State CPA Societies in Action: New York State Society of CPAs

According to Jovan C. Richards, the media and government relations manager, growth has remained consistent.

“With the number of associations that have been struggling with membership and trying to remain relevant always increasing, the NYSSCPA has had a minimal amount of membership churn over the last 10 years,” he said. “That being said, there is a great need to build the CPA pipeline, which means that acquisition among high school and university students, and retention of current membership are a high priority.”

Members in NYSSCPA are also a priority for NYSSCPA President Lynne. M. Fuentes. “The New York State Society of CPAs has truly become thought leaders in the accounting profession and in finance. Our members are some of the best in the profession, and they share their talents with their fellow members, mentor a new generation of CPAs, and evolve the profession to continue to serve the public good, as only CPAs can. Our members are selfless, dedicated, and highly knowledgeable, and I could not be prouder to serve as their President.”

Member occupations vary widely, according to Fuentes. “CPAs are not only tax professionals, but we are also auditors, professors, legislators, consultants, trusted advisors, and problem solvers.”

Top objectives for 2023

The NYSSCPA is focused on advocacy, public awareness, professional excellence, member growth and development, and diversifying the CPA profession.

• Advocacy: The NYSSCPA has become the voice of the profession in Albany. The Society has pushed the New York State Legislature and Executives to respect and lean on the expertise that CPAs possess. Through the NYSSCPA’s Legislative Task Force, Political Action Committee, and Government Relations Team, the Society is drafting laws with the Legislature that would benefit members and their clients, lobbying regulators to cut the red tape to ensure that accounting practitioners can effectively serve their clients and working with the Executive branch for New York’s public good.
• Diversifying the CPA Profession (DEI & NextGen): The NYSSCPA aims to build and welcome young people into the CPA profession. The Society, through its 501(c)3 Moynihan Scholarship Fund, supports the COAP (Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession) initiative, a high school summer immersion program, and Excellence in Accounting Scholarships for college and university students, both of which encourage students with an interest in accounting and finance to join the profession and experience the benefits of being a CPA.
• Public Awareness: CPAs are community-oriented and perform a duty in protecting the public good daily. The NYSSCPA aims to amplify the magnificent work that CPAs do for their neighborhoods and communities.
• Professional Excellence: The NYSSCPA aims to provide members with every educational resource that expands their professional repertoire—from understanding changes in the law that affect how members must operate their businesses to learning about emerging technology. The Society offers CPE (Continuing Professional Education) classes, on-demand courses on many topics, and 50+ committees specializing in key accounting principles.

Top Long-Term Objectives

Long-term objectives are important to any organization focused on serving its members well into the future. One of those priorities, according to Fuentes is to continue to build the CPA pipeline.

“A major goal of mine and throughout the accounting profession, as a whole, is to build the CPA pipeline. This is not a one-and-done job. It requires outreach, strategy, money, and drive. We need more accountants and CPAs, but almost equally as important—we need the profession to be open to all who wish to join, we need managing partners who are female and CPAs of color, so students have someone they aspire to be. We must pursue a diverse workforce as if our profession depends on it, because it actually does if we wish to survive and thrive as trusted professionals.”