CPAs in Industry Can Make a Difference

By Jim Small, CPA, MBA, CGMA

This year marks my 50^th year since I passed the CPA exam and my 50^th year of continuous OSCPA membership.  I am quite proud of both records.  My professional designation and OSCPA and AICPA memberships have opened doors during my journey.  Nearly all business leaders and other professions recognize the CPA credential and they know that we are held to high standards and ethical rules by our profession. 

I have had the honor of serving in many roles with the OSCPA and the Tulsa Chapter of OSCPA, and have received guidance and support from other distinguished OSCPA members who are leaders in our field. 

My career after graduate school started with Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte) and introduced me to a wide range of industries and roles.  The training and experience in public accounting provided the groundwork for the many responsibilities I took on in my later career in oil and gas service and production, retail business, and healthcare. 

I always had a desire to teach and I served as an accounting instructor for ten years at the University of Phoenix.  Two students who were in my classes passed the CPA exam (one became a Trailblazer).  It is a pleasure to see young CPAs assume leadership roles in the society and chapter.  I continue to encourage students and accountants that I encounter to pursue certification and to consider leadership roles in the profession and society.  I personally also enjoyed the call on many occasions to teach, speak, and write for the Society, the Tulsa chapter and other organizations.

My CPA certificate is a point of great pride in my professional life.  I have continued to maintain my permit to practice (in case Deloitte makes me a fabulous offer in my twilight years).   I do treasure the time I spent in public accounting, but my work-life balance has been more pleasant in the corporate environment.  Public accounting firms are making changes in order to retain talented personnel and I believe that recruiters will continue to seek CPAs to fill positions in industry.

Many industry CPAs have risen through the leadership positions in the OSCPA and our membership is bolstered by both public and industry members.  We have the opportunity to learn from each other and continue to teach each other so each of us, in our own special way, can leave everything better than how we found it.