Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, and Kalil Merhib was named “one to watch”.

https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/the-top-people-in-public-accounting-2022

CAS practice functions differently than the traditional compliance-based practice and can't be built or managed the same way. That means CAS practice leaders may encounter challenges when trying to grow a successful practice within a traditional full-service firm.

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/nov/4-steps-building-successful-cas-practice-traditional-cpa-firm.html

With all the talk of the profession's digital revolution, as well as the bevy of new service lines it can enable, one might be tempted to think that every single firm everywhere is either already on the cutting edge of technology or is actively working towards it. Despite this, however, there remain many firms that not only have not undergone this process, but don't wish to do so in the future.

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/johnson-firms-are-increasingly-divided-over-tech-upgrades

Transformation and Leadership Experts Headline Premier Austin, Texas, Event for Forward-Thinking Accounting Professionals Dec. 4-7

NEW YORK (Aug. 16, 2022) – Rapidly changing technologies and business models are reshaping the modern CPA firm, and the Digital CPA Conference offers practice leaders the tools and insights they need to understand and adopt the latest strategies, emerging technologies and data trends impacting accounting, finance and advisory roles.

The conference, which is now in its 11^th year, is hosted by CPA.com and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and will be held on-site at the Fairmont hotel in Austin, Texas, from Dec. 4-7. Attendees also have the option of joining virtually.

This year’s agenda, organized under the theme “The Future in Focus,” includes sessions on practice management, disruptive technology and new service line opportunities. Featured keynote speakers include:

• Marcus Buckingham, a global researcher and best-selling author, who will discuss unlocking strengths and challenging preconceptions about achievements to get to the core of what drives success.
• Simon T. Bailey, an award-winning speaker, author and success coach, who will speak on how to act like an employee and think like a CEO to unleash your potential and produce tangible results.
• Nancy Giordano, a strategic futurist, corporate strategist and best-selling author, who will talk about emerging technologies and shifting cultural expectations, and how to effectively harness the innovations heading our way.

Further rounding out the speaker lineup are Barry C. Melancon, CPA, CGMA, CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, representing AICPA & CIMA, who will provide a professional issues update, and Erik Asgeirsson, president and CEO of CPA.com, who will give his annual state-of-the-union on Digital CPA trends with special guests.

“The Digital CPA Conference brings together the practice leaders and trailblazers who are forging the future of the accounting profession," said Asgeirsson. “This year’s future-focused theme conveys a sense of clarity around how we can drive value for our clients. We’ve navigated through change and tumultuous times. The opportunity for firms and clients has never been greater.”

The Digital CPA Conference is designed for CPA firm partners, managers and staff responsible for rolling out cloud solutions, as well as business development, firm marketing and Client Advisory Service (CAS) leaders.

Event sponsors expect record attendance in 2022, following a sold-out on-site event for the 2021 conference. Practitioners who register before Aug. 31 can save $300 on the registration fee.

Visit digitalcpa.com for more details on the event, as well as access to on-demand and upcoming live webcasts aimed at continuing the conversation beyond DCPA.

Media access: Reporters who would like press credentials to attend the event can contact Sonia Bauer, Sonia.Bauer@hq.cpa.com. Online access to sessions is also available.

About CPA.com

CPA.com brings innovative solutions to the accounting profession, either in partnership with leading providers or directly through its own development. The company has established itself as a thought leader on emerging technologies and as the trusted business advisor to practitioners in the United States, with a growing global focus.

Our company’s core mission is to drive the transformation of practice areas, advance the technology ecosystem for the profession, and lead technology research and innovation efforts for practitioners.

A subsidiary of the American Institute of CPAs, the company is also part of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the world’s most influential organization representing the profession. For more information, visit CPA.com.

About the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, and AICPA & CIMA

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), representing AICPA & CIMA, advances the global accounting and finance profession through its work on behalf of 689,000 AICPA and CIMA members, students and engaged professionals in 196 countries and territories. Together, we are the worldwide leader on public and management accounting issues through advocacy, support for the CPA license and specialized credentials, professional education and thought leadership. We build trust by empowering our members and engaged professionals with the knowledge and opportunities to be leaders in broadening prosperity for a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient future.

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the world’s largest member association representing the CPA profession, sets ethical standards for its members and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and federal, state and local governments. It also develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination and builds the pipeline of future talent for the public accounting profession.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants. CIMA works closely with employers and sponsors leading-edge research, constantly updating its professional qualification and professional experience requirements to ensure it remains the employer’s choice when recruiting financially trained business leaders.

Application window open until Nov. 30, 2022

NEW YORK (Aug. 11, 2022) – CPA.com and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) are seeking applicants for the 2023 startup accelerator program, which specializes in early-stage technology companies benefiting the accounting and finance ecosystem. The 2023 program is open to pre-Series A startups around the world. Successful applicants receive $25,000 in seed funding and insider-level access to the subject matter experts, executives, firms, and finance leaders. They also benefit from business intelligence and insights from senior leaders at both the AICPA and CPA.com, as well as the program’s advisory board members, who bring diverse backgrounds and complementary skills in entrepreneurship, startup tech companies, accounting and finance.

“This program helped us accelerate our learning by 12-18 months,” says Adam Bercovici, founder and chief revenue officer for Canada-based LumiQ, a participant in the 2022 program. “LumiQ had a front row seat to the people shaping the future of the accounting professional globally. The team opened doors for us, made introductions to their network, and gave us the credibility we needed to enter the US market with a bang.”

Applications for the 2023 accelerator close on Nov. 30, 2022. Selections will be announced in February 2023. Companies that are accepted into the program will be featured next summer at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE 2023, one of the leading accounting and finance conferences in the world. Later in the year, they will be featured at the AICPA/CPA.com Digital CPA Conference. “At CPA.com, we’re focused on applying practical innovation every day,” said Erik Asgeirsson, president and CEO of CPA.com. “That’s what makes this program so special – it allows the profession to tap into some of the most exciting innovations, and it helps these startups develop products and services that are finely tailored to the needs of the profession.”

To be eligible, companies should:

• Have a working product or service
• Be at seed or pre-Series A stage (with some exceptions)
• Focus on accounting, tax, fintech, regulatory technology, cyber or ESG solutions

“This program gave us access to finance and accounting professionals, which proved invaluable in helping us better understand the industry’s pain points on environmental, social and governance issues, as well as climate disclosure,” said Alyssa Rade, chief sustainability officer for Sustain.Life. “This has been instrumental in helping us build solutions that meet those unique needs.”

For questions about the program, please contact Vendela Hale, manager of corporate alliances for CPA.com, at vendela.hale@hq.cpa.com. You can also join our upcoming AICPA and CPA.com Startup Accelerator webinar, Oct. 19 at 2pm ET, to learn more about emerging technologies and meet the startup companies representing the 2022 cohort.

To apply for the 2023 cohort, please visit the accelerator program page at https://accelerator.cpa.com.

About CPA.com

CPA.com brings innovative solutions to the accounting profession, either in partnership with leading providers or directly through its own development. The company has established itself as a thought leader on emerging technologies and as the trusted business advisor to practitioners in the United States, with a growing global focus.

Our company’s core mission is to drive the transformation of practice areas, advance the technology ecosystem for the profession, and lead technology research and innovation efforts for practitioners.

A subsidiary of the American Institute of CPAs, the company is also part of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the world’s most influential organization representing the profession. For more information, visit CPA.com.

About the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, and AICPA & CIMA

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), representing AICPA & CIMA, advances the global accounting and finance profession through its work on behalf of 689,000 AICPA and CIMA members, students and engaged professionals in 196 countries and territories. Together, we are the worldwide leader on public and management accounting issues through advocacy, support for the CPA license and specialized credentials, professional education and thought leadership. We build trust by empowering our members and engaged professionals with the knowledge and opportunities to be leaders in broadening prosperity for a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient future.

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the world’s largest member association representing the CPA profession, sets ethical standards for its members and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and federal, state and local governments. It also develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination and builds the pipeline of future talent for the public accounting profession.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants. CIMA works closely with employers and sponsors leading-edge research, constantly updating its professional qualification and professional experience requirements to ensure it remains the employer’s choice when recruiting financially trained business leaders.