NO SLOWING DOWN PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE TRANSFORMATION OF THE PROFESSION, WORKPLACE & TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES BY JONI SUNDQUIST, NEBRASKA SOCIETY OF CPAs “PIPELINE” HAS BECOME QUITE THE buzzword throughout the profession. The work done thus far through AICPA’s National Pipeline Advisory Group (NPAG) and NASBA’s Professional Licensure Task Force, as well as within state CPA societies and other related organizations, has been thoughtful and inclusive. These evolving efforts aim to tackle the talent shortage and attract more people to a rewarding career in accounting. Although they differ, both initiatives focus on sustaining and improving the profession while creating long-lasting solutions to benefit future generations of accountants. At this time of great change and transformation, I am excited to be a part of NASBA’s State Society Relations Committee, where I am able to learn and share with some of the best and brightest who represent the CPA profession. In this issue of the Nebraska CPA, you will find two articles starting on pages 22 and 29 that discuss the efforts of the AICPA and NASBA in greater detail. In addition, I encourage you to take a look at NPAG’s “Accounting Employer Checklist” on page 24. AICPA Spring Meeting of Council Many forces are shaping the profession and creating uncertainty today, but each of us has the power to make a difference. That was one of my key takeaways from the recent AICPA Spring Meeting of Council, held in Orlando, Fla., May 21‑23. A quote from futurist Dan Burrus, presented at the meeting, perfectly captures this concept: “Change always comes to us from the outside in, forcing us to react, manage crises, put out fires. In contrast, transformation comes from the inside out, created by you and your team.” Joining me at the AICPA Council meeting were Society Chairman and outgoing AICPA Designated Council Representative Kelly Martinson of Lutz, Society Chairman-Elect and incoming AICPA Designated Council Representative Brian Klintworth of HBE LLP, Society Past Chairman and AICPA Elected Council Representative Shari Munro of Frankel LLC, and Society Board member and AICPA At-Large Council Representative Kelly Mann of AuditMiner. Congratulations to both Klintworth and Mann on being newly elected members of the AICPA Council. “The AICPA Spring Council meeting was another great opportunity to connect with other CPAs on current issues impacting our profession, particularly the pipeline discussions that have been part of the last few Council meetings,” said Kelly Martinson. She found one of the most thought-provoking sessions to be on the subject of artificial intelligence. “We’ve all been exposed to it in some fashion; some more than others. I think a lot of us are thinking about how we might be able to use it for client work, gaining efficiencies with this tool,” she explained. During the meeting, we learned that spending on AI software is projected to grow to $297.9 billion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.1%, according to Gartner. However, the technology research company estimates that more than 90% of employees are requesting GenAI training but less than 10% of employers are providing it at a satisfactory level. “I was intrigued by the discussions during this interactive session,” said Martinson, “and the many ways AI could enhance the operational aspects of a firm or organization. It feels like one of those areas where ‘the possibilities are endless.’” Brian Klintworth, Joni Sundquist, Kelly Mann, Shari Munro, and Kelly Martinson attended the AICPA Spring Meeting of Council in May. 8 Nebraska CPA
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