The California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)

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The California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)is the largest statewide professional association of CPAs in the United States.

Almost every U.S. state has a Certified Public Accountant society, each of varying sizes depending on the number of members they serve. As of January 2008, CalCPA represents more than 32,000 members as the CPA world changes with the advances in technology and the ever-changing accounting regulatory provisions stemming from the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Although 1909 is considered the year CalCPA was officially founded, public accountant organizations began forming before that time in California. In January 1903, CalCPA was first organized, followed by the formation of the Associated Certified Public Accountants of California, incorporated March 1906, and the Southern California Association of Certified Public Accountants, formed in October 1908. It was the merging of the three groups in 1909 that created the CalCPA that exists today.

CalCPA’s prevailing mission is to:

  • increase the value and promote the integrity of the Certified Public Accountant profession,
  • contribute to the success of its members, and
  • strengthen client, employer, public and government trust in CalCPA member advice, work products and opinions.

[edit] Membership

Different from the California Board of Accountancy, CalCPA provides CPAs in California with the following:

CalCPA’s government relations team advocates on behalf of their members when accounting standards and practice issues are debated in the California Legislature or through the regulatory process. CalCPA alerts members on new legislation that may impact how they work or on that they may affect their clients or employers.

CalCPA influences key constituencies and public perception of CPAs through public and media relations, as well as image advertising. CalCPA also produces community outreach programs, such as financial literacy and student outreach initiatives.

From business and industry experts to partners in national and local CPA firms to young and emerging professionals and key accounting educators, students and CPA candidates, members network with finance professionals through CalCPA’s events and chapters.

CalCPA members receive discounts on all continued professional education (CPE) offered locally through CalCPA chapters, as well as discounts on all California CPA Education Foundation produced courses, conferences, self-study, online courses, reference materials, webcasts and webinars. The Education Foundation, CalCPA’s sister organization, offers courses and conferences that satisfy CPAs’ need to earn CPE (40 hours a year, 80 biannually) and maintain their license.

CalCPA Leadership Institute is a high-level, five-day program that provides members with tools to develop their leadership skills and grow into future leadership positions within the profession. It is funded through the Education Foundation and CalCPA, so participant costs are nominal.

Members receive news on information that may impact how they work or that would affect their clients and employers via e-communication, podcasts, magazines, tax bulletins, hotlines, technology guides, listserves, web forums and state committees.

All of CalCPA’s affinity programs have been selected to compliment a CPA’s professional needs, offering prices, products and services not available elsewhere.

The Group Insurance Trust of the California Society of CPAs offers group health and welfare benefits to CalCPA member firms.
Camico Professional Liability Insurance offers professional liability coverage to public practice firms.

Student outreach member volunteers reach out and inspire talented students to discover the integrity, trust and career diversity that is the CPA profession while financial literacy volunteers deliver practical personal finance education to schools, community groups, businesses and citizens throughout California. Additionally, member volunteer efforts extend beyond supporting CalCPA directly, including disaster relief assistance and pro bono tax preparation service.

[edit] Leadership

CalCPA is governed by a board of directors and council. The 2007-08 officers are:

  • Chair: Teresa C. Mason, CPA
  • Past Chair: Marc G. Parkinson, CPA
  • First Vice Chair: Gregory M. Burke, CPA
  • Treasurer: Andrea G. Cope, CPA
  • CEO: Loretta Doon, CPA

[edit] External links