CalCPA Leaders Wanted

Become a CalCPA Officer or AICPA Council Member
California CPAs are the driving force behind one of the world’s largest economies. Isn’t it time you put your leadership skills to use for the betterment of the CPA profession?

The CalCPA Nominations Committee is accepting nominations for 2009–10 CalCPA officers and council members at large. Officer positions include chair, first vice chair, treasurer and two vice chairs. Three council members at-large also will be elected.

(Nominees are also being sought for AICPA Council posiitions.)

If you are interested, please download and fill out the nomination form and submit it by Dec. 1, 2008.

For more information, contact John Angelo or Nominations Committee Chair Christopher T. Yahng.

California CPA magazine: November 2007–Path to Leadership is Wide Open

What It Takes
CalCPA has identified the following characteristics as the most important qualities in a potential Society leader:

Be able to speak well in public
Have charisma
Feel passion for the Society and the profession
Be aware of the issues
Be a team player
Exemplify the ethical values of the profession
Be able to turn conflict into consensus
Make the appropriate time commitment and manage time accordingly
Enjoy the support of your family, firm or company
Have prior leadership experience (or equivalent firm experience)
Be empathetic and a good listener
Be able to generate enthusiasm in others about the Society and to recruit others into leadership positions

Position Description

CalCPA Chair: The chair is responsible for the overall annual advancement of CalCPA goals. Working in close partnership with the chief executive officer, and in collaboration with the board of directors and the council, the chair ensures effective integration of plans with implementation.
Specifically, the chair:

Serves as chair of the council.
Presides at all council meetings and board of directors meetings.
Works collaboratively with the chief executive officer to:

Set the agenda for council and board of directors meetings
Coordinate the Annual Plan of Work and Strategic Planning processes
Ensure that the Strategic Plan is supported by budget, programming, and resource allocation and presents to the board of directors a proposed Annual Program of Work with measurable goals.

Serves as the primary CalCPA spokesperson to the membership, to the media, and to other audiences, as appropriate.
Communicates with council members so they are adequately prepared and oriented to their roles and responsibilities. Provides for a leadership development process that promotes a continued infusion of qualified, trained future leaders of CalCPA.
Communicates regularly with CalCPA members and leaders, in person and via CalCPA publications. Meets with chapters and state committees.
Serves as chair of the Chief Executive Officer Goals and Performance Committee, and ensures confidentiality and completeness of the chief executive officer’s personnel file.
Provides leadership to the council and the membership, articulating both a vision for the future and an understanding of the issues in the CalCPA’s Plan of Work.
Takes the initiative in the event issues arise which require immediate action, consistent with guidelines established by the board of directors and council.
Appoints all committee and task force chairs and members, and makes other appointments of volunteer leaders as needed.
Serves on the Education Foundation Board of Trustees, unless this is delegated to the chair-elect.

Immediate Past Chair: The Immediate Past Chair provides advice and counsel to CalCPA officers. Specifically the immediate past chair:

Serves on the CalCPA Council and Board of Directors.
Serves as a member of the Chief Executive Officer Goals and Performance Committee.
Assists the chair in special projects if requested.

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Position Description
Vice Chair: The Vice Chairs of CalCPA serve as members of the Council and Board of Directors. Working in partnership with the Chair, First Vice Chair, Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairs provide continuity of leadership of CalCPA. The Vice Chairs will assume specific responsibilities assigned by the Chair.

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Position Description
First Vice Chair: The First Vice Chair is responsible for the annual review and update of the Strategic Plan of CalCPA. Working in partnership with the Chair and the Chief Executive Officer, and in collaboration with the Board of Directors and the Council, the First Vice Chair ensures continuity of leadership of CalCPA. Specifically, the First Vice Chair:

Serves as Acting Chair of the Council, and presides at Council meetings and Board of Directors meetings in the absence of the Chair.
Is responsible for the Strategic Planning process.
Provides leadership to the Council, Board of Directors, and the Membership, in collaboration with staff, concerning the Annual Plan of Work that integrates with the Strategic Plan of CalCPA.
Works with the treasurer and senior staff to develop and coordinate the Plan of Work with the budget development process
At the request of, or in the absence of, the Chair, serves as the spokesperson to the membership, the media, and to other audiences and organizations, as appropriate, including the AICPA and state society forums.
Serves as a member of the Chief Executive Officer Goals and Performance Committee.
Is responsible for the adequate involvement and reporting by the Board of Directors liaisons with CalCPA State Committees and Task Forces. The Chair shall appoint the liaison with the concurrence of the First Vice Chair.
If requested by the Chair, serves on the Education Foundation Board of Trustees
Serves on other assignments and appointments as mutually agreed upon with the Chair.

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Position Description
Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for overseeing the financial status and reporting of CalCPA. Specifically, the Treasurer:

Serves on the Council and Board of Directors.
Chairs the Finance Committee and participates as a member of the Audit Committee.
Reviews financial reports and presents them to the Council and Board.
Presents the budget goals for approval and presents the Annual Budget to the Board of Directors and Council.
Monitors the budget for conformity to the Strategic Plan and the Annual Plan of Work.
In conjunction with the Finance Committee, monitors CalCPA’s investments for conformity with investment and reserve policies.
Monitors the expense reports of the Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Serves as a member of the Chief Executive Officer’s Goals and Performance Committee.

Position Description
Council Member at Large: This position is designed to increase member representation beyond the automatic Council seats that each chapter has available to them.

The responsibilities of the Council focus on strategic planning and policy making on behalf of the membership. Council members serve to represent what’s best for the profession and the organization rather than the individual’s own interest or gain.

The basic requirements of the member at large position are to:

Attend 3 council meetings
Be current on professional issues
Be prepared in advance of meetings by reading meeting packet materials
Be an active participant in discussions

Another Way to Serve—AICPA Council

If you’re an AICPA member and interested in representing your peers on AICPA Council, let us know. The Nominations Committee will recommend candidates to AICPA Council, which establishes AICPA policies and procedures, and enacts resolutions that are binding on the board of directors, officers, committees and staff.

If you’re interested, please download and fill out the nomination form, send a letter of intent and your professional and volunteer history to: Nominations Committee; c/o Christopher T. Yahng; 330 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 710; Glendale, CA91203.

All letters must be received by 5 p.m. Dec. 1, 2008. The AICPA makes the final selections.