MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

As we end our fiscal year, I want to express my gratitude to each of you for your support, patience and resilience as we create and shape our new tomorrow. This year has been full of unexpected twists and turns, and through it all, we have remained focused on leading the profession and committed to serving our members—creating a phenomenal experience with every interaction.

As we all know, we have hurdles and challenges to overcome—talent pipeline, rapidly changing member needs & interests, and struggles to connect with younger members. I see these challenges as opportunities and remain optimistic about the initiatives we have in progress and the potential they hold for our future success, especially our new emphasis on creating more engagement and adding value for our members. Below are a few exciting projects underway that will help us continue to grow and better serve our members in the years to come.

• Expanded member benefit categories—Essential and Elite. Click here for more information.

• Expanded benefits to our 100% firms.

• Pipeline advocacy: We are helping to shape and implement various changes directed at addressing pipeline challenges, including expanded education pathways, an extended testing window, the enhanced image of the profession…and more.

• Unveiling an exciting new brand and website.

• Launch of nano-learning.

• Quarterly Member Town Hall webinars.

• Quarterly Capitol Beat advocacy update webinars.

• And, so much more…

We have accomplished a great deal together and can achieve so much more. I look forward to embracing new experiences with you, taking calculated risks, leaning into technology, and pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zone—the opportunities are endless!

CHAPTER EVENTS

Chapters are excited to kick off the new fiscal year with a full lineup of engaging events. Bring a colleague and reconnect with fellow members after another busy season. Check out the event calendar or contact your program manager to register.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Bringing Pride to Accounting
CalCPA will participate in Pride festivals this summer and fall to help bring Pride to the accounting profession. Keep an eye out for communication on which cities will be included in this initiative and for ways to volunteer.

Diversifying the Accountancy Pipeline Program Pilot
CalCPA is proud to partner with NABA, IMA, CAQ, AAA and Gleim to help increase the number of Black and African American individuals to become fluent in accounting. The Diversifying the Accountancy Pipeline Program pilot is open to Black college students in California interested in a CPA, CMA or leadership track. There is also a faculty development track for Black practitioners who seek to give back in accounting classrooms. Applications for each track closed on April 28. We appreciate those members who encouraged students and future faculty to apply.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Pipeline Advocacy
Earlier this year, the AICPA developed and released a draft plan that outlines a set of actions intended to accelerate solutions and address certain root causes of pipeline issues impacting future CPA talent. The plan outlined several initiatives highlighted by a proposal that would add flexible ways to meet current education and experience requirements by creating a hybrid program that assists a candidate in meeting both requirements concurrently. The plan also proposed extending the current testing window beyond the 18 months to allow candidates more time to pass all sections of the CPA Exam. Other areas looked at how the profession can change the perception of the CPAs by reframing how it is talked about and how long-held practices can evolve to better support new and future talent entering the profession.

CalCPA provided detailed feedback that centered on the need to focus on the most impactful initiatives. CalCPA emphasized the importance of prioritizing efforts to reshape the perceptions and opinions of the profession. This included support for a profession-led effort to commit to changes that would substantiate a rebranded profession. Additionally, CalCPA suggested extending the 18-month testing window to 36 months and further exploring flexible education models. Another comment is the need for data-driven decisions and using quantitative data to inform and support the most impactful efforts. CalCPA also called for an analysis of the educational framework to reimagine and realign behind an approach that would prepare future accountants for the rapidly evolving landscape of the profession. Overall, CalCPA’s feedback highlights the need for a coordinated and focused effort to tackle this critical challenge.

NASBA Approves Expanded CPA Exam Testing Window
The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) approved amendments to the Uniform Accountancy Act’s Model Rules to increase the timeframe for a candidate to pass all parts of the Uniform CPA Exam from the current 18-month window to a 30-month window.

While changes approved by NASBA have no immediate effect on state board rules, most state boards of accountancy, including the California Board of Accountancy, are expected to consider changes to their respective state rules to align with the model rules and the longer testing window.

CalCPA submitted comments that supported an extended testing window to 36 months.

Read more.

If you have any questions or comments on either of these important issues, please reach out to the CalCPA Government Relations team.

MEMBERSHIP

In mid-March, the membership team launched the annual renewal campaign, which reminds valued members to renew their CalCPA memberships. This year's campaign was especially significant as it also marks the debut of our new membership tier structure.

The new structure introduces an Elite tier of membership that includes 28+ hours of CPE, which includes an ethics course, a town hall series, the Capitol Beat government relations series and a variety of webcasts on hot topics. This tier also includes discounts on chapter events.

CalCPA is excited to offer this comprehensive package of resources that will enhance membership and provide members with a more valuable experience.

FIRM ENGAGEMENT AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The CalCPA business development team has been meeting with firms to review the updated Elite membership upgrades and new benefits that 100% firms receive. For firms that have not learned about the new member benefits including more CPE, free classified ads, reserved seating at conferences, a free HR Tool Kit, exclusive firm partner events and more, please email Denise Bethel for a connection to your local representative.

ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIPS

CalCPA Technology Showcase Series: A series of hour-long webcasts featuring short demos from thought leaders in the CPA industry who will share how their technology solutions can help innovate our members’ work.

Learn more and register for the dates below.

• Technology Showcase #1 May 16 (sponsored by Suralink, Canopy Tax and Shield IT)

• Technology Showcase #2 Aug. 1 (sponsored by Canopy Tax)

• Technology Showcase #3 Nov. 14 (sponsored by Canopy Tax)

CalCPA Mental Health Wellness Series: As our commitment to promoting good mental health for our members, CalCPA is pleased to offer the 2023 Mental Health Wellness Series, a six-part webcast series sponsored by CalCPA Health covering a variety of important and timely topics. Hosted by Denise Froemming, President and CEO of CalCPA, and Ron Lang, CEO of CalCPA Health, these 1-hour webcasts are FREE to our members. Learn more and register for the dates below.

• June 16 Resiliency Part 1 and 2

• Aug. 18 Promote Family Health

• Oct. 20 Women and Depression

• Dec. 15 Overcoming Burnout

Affinity Partnership Updates: CalCPA is pleased to announce our new affinity partner KBKG!
Established in 1999, KBKG provides turn-key tax solutions to CPAs and businesses. KBKG will be offering their tax solutions to our members at a discount. Visit our exclusive savings page to stay updated, learn about our affinity partners and to get exclusive deals.

MEMBER COMPETENCY & LEARNING

Not-for-Profit Organizations Virtual Conference | May 18
CalCPA's annual conference brings together industry and public accounting experts to deliver timely updates surrounding the nonprofit market. Engage with speakers who lead sessions covering topics ranging from new and developing tax issues to effective controls and private endowments. You'll gain a renewed understanding of pertinent accounting, audit, legal, tax and regulatory updates relevant to this sector. Register here.

Employee Benefit Plans Audit Virtual Conference | May 23
Regulatory, reporting and disclosure requirements surrounding employee benefit plan auditing are growing and changing. Audit deficiencies are more common than firms care to see. The risk of plan failures or fraud is always present for plan sponsors. Learn about the complexities, trending issues and steps you can take to be up to date on regulatory, audit and accounting requirements, perform quality audits and serve your clients with timely and accurate advice. Register here.

STATE COMMITTEES/SECTIONS

CalCPA’s Collective Learning Strategy (Coming soon!)
Keep an eye out for an announcement of the all-new CalCPA Collective Learning approach to CPE and statewide networking—your ultimate solution for staying ahead of the game in the constantly evolving world of accounting and finance!

Beginning in June, state committees will be presenting 1-hour virtual CPE events on M/W/F of the 3rd week and Tu/Thurs of the 4th week of every month. (MAP Monday/Wealth Wednesday/Financial Accounting Friday on the 3rd week and Tax Tuesday/Trending & Technology Thursday on the 4th week of each month.).

Pricing for the virtual state committee CPE events will be affordable and competitive, starting at just $29 member/$39 nonmember per CPE hour.

Estate Planning
Estate Planning is excited to get rolling in May. The charter has identified areas of interest for sharing content and resources with membership and will be identifying task force leaders to work on the new CPE initiative. The committee is excited to be working with PFP on monthly CPE and looks forward to sharing skills with membership in this innovative new format. An engaging panel will present at Council for the COT, EPC and PFP members in attendance.

Committee on Taxation
Later this month, the CalCPA Committee on Taxation will host a liaison meeting with the IRS. Topics discussed will include updates from IRS staff and a question-and-answer forum covering various tax issues facing practitioners.

CalCPA COT continues to be active on various tax advocacy efforts, including those to add flexibility and refinement to the pass-through entity tax (PTET) provisions. We are particularly looking at how to add flexibility to the current June 15 deadline for PTET payments. While legislation has not been introduced, CalCPA is having ongoing conversations with policy leaders to explore a path forward on this critical issue.