’ll continue to watch the developing controversy around IRS overreach, and will seek to offer our members’ experiences where appropriate.

Health care reform is the two-ton elephant in the room at every business meeting this year. CPAs continue to prepare for a new system even as it is still taking shape. OSCPA is committed to being your partner in the implementation and beyond, offering education and valuable resources to help CPAs prepare to guide their own organizations and clients.

Increasing regulatory obligations is one area OSCPA is weighing in on. We have worked closely with Lt. Governor Mary Taylor and the Common Sense Initiative (CSI) to identify red tape in Ohio that is slowing business growth. When new or revised accounting standards are released for public comment, OSCPA’s various committees are quick to weigh in on behalf of all Ohio CPAs.

Building effective controls at all levels in an organization is an unfortunate byproduct of increased regulation. But it’s also an opportunity for CPAs to lead by developing new controls, improving existing ones and ensuring accountability. OSCPA continually seeks the best experts in the business to conduct educational sessions on this growing topic.

Retaining a talented workforce is a key concern of CPAs today. We’re competing with a smaller student talent pool for the best and the brightest to fill our future ranks. CPA societies must act quickly and creatively to ensure a steady pipeline for the future. OSCPA now has Student Ambassadors promoting the CPA profession on 15 Ohio college campuses. We’ve increased the number of ASPIRE! community college minority recruiting programs we hold yearly and we were the first state CPA society to partner with the AICPA this May on a regional workshop for college students.

I appreciate your candor during the PIUs, and I’m thrilled by the high level of engagement and passion Ohio CPAs have shown on the issues that matter. Working together, we will continue to make a difference.

Scott D. Wiley, CAE
President & CEO
The Ohio Society of CPAs
swiley@ohio-cpa.com
614.764.2727 x 305 (office)
Twitter: @ScottDWiley
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scottwileycae

Your CPA Voice was heard on sales tax expansion plan

By Brendan Fitzgerald, CPA 2012-2013
Chair of the Executive Board

The initial furor over the proposed sales tax expansion included in House Bill 59, Ohio’s biennial budget, seems like such a long time ago.

Busy season has a way of causing the calendar days to click by faster than the totals on the “U.S. Debt Clock.org” web page.

When the plan was first rolled out, OSCPA mobilized, polling our members to solicit input as we refined our position on the issue. While our position ultimately was to oppose the expansion, we did acknowledge the ambitiousness of the entire package.

Among other things, the proposed legislation would have expanded the sales and use tax to all services, unless exempted, which is an about-face from the current practice of assessing the tax on specific transactions. The concept of expanding the sales tax base to include services is not new, especially among public finance experts. But it turns out that it isn’t a panacea.

A few other states are developing their own version of the expanded tax on services concept. Florida in 1987 enacted a sales tax on services that was repealed by the end of the year. In 2007, Michigan repealed its sales tax on services law just 17 hours after it became effective. This is not to say a sales taxes on services is never appropriate, but it highlights the difficulty in implementing one.

Our efforts to have our position heard included testimony before the Ohio House Ways and Means Subcommittee. Special thanks is due to member and former Ohio Tax Commissioner Tom Zaino, CPA who testified on behalf of OSCPA during the subcommittee’s public hearing. His eloquence was equaled by the strength of his case.

OSCPA addressed the unintended consequences of the sales tax expansion proposal, including the competitive disadvantage caused by higher costs to businesses, and the likelihood business owners would seek professional service providers outside of Ohio to avoid the new tax. We did not ignore the use tax obligation that would still exist, but pointed out that tracking such transactions would be a significant challenge. Newly-registered vendors, legal battles over nexus and compliance — or more likely, enforcement — would undoubtedly strain the current department of taxation staff.

Unlike others who argued for exemptions for themselves or their industry, OSCPA addressed how the proposal would negatively affect Ohio’s business climate and potentially counter the positive initiatives already in place. Although there was significant opposition to the proposal by our members (over 80%), some did not see it as unfavorable. Proponents cited changes in our overall economic climate from a manufacturing-based to service-based economy, as well as the opportunity to generate substantial new tax revenue. By broadening the base to include services, they said, the outcome would be more fair. Sales taxes are regressive because they represent a larger portion of the income of lower income taxpayers. A solution to the regressivity argument, therefore, is to target those services consumed primarily by higher income taxpayers. Furthermore, if consumer spending continues to shift toward services, additional taxes on services might be needed to maintain long-term sales tax revenue.

The most recent iteration of the biennial budget bill — as passed by the Ohio House — removes the expanded sales tax on services proposal. While that is encouraging news, our work is far from done. The Ohio Senate now will evaluate potential reforms to Ohio’s tax system. Know that we will continue to weigh in on this and other public policy issues using the same yardstick: meeting the needs and expectations of our members while serving the public interest. Whether you supported or opposed the sales tax expansion included in HB 59, we need to hear from you. We likely have not have heard the last of sales tax expansion, but we will continue to make your voice heard on this issue.

Helping women define their future

by Marie Brilmyer
Women’s Initiatives Committee 

I am fortunate to be a junior partner at a large, progressive public accounting firm, and as the firm has grown it has maintained a friendly and flexible atmosphere. We pride ourselves on the firm culture, and have made changes when necessary to fit the needs of our employees.  As a result, we have very low turnover rates compared to the industry average. A great feat, especially for public accounting!

I believe that one of the secrets to our success as a firm has been not only responding to our employees’ needs, but anticipating them. Mentoring, wellness, leadership training – it’s all available and easily accessible. Most recently the discussion on employee needs has centered on women’s initiatives.

From mom-and-pop shops to Fortune 500 companies, work/life balance, or integration, has long been recognized for its importance. As our society has evolved to include people with unique situations, wants, and needs, employers have in turn responded by providing more flexibility.

Enter the AICPA and state CPA societies.

A professional society plays a much different role in helping its members achieve their goals. While it is up to each employer to meet the needs of employees, organizations like the OSCPA have an integral role in providing ancillary services. What does that mean? Societies, like ours, can serve to:

1. Support organizations in their own unique efforts.
2. Support those in the workforce to achieve their own unique goals.
3. Provide resources for everyone in the profession.

Why women’s initiatives? The goal of achieving work/life balance is not, by any means, specific to women. But let’s face it, as the AICPA notes, “For the past 20 years, women have represented about 50% (1) of new CPAs in the accounting profession. Yet today, women account for less than 9% (2) of all CFOs in business and industry and 21% (1) of partners in CPA firms nationwide.”

The numbers just don’t add up.

While people can blame the statistics on different things, work/life balance or lack thereof being one of them, regardless of the cause, the goal is to support the advancement of women to higher positions within the industry and help them overcome the obstacles standing in their way. In the process, why not capitalize on some of those woman-to-woman relationships to build your network, find your next mentor, or gain a new friend? The possibilities are endless, and the OSCPA agrees.

We formed a task force to discuss if women’s initiatives are something the society wants. We polled our membership to determine what Ohio CPAs want out of a women’s initiatives program. We solidified our formal committee, held our first meetings and conference calls, and have just launched this initiative in full-force.

To learn more, join us at one of the spring networking receptions, which will be held at the Dayton Accounting Show, and after several of the Professional Issues Updates.

You can also join us on LinkedIn or email any one of your friendly committee members or OSCPA staff liaisons. Give us your ideas, your input, your suggestions and join us on our journey!