State CPA Societies in Action: Ohio Society of CPAs

With more than 100 years of experience, The Ohio Society of CPAs represents 85,000 CPAs and accounting professionals who are the strategic financial advisors to Ohio’s leading businesses. We work with public, private and not-for-profit organizations of every size and sector, leading healthy exchanges between business leaders and policy makers to drive initiatives such as a fair and predictable tax environment in Ohio.

[State CPA Societies in Action is a series of articles spotlighting the varied educational, advocacy, networking and professional activities of the state CPA societies across the U.S.]

The Ohio Society, like many other state CPA societies, is experiencing a decline in membership largely due to a surge in CPA baby boomer retirements as well as challenges attracting new talent to the profession. However, there has been a slight pickup of pre-CPAs, which has been encouraging. And because the Ohio Society has a long history of talent pipeline-building programs designed to attract students to the profession, today, the OSCPA has one of the largest future CPA pipelines in the nation.

In addition, the Ohio Society also has a nonprofit arm, The Ohio CPA Foundation that actively collaborates with schools, teachers, parents, and the business community to recruit and develop the next generation of accounting professionals. The foundation offers programs such as Accounting Career Days, CPA Camp, a Student Ambassador Program, and provides scholarships to Ohio students who plan to become CPAs.

Mission of the OSCPA:
‘To empower CPAs and Related professionals to drive value as trusted business advisors by fostering professional excellence and integrity, building community and advocating for members and those they serve.’

Talent shortage and a declining number of CPAs is being actively addressed
As of May, 2023, more than 300,000 U.S. accountants and auditors have left their jobs, as reported by SHRM, an issue that is being actively addressed by OSCPA. “We are energized by the work we are doing to address the accounting talent shortage,” said Scott Wiley, CAE, president and CEO of The Ohio Society of CPAs. “We are building a coalition of leaders in business, academic, government, and non-profit sectors who are committed to partnering with us to engage in the work needed to reverse the decline. The comprehensive plan we have developed and the alternative pathways to licensure we have identified—available under Ohio law today—are designed to spark real change with the potential for scalability beyond Ohio’s borders.”

What are the top three objectives for the upcoming year?

Build, fund, and activate the Ohio Accounting Talent Coalition—an OSCPA-led accounting talent acquisition and development alliance designed to address the accounting talent crisis.
Support accounting talent development through B2B group learning initiatives
Address the disruption in the traditional membership model by increasing B2B engagement.

Long term goals and objectives for OSCPA

“Addressing the accounting talent shortage is a significant and long-term proposition requiring an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said Scott Wiley. “We are invested in collaborating with all stakeholders to explore every avenue that might provide relief to the profession, including removing the barriers to licensure and opening Ohio’s alternative pathways to those interested in gaining entry to this opportunity profession.”

Accounting