Facing the CPA Pipeline challenges

By Vicky Petete, CPA, CGMA

What an honor it is to serve as your 2023-2024 chair. As I begin this endeavor, my life is taking on many changes. After 44 fulfilling years in the accounting profession— including 32 years in the banking industry at Vision Bank in Ada, Okla.—I have retired and made the decision to move to the Oklahoma City area to be closer to my children and grandchildren.

Another facet of this new chapter for me is the exciting opportunity to focus on some of the key initiatives affecting our profession. As this year’s OSCPA Chair, I hope together we can make impactful changes and improvements to the CPA Pipeline and initiatives surrounding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

The CPA profession continues to face significant pipeline challenges—not only on a national level, but also here in Oklahoma. We continue to discuss the topic, but what efforts can we act on together to make an impact in our state? The CPA Pipeline shortage cannot be corrected overnight nor by making just one change. It will only be improved by a combination of our united efforts.

I had the opportunity to represent the OSCPA at the AICPA’s Spring Council Meeting and Annual Members Meeting in Washington, D.C. There was a high priority on the pipeline challenges facing our profession, and I was able to learn about the new opportunities in which the OSCPA can collaborate with the AICPA to develop programs that will help fill the pipeline and increase accessibility to the accounting profession.

With the changes happening to the CPA Exam this year, now is the perfect time for the OSCPA to focus on targeting a more diverse pool of accounting students, the opportunities available in the accounting profession and making entry into the profession more accessible for Oklahoma CPA candidates.

The OSCPA’s advocacy efforts continue to create successful changes for our state’s CPA Pipeline. This year, CPA candidates will be able to begin testing for the CPA Exam after completing 120 hours of college credit, * and the Oklahoma Accountancy Board (OAB) has outlined its plan for CPA Exam candidates to begin testing with these changes in place starting November 1. This is a step in the right direction for our pipeline initiative.

Also, DEI continues to be a high focus area for our profession’s pipeline, and we must be understanding and sensitive to the changing workplace. The OSCPA’s DEI Committee exists to address the ways we can be of value to all members and future CPAs, regardless of race, gender, age, disability or any other aspect of diversity. It is our responsibility to identify our profession’s barriers and address them.

I would like to personally ask all members to contribute just a small amount of your time to the OSCPA to help with these initiatives. Collective and diverse thought can help us reach new heights as we aim to improve the CPA Pipeline. Email communications@oscpa.com to find out how you can get involved.

VICKY PETETE, CPA, CGMA—an OSCPA member since 1980—has served on the Society’s Strategic Planning, Banking, Membership and Governmental Committees. Petete is the 2010 recipient of the OSCPA Public Service Award, the 2012 inductee of the OSCPA Oklahoma Accounting Hall of Fame and a member of the OSCPA’s inaugural Pathfinder class (2019). Petete has also served on the Oklahoma Accountancy Board where she served on the Budget/Audit, Outreach, Enforcement and CPE/Experience Committees.

*Please note: CPA candidates must still complete the full 150 academic hours for CPA licensure in Oklahoma as in the case in each of the other 50 states. Adhering to the Uniform Accountancy Act 150-hour requirement provides Oklahoma CPAs with practice mobility, or the privilege to practice in all other states without having to obtain an additional license to practice.