Chairman continued from previous page
A: I do, but I’m really concerned for that group of graduates who got trapped in the middle and how they’re going to get their careers started when they’re no longer in the university world with the services that help them get employed. Also, the state and federal budget deficits … not good. But in some ways, I think we’re out of the woods for now. The past couple of years in my practice, I just saw us all holding our own. But this spring, things have started popping again. I had a lot of new business come out of what I call “organic growth,” with my existing clients starting new ventures. There are also just a lot of flat out new clients coming in starting new businesses or expanding. So that tells me that at least small business is doing a little better and some sectors are having an upturn. My clients in the building trades are still struggling, but they’re doing OK … not as OK as they were, but holding on.
because young people became more aware of the powerful influence we have on business, what we bring to the table. Many students seemed to have a reaction of, “Oh, this is important. I’m going to major in accounting.” So the talent pool is deeper now.
Q: CPAs?
Do you have advice for any of those students interested in becoming
A: For me, it’s been a great career and there are so many options for what you can do. Even if you aren’t a fit for some aspect of public accounting, there are so many avenues in business, industry, government, nonprofits, education. You have a good foundation for being an entrepreneur. I can’t tell you how many of my clients wish they had a background in accounting because while they may be good at what they do, it’s difficult to be really successful when you don’t have a true understanding of business.
Q:
Q:
A: One of the top challenges is keeping current. When we survey members, they indicate that keeping up with constantly changing laws, pronouncements, etc. ranks first to them. Another challenge today, as I see it, is embracing the broader implications of diversity within our profession (please see the Chairman’s Message, page 5). I think it is a challenge for our professional organization to stay relevant by bringing all the many sectors of the profession together to speak as one voice, so that we can have some effect on this constant barrage of new information and be a resource for our members. Staffing used to be the top issue, but not quite as much today. It is often ranked second or third in our surveys. There was a dip in students majoring in accounting when the 150-hour rule was first passed. A lot of candidates decided to take their chances in high tech, and maybe get stock options and get rich. Then that time passed and, oddly, all the controversy over Enron and Arthur Andersen turned into some positive public relations for the profession
A: We got the bill affecting our scholarship fund passed, and we didn’t have an overly large legislative agenda this year, no big items we were pushing for. Mostly “cleanup” bills regarding the Public Accountancy Act. We wanted to give the State Board the authority to waive fees under certain circumstances. For example, some poor guy was in a coma and didn’t pay his licensing fees and incurred thousands in fines … and the State Board had no authority to waive that. Unfortunately, this bill, along with a lot of others, never got out of calendars in the House and therefore did not pass. So we’ll have some things to do next legislative session. Also, most of the money from our licensing fees goes to the State Board so that they can administer the Public Accountancy Act without going through appropriations; that whole process was up for Sunset Review in 2013, and the State Board itself was up for Sunset Review in 2015. We wanted it all consolidated in one year, but it did not happen.
What do you see as the top issues facing the accounting profession?
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What state legislative issues affect the profession, and what role does TSCPA play?
We were worried about the potential sales tax on professional services before the November election, but now that is pretty much a non-issue. We’ll have to remain vigilant, since that sort of thing always has potential when the state is looking for funds. We monitor hundreds of bills on an ongoing basis for anything that looks like it might affect CPAs.
Q:
You have been involved in TSCPA leadership for a number of years. Why did you become a volunteer? What are some of your milestones and how has TSCPA service impacted your career? A: I immediately joined TSCPA and AICPA the minute I began practicing. The guy I was working for had just formed the Brazos Valley Chapter, but I missed being a charter member because I wasn’t a CPA yet; I had to join officially the next year. He and his wife were going to the Society annual meeting in New Orleans that year, and one of my older friends and colleagues in town was going too, so I attended my first annual meeting the first year I was certified! I’ve been to most ever since. One thing that gives me a unique perspective is that I began actively participating at a chapter level, first with that small chapter in Brazos Valley, then next when Austin was a mid-sized chapter. By the time I was the president of the Austin Chapter, it was a large chapter and then with the move to Houston I was active in a really large chapter, and finally back with Austin. I think it’s unique that as TSCPA chairman, I have been an active member, volunteer and leader at chapters of all sizes. At the state level, I started on the Executive Board when I was 34, and have been off and on ever since. I don’t think there’s ever been a year in my career that I wasn’t on a committee for the chapter, TSCPA, AICPA or the State Board.
Q:
That’s a lot of volunteer activity, especially considering the demands of your practice. A: I value the perspective it gives me, a bigger world view and a broader take on the profession than I would have simply running a small firm. I have the opportunity
Today’sCPA
| July/August 2011