Catch up with the OSCPA's committees

The OSCPA's Committees preserve the esteem of the CPA certification and promote advancement of the profession.

Learn about the committees serving your profession and complete our leadership recruitment and awards nomination form to get involved. 

Accounting Careers Committee

The Accounting Careers Committee focuses on CPA pipeline initiatives. Committee members work year-round to increase awareness and promote the CPA profession to students, high school through college, by highlighting career opportunities and supplying them with tools to further their academic goals.

The committee hosts the OSCPA's annual Career Development Workshop, formerly named Career Night, with the mission of educating students about the profession by meeting with current members of the OSCPA. This year's event will take place on February 23 virtually. Throughout the year, Committee members volunteer to visit university accounting clubs and programs. Additionally, the Committee promotes OSCPA scholarships to students across the state.

Continuing Professional Education Committee

The Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Committee ensures members of the society have cost-effective, accessible and quality education. The Committee advocates for high CPE regulation standards for the profession and works in cooperation with the Oklahoma Accountancy Board in evaluating CPE requirements. The CPE Committee helped implement more than 100 educational events to more than 4,000 CPAs in 2021.

CPA/PAC

The CPA-PAC plays a key role in establishing relationships with the Oklahoma legislature and key policy makers on issues impacting the CPA profession by pooling the financial resources of our members into a single, strong voice. The PAC also establishes the CPA community as an invaluable resource to our legislators on financial and business-related matters.

The CPA-PAC is expanding its overall advocacy efforts to include more OSCPA members as advocates for the CPA profession.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee seeks to encourage equity and enhance diversity and inclusion throughout Oklahoma’s accounting profession with a focus in the areas of recruitment, certification and advancement of individuals regardless of race, gender, age, disability or any other aspect of diversity.

The DEI Committee received a grant from Deloitte that will fund up to 10 CPA exam review scholarships at $500 for students who identify as a minority and are planning to pursue a career as a CPA.

Educational Foundation

The Educational Foundation Trustees develop and advance education and research relating to the study, teaching and practice of accountancy. The Educational Foundation promotes the growth of new CPAs in our profession by offering scholarships to Oklahoma accounting students. Last year, the Foundation provided nearly $50,000 in scholarships to over 49 Oklahoma accounting students thanks to the generosity of our members.

In 2022, the Foundation is expected to provide even more scholarship funds and continues to increase related student activities designed to assist more accounting students through the process of becoming a CPA.

Financial Literacy Committee

The Financial Literacy Committee promotes and provides financial education to the public and promotes OSCPA members as financial experts. The Committee created and distributed 2,360 copies of its Financial Fitness Kit to libraries, nonprofits and accounting firms across Oklahoma in 2021.

In 2022, the Financial Literacy Committee plans to redesign its webpage to be a hub for financial learning and resources. The Committee members have also organized volunteers for events hosted by financial literacy organizations in Oklahoma, including the Meaningful Economics and Entrepreneurship Competition and the Junior Achievement Finance Park. 

Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee

The Governmental Accounting and Auditing (GAA) Committee works to improve the governmental reporting standards and compliance.

This Committee sponsors the annual GAA Conference,  which promotes technical excellence and provides education to more than 300 members employed by the government and practitioners serving the governmental industry. Members promote intergovernmental relations and maintain relationships with various government agencies and participate in the governmental accounting and auditing standard setting process.

Human Resources Committee

The Human Resources Committee provides experienced insight on the policies and procedures governing the OSCPA to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws. This oversight ensures the OSCPA remains a wonderful place to work and can continue to attract and retain the best and brightest candidates for staff positions.

Liaison for Educational Institutions Committee

The Liaison for Educational Institutions (LEI) Committee is comprised of accounting educators. The objective of the Committee is to provide relevant information regarding accounting curriculum updates and education tools for Oklahoma state colleges and universities.

The LEI Committee is dedicated to increasing conversation between educators across the state as the new CPA Evolution initiative unfolds in 2024. The Committee is passionate about creating opportunities for educators to connect and will implement a virtual educator roundtable this year to spark discussion. The LEI Committee also promotes, selects and presents the Outstanding Accounting Educator award each year.

Members in Industry Committee

The Members in Industry Committee supports members employed in business and industry by providing educational opportunities and creating a forum for the exchange of ideas and viewpoints. The committee sponsors the Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award, which celebrates a member who grows and enhances the profession while working in business and industry.

The Committee also plans the annual Banking and Industry Summit, which provides catered CPE to members in these respective areas. The Summit is held every April in conjunction with the OSCPA's Industry Appreciation Month, which includes events and support for our industry members.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee serves a vital role to develop the leaders of the CPA profession in the state of Oklahoma. The committee is structured to ensure all members of the OSCPA have the opportunity and consideration to serve our profession in a leadership role.

The Committee selects the Society's officers and directors-at large and members of the AICPA Council, as well as the recipients of the Public Service Award and the Rick Kells Outstanding Tax Professional Award.

Peer Review Committee

The Peer Review Committee oversees peer reviews for 536 firms with offices located in Oklahoma, Kansas and South Dakota. Meeting monthly, the committee processes approximately 175 reviews per year. This includes approving reports, prescribing corrective actions and oversight of reviewers.

In November 2020, the OSCPA entered an agreement with the Kansas Society of CPAs to administer peer reviews for their firms. This relationship has been very beneficial in the sharing of expertise between the two states. It has also reduced costs, resulting in no fee increase for Oklahoma firms in the past two years. First and foremost, the union has enabled the OSCPA to remain a major player and represent the interest of Oklahoma peer review firms.

Professional Ethics Committee

The Professional Ethics Committee develops, interprets, publicizes and enforces the Society's Code of Professional Conduct. The Committee monitors and discusses ethical questions and complaints sent from the public and CPAs, then determines which need to result in a complaint sent to the AICPA Professional Ethics Enforcement Committee for investigation.

Once a year, the Committee sends representatives to the annual Joint Ethics Enforcement Program (JEEP) Conference in North Carolina to learn about the latest developments in professional ethics.

Public Relations Committee

The Public Relations Committee enhances and updates the image and public understanding of the CPA profession, while achieving greater visibility for the OSCPA and improving communication between the Society and its members. The Committee also creates opportunities for all OSCPA members to become involved and adept in media skills, such as writing, presenting and interviewing.

The Public Relations Committee recently selected the 2022 class of Trailblazers and Pathfinders—the Society’s elite recognition of up-and-coming leaders, as well as esteemed mentors of the profession.

Small Firms Committee

The Small Firms Committee assists OSCPA practitioners in improving their practices and providing high-quality professional service through the use of techniques that increase firm efficiency and profitability.

Since the beginning of 2021, the Small Firms Committee has hosted eight virtual roundtables on topics to help elevate firm management skills and best practices. The group continues to be a resource for small and medium-sized firms throughout the state and the recent move to all-virtual roundtables has allowed them an even greater reach to CPAs in rural areas.

Taxation Committee

The Taxation Committee cooperates with the IRS and the OTC regarding mutual concerns under the Federal and Oklahoma Tax Laws, so that a more effective service may be provided to the public. The Committee achieves this through the creation and distribution of its annual Legislative Tax Guide and asking member questions for the OTC at the annual OTC Liaison Meeting.

To provide OSCPA members with up-to-date tax information, the Taxation Committee also organizes the annual Oklahoma Tax Institute, provides updates on the McGirt v. Oklahoma case through its McGirt Sub-Committee and offers Legislative Tax Updates on the OSCPA's member social forum, Evolve.

The Young Accounting Professionals Committee

The Young Accounting Professionals Committee provides a forum for professional development, valuable resources and networking opportunities to CPAs that are under 40 years of age or have five or fewer years of experience as a CPA. The group also serves as a welcoming committee for new CPAs and mentors for students looking at careers in accounting.

The YAP Committee hosted four Mix & Mingles and four Lunch + Learn events in 2021 to provide opportunities for networking and help better-equip young professionals to manage their careers. Four more Mix & Mingle events are planned for 2022, as well as two events organized in collaboration with the emerging leaders of the Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma. 

Discover an OSCPA Committee that speaks to you? Make a lasting impact on your profession by signing up for a Committee or applying for a leadership position today.