Accounting groups look to identify pipeline problems

The Illinois CPA Society, in conjunction with the Center for Accounting Transformation and other state and national accounting organizations, is opening a national survey to learn what's behind the decline in young people pursuing the CPA credential. 

The survey will expand the reach of an earlier poll that ICPAS conducted in the autumn of 2020, allowing for direct comparisons against previous findings, which were published in a 2021 report. The new findings will be published and shared to focus on the most effective strategies to promote the CPA credential and ensure its sustainability and relevance in the future. 

One of the main priorities is to understand why a growing number of accounting students and young professionals in accounting and finance careers don't finish the CPA exam or decide to never take it at all. Accounting and finance students and professionals under the age of 35, with and without the CPA credential, are asked in particular to take the survey, which will close Dec. 15, 2023. 

"The profession is aligning on the approaches necessary to help stem the tide and ultimately reverse the negative CPA talent pipeline trend we're collectively facing," said ICPAS president and CEO Geoffrey Brown in a statement. "While there's more research than ever on this topic, interest continues to be high in learning more about the perceived barriers deterring prospective CPAs from ever pursuing the credential. A lot has happened in the three years since our last survey was issued, which is why we were compelled to partner with influential stakeholders across the country to garner a fresh look." 

Besides the Illinois CPA Society and the Center for Accounting Transformation, other research partners backing the survey include the Alabama Society of CPAs, American Accounting Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Colorado Society of CPAs, Florida Institute of CPAs, Hawaii Society of CPAs, Iowa Society of CPAs, Kansas Society of CPAs, Kentucky Society of CPAs, Maryland Association of CPAs, Massachusetts Society of CPAs, Michigan Association of CPAs, Montana Society of CPAs, NABA Inc., National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, New Jersey Society of CPAs, Ohio Society of CPAs, Oklahoma Society of CPAs, Rhode Island Society of CPAs, Tennessee Society of CPAs, Virginia Society of CPAs, and Washington Society of CPAs. 

"We welcome all organizations interested in participating in this important research to join in at no cost to them," said Donny Shimamoto, inspiration architect of the Center for Accounting Transformation, in a statement. "The greater the survey's reach, the more conclusive and credible the research will be." 

Others who wish to disseminate the survey are asked to complete the CPA Pipeline Research Ally Form by Oct. 31, 2023. Each research ally will be given a unique survey link to share with their network, and detailed de-identified data from the respondents who use that unique link will be shared with them.