The Journal Entry - Spring 2023

JOURNAL ENTRY THE

THE UTAH ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

ADDRESSING THE CPA PIPELINE WITH PRESIDENT DUSTIN WOOD

Managing Editor Amy Spencer as@uacpa.org

2023 – 2024

UACPA Executive Board

President: Dustin Wood, CPA

President-Elect: Jason Tomlinson, CPA

Vice President: Dan Frei, CPA

Treasurer: Mark Anderson, CPA

Secretary: Shalaun Howell, CPA

Member-at-Large: Annette Andersen, CPA

Member-at-Large: Marci Butterfield, CPA

Emerging Professionals: Ariane Gibson, CPA

Immediate Past President: Ray Langhaim, CPA

AICPA Council: Stacy Weight, CPA

CEO: Susan Speirs, CPA

UACPA Staff

CEO: Susan Speirs, CPA

CPE Director: April Deneault

Communications & Marketing Director: Amy Spencer

Financial Director: Tom Horn, CPA

Cover Image of Dustin Wood by Chris Wood, Robertwoodphotography.com

UACPA Statement of Policy

The Journal Entry is published four times a year by the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants (UACPA). The opinions, views and articles expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the UACPA. This magazine should not be deemed an endorsement by the UACPA or its committees or editorial staff of any views, opinions or positions contained herein. Copyright © 2023 Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants

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CEO’S MESSAGE SUSAN SPEIRS, CPA

STEM (the word used for science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is not a new term. The concept was first introduced in the 1950s after the launch of the Russian Sputnik. Americans believed that more needed to be done at the educational level in order for us to compete in the global arena. President Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke to the American people about the need for science and technology education.

Fast forward to 2010 and the words of President Barack Obama: “Leadership tomorrow depends on how we educate our students today — especially in science, technology, engineering and math.” Today, we have arrived at tomorrow.

For almost 20 years, the accounting profession has introduced legislation at the congressional level to include accounting in the STEM disciplines. In 2021, the American Accounting Association (AAA) proposed a resolution that accounting be included in STEM programs. AICPA Council members will be meeting with our congressional delegation in May, as we travel to Washington D.C. to discuss STEM for accounting for the K-12 and collegiate level.

We are in the process of joining many universities across the country to achieve STEM designation for accounting programs and degrees from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List. We have reached out to every university in Utah to see if they would like help in applying for STEM recognition at the state level. Universities are being asked to review their Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) to see how they relate to Department of Education (DoEd) STEM

classifications and to update where necessary. We have learned from higher educational institutions across the nation that CIP codes have not been updated for years at the university level. The AICPA has created a tool kit that universities can use in updating their CIP codes as well as help them in the application process. The UACPA is also working at the state level to help our universities navigate the process.

In an era where we continue to see accounting enrollments falling, it is important that we market accounting as STEM in order to attract the finest students at the junior high and high school levels. By 2025, it is estimated that 3.5 million STEM jobs will need to be filled. With a decline in both qualified STEM professionals and an increase in unfilled STEM positions, these programs are crucial to the U.S. economy, more importantly, to the Utah economy. While we cannot solve the enrollment cliff due to the declining birthrates beginning in 2008, we can certainly open up opportunities for our students to enroll in STEM programs.

As we begin our fiscal year, the UACPA is committed to tackling pipeline issues from an education level. Assisting our universities to obtain STEM recognition is on the forefront, as we know this is something that can be utilized to attract the next generation of CPAs. n

FEATURE

INSPIRING PROBLEM SOLVERS

THREE AREAS OF FOCUS TO HELP RESOLVE THE CPA PIPELINE PROBLEM

BY DUSTIN WOOD, CPA

As I begin my year of serving as UACPA president, I look forward to being able to meet with many of you in chapter meetings and work together to identify areas of concern where the UACPA can better serve its members. As I considered a theme for my presidential term, it wasn’t difficult for me to settle in on my primary area of focus, as pipeline considerations have dominated headlines. It is covered in daily CPA emails and has been a frequent conversation topic of AICPA Council meetings, UACPA board, and Leadership Council meetings. A phrase I’ve chosen that is related to the theme of my year of service is to “inspire problem solvers.”

Now that we’re removed from the COVID-19 considerations that significantly impacted our ability to get in front of high school and college students, my hope is that we can identify ways to meet with them, better educate them, and the public in general, regarding what accounting is all about and why it is a path and career they should pursue.

I was recently reviewing a list of high school courses offered by a local school with my daughter. With hundreds of courses listed, there was not a single course that used the word accounting or anything seemed related to it. The closest thing I could find was a financial literacy course and, from what I’ve heard, it isn’t accounting related and is more of a personal finance class. I was also able to attend a university accreditation meeting recently where one of the peer group team members overseeing the meeting indicated that, at

this point, there is a push to get in front of middle schoolers to educate them about accounting as some feel even high school students have already made decisions for their futures.

Discussions surrounding the pipeline, and ways to impact and improve it, are very polarizing and often lead to different ideas and courses of action. As I’ve been involved in pipeline discussions, there are three primary considerations that have emerged that should be addressed to help potential accounting and CPA candidates catch the vision of what they can do and become.

NEGATIVE NARRATIVES

The first area of focus is negative narratives surrounding the accounting profession. In the public’s eye, stereotypes related to accountants not being social and working as bean counters are perpetuated. Working long hours and not allowing for good work-life balance are also frequently mentioned. In my mind, there are obstacles that I face at times, but if my career was not rewarding, why would I subject myself to it? It is time for us to make sure we accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. We can’t drive all conversations and discussions, especially those in the national media, but we can do our part to share our stories about why we entered into accounting and what it means to us, our clients, and our companies.

GET TO KNOW DUSTIN WOOD

Why accounting? I did well in math in school and enjoyed tutoring other students on a volunteer basis.  As I entered college at Utah State University, I chose to pursue a math secondary education degree (and also wanted to coach high school baseball). As I got into advanced calculus classes, I lost interest in math and realized there wasn’t much opportunity for real-life applications for what I was learning, unless I was going to become an engineer. This led to my transition to a new major.

During a two-year religious service mission, I met someone whose father was an accounting professor at USU, and she was my resource to find out what accounting was all about. I liked the concept of accounting and changed my major before even knowing what I was getting into. I’ve been grateful for that ever since. With 18 years of being in the public accounting profession with the same firm, I feel I made the right choice.

What would you tell someone interested in accounting? Don’t believe the stereotypes and negative narratives that are perpetuated about accounting and accountants. The majority of accountants are very social people — working in a service-oriented profession in being an advocate, problem solver, and most trusted business advisor for our clients and their businesses. For someone that is interested in any aspect of business, accounting is the field that leads to open doors, paths, and opportunities as it is the language of business.

What do you wish you knew as a student? How important communication and people skills are. In interacting with team members, clients, referral sources, and others, those skills are key to succeeding and thriving. I didn’t realize how important and useful such skills would be in accounting and all facets of life.

What are you passionate about? I put a concerted effort into being the best father and husband, team member, advocate, problem solver, and trusted business advisor that I can be by living the Platinum Rule — treat others as they would like to be treated — and meeting or exceeding deadlines and expectations whenever possible.

I’ve also really tried to add to the profession by giving back. I’ve served on non-profit boards of directors, as well as the Utah State School of Accountancy Advisory Board, and take every chance I can to discuss accounting with college students and others interested in pursuing and joining the profession.

How do you like to spend your days off? I enjoy attending Utah State University football and basketball games, going to musicals with my wife (and my children when they’re willing to join), and traveling to attend events or theme parks. I really enjoy watching and following sports, and my favorite sporting event is the NCAA tournament (March Madness).

What has been your favorite vacation or travel experience? I recently traveled to New York City with my wife and had a great time. We went primarily to catch “Phantom of the Opera” before it leaves Broadway. We also attended other musicals and did some sightseeing. The 9/11 Museum and Memorial was a highly rated and unforgettable experience as well as going to the 102nd Floor of the Empire State Building.

COMPENSATION

The second area of focus, discussed frequently in AICPA Council meetings, is compensation. Compensation has been identified through studies and surveys as a consideration that steers college students to areas such as finance and information technology as opposed to accounting. From my perspective, this could come from a short-sighted view of starting compensation in those fields, which is not likely to increase at the same pace and potential as in accounting, but it seems to be influencing the direction students take as they study and work toward a career path. One point of discussion, related to compensation in accounting related fields, is that if you inflation-adjust a starting salary-from when you started your career, growth in compensation has not kept up with the pace of the inflation, especially when dealing with higher housing costs and interest rates in the current environment. It would take a group effort, but it’s time to re-examine compensation considerations and make sure accounting fields in general are competitive in this regard.

STEM STATUS

The third area of focus I’d like to touch on is getting accounting incorporated into STEM status and curriculum. The AICPA and UACPA are making efforts to move this initiative forward, and there likely isn’t much that most of us can do to help beyond support through membership. Seeing this through would bring additional attention and funding to accounting programs and help identify accounting as a vital

field of study and expertise as we all know it to be.

The areas I’ve identified to focus on during the upcoming year are not the only considerations out there related to the pipeline. There is also the Experience, Learn, & Earn Program the AICPA is piloting to address firm culture and business model challenges. This includes the 120 credit hours vs.150 credit hours for licensure, and the CPA Exam time window to pass for credit (18 months vs. 24 months vs. 36 months).

We have to start somewhere, and it isn’t possible to address all of the considerations and areas of concern at one time.

If you have feedback on how the UACPA can best serve its members or how I can help in any way, please let me know, as we truly value input and strive to make the profession and people the best they can be. If you have compelling stories to share as to why you entered into accounting, or how you have been able to help and serve others, please let us know so we can share your experiences and inspire others. n

Dustin Wood, CPA, is an audit partner at CMP. He has been the president of the Cache Valley Chapter and serves on other non-profit boards. He can be reached at dwood@cmp.cpa

BY THE NUMBERS

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT WORK

268,200

85

Source: Zippia

15

PERCENTAGE OF JOBS WORLDWIDE THAT COULD BE DISPLACED BY 2030 DUE TO AI

Source: McKinsey

52

PERCENTAGE OF EXPERTS WHO BELIEVE AUTOMATION WILL INNOVATE MORE JOBS

Source: Pew Research Center

40

PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE IN BUSINESS

PRODUCTIVITY THANKS TO AI

Source: Accenture

NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS CHINA INSTALLED IN 2021

Source: Zippia

PERCENTAGE OF JOBS THAT WILL EXIST IN 2030 THAT HAVEN’T BEEN INVENTED YET

77

PERCENTAGE OF DEVICES WE USE THAT FEATURE ONE FORM OF AI OR ANOTHER

Source: PEGA

61% Business owners who said they were unaware of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) in a recent Paychex survey.

The ERTC could prove a key funding source and create savings that could be invested as your clients’ businesses work toward becoming fully operational.

What your clients should know:

• ERTC is a refundable credit that can be claimed on qualified wages paid to employees.

• The tax credit has been extended and can be claimed through Dec. 31, 2021.

• Businesses that took a Paycheck Protection Program loan now can claim the ERTC, including retroactively.

• Paychex clients who have claimed the ERTC have, on average, saved tens of thousands of dollars

Paychex offers the resources and tools to help you enhance your consultations with clients. payx.me/uacpa-ertc | payx.me/uacpa-spotify-podcast | payx.me/uacpa-apple-podcast

CREDIT FOR KIDS

EARN TAX CREDITS BY SUPPORTING KIDS

THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS

BY RONNIE DANIEL

WhenJessica Jones contacted the Children First Education Fund nearly two years ago, she was at her wits end. As a mother of four, she had her hands full, but given that her youngest son, Charlie, has special education needs due to spina bifida, her life became rather hectic. Jessica’s older three children were thriving in their public school classes. They loved their teachers, their school was excellent at meeting their needs. Jessica realized that the ideal public school education experience that her older kids were having, may not be possible for Charlie. His condition required him to be in a wheelchair and that impacted his

ability to pay attention, do his school work and participate in class like the other children.

Jessica went through the process of getting an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for Charlie. The IEP identified Charlie’s disability and outlined how the public school system would work to meet his education needs. It all sounded good on paper. The reality was that Charlie still struggled and fell behind the other students academically. Charlie just wasn’t thriving in the public school classroom.

After hours of research, Jessica learned about a local private

school that had resources available to help children with disabilities. She very much wanted to have Charlie attend this school. The challenge was that the annual tuition for the school was $9,000. While her family wasn’t poor, that amount of money was just not possible in their family budget. A few months later, Jessica learned about Children First Education Fund and the scholarships they provide to children with disabilities to attend private school or to be homeschooled.

She applied, and Charlie qualified for a scholarship in the amount of $8,076. Jessica enrolled Charlie in the school and utilized the scholarship program for most of the tuition. She was able to cover the rest of the cost from the family budget. In just a few months, Charlie was at grade level in all areas, and more importantly, he was happy.

In 2019, the Utah State Legislature passed a bill which created the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program. The program was created to meet a need and help families like Jessica’s. The scholarship program is available to children in Utah who attend kindergarten through grade 12, and who have a qualifying disability as defined by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. The types of disabilities that qualify under IDEA include learning disabilities like dyslexia, ADD or ADHD. Students with autism, emotional disturbances, language or speech impairments, or physical disabilities like deafness or blindness also qualify under IDEA.

The bill also provided for a very unique way to fund the scholarship program. Instead of simply appropriating funds from the state budget, the Utah legislature created an opportunity for Utah residents and businesses to donate funds to support the program and in return receive a state income tax credit equal to their donation. The bill specified that there was no limit on donation amounts, but that the program had an annual cap on the amount of tax credits that could be distributed. For 2023, that cap is $5,940,000.

The legislation for the scholarship program required that a non-profit organization be selected to administer the program. In 2020, the Children First Education Fund was selected to be the non-profit organization to manage the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program. The leadership of Children First included Doug Holmes and Jordan Clements, who had been very involved in the school choice movement in the state for many years. They saw the

Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program as a great way for parents to have choices for their kids, as well as for taxpayers to have a choice on where their taxes were used. It was a win-win proposition from the beginning.

Since 2020, Children First has been able to raise over $5 million dollars and provide scholarships for nearly 300 students. Each student and their family has a story like Charlie’s. This program caters to children who are not well served in the public school system. It is estimated that 90% of students in the public school system are thriving and having a great educational experience. However, students with disabilities often are among those who struggle, and need different alternatives. Children First and the scholarship program offers children and their families a choice in their education opportunities.

I know, firsthand, the challenges of having a child with special needs. My oldest son was born deaf. My wife and I struggled to meet our son’s educational needs through public school. Our son is now 32 years old. If there had been a scholarship program like Children First Education Fund available back then, it would have made a big difference. Children First is required by law to distribute 92% of the funds raised in scholarships. My mission is to continue to expand the number of children who are served by the program and to help increase the number of people who can benefit from the tax credit donations. Together, with our donors, we can move mountains of frustration and discouragement and help thousands of children with disabilities.

Donors have come from all over Utah, and when asked, they say that their dual motivation for contributing was to receive the tax credit benefit and to direct their tax dollars to a program that benefits children with special needs. Learn more about Children First at www.cfe-fund.org. n

Ronnie Daniel is the executive director of Children First Education Fund. He has a background in nonprofit management having worked for several non-profit organizations in Utah and around the country. He has been married to his wife, Heidi, for 35 years and has four children and seven grandchildren. He lives in South Jordan.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

THE PROFESSION SAW LICENSING, TAX ASSESSMENTS AND STATE TAX CREDITS AT THIS YEAR’S SESSION

BY CRAIG PETERSON AND RYAN PETERSON

On March 3, the 2023 Utah legislative session adjourned “sine die,” which, for those of you who aren’t familiar with that term, means without any future date being designated. It is the fancy way for the Legislature to end the legislative session at midnight on the 45th day.

This session saw the appropriation of a record $29 billion dollar budget and a number of impactful policy decisions. For the first time in recent memory, the Legislature finished their business a few hours early, and many legislative leaders have said that they felt that this was the most meaningful and effective legislative session the state has seen in years.

The session started with a bang as the Legislature debated and passed controversial bills dealing with transgender youth medical care and a school voucher program. Issues with significant press and public interest are typically saved until later in the session while stakeholders negotiate details and work out their differences. This year, the Legislature sent a message right from the beginning, letting people know that they were not going to spend the entire session on a few hot button “message bills,” and instead opted to get them out of the way early in order to focus on other important state issues for the bulk of the time.

Similar to last year, the health of the Great Salt Lake and water were major topics for the Legislature as the state experienced another difficult drought year and the levels of the lake continued to drop.

Even with record snowfall in the state, the Legislature wanted to make sure that the citizens of Utah knew they cared about the water situation and that they were willing to, quite literally, put their money where their mouth is on the issue. With the strong economy in the state, another marquee issue on the hill this session was tax cuts. There will be a nearly $800 million tax cut that Utahns should see on income, gas and Social Security.

There were a few issues during this session that were important to the CPA profession that we were able to work on alongside UACPA leadership. The UACPA and their representatives on Capitol Hill were able to connect quickly with legislators and other organizations to ensure that the interests of CPAs were protected and that the Association was consulted before making major decisions. Although the UACPA monitored and provided insight on many bills, a few specific bills of concern for the profession during the legislative session include the following.

• Senate Bill 35 Second Substitute – Reciprocal Professional Licensing Amendments. As we have seen over the past several years, Utah legislators and the governor’s office have been working to ensure that Utah is a business-friendly state. One way to accomplish that is by making sure that professional licenses provide for citizens’ safety and protection, while not creating barriers to entry for the workforce. SB35 amended the law to make sure that professionals moving into Utah from another state, or from outside of the country, could be issued a professional license if the scope of practice and other requirements were deemed by the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) to be similar. Sen. Bramble, the bill’s sponsor, is passionate about making sure that people are able to move into the state of Utah and have their licenses transfer, as long as it is safe to do so.

• House Bill 56 First Substitute – Tax Assessment Amendments. This is a bill that the UACPA Tax and SALT Committees have been active with. Although the bill requires county assessors to provide required information to the Utah State Tax Commission, the crux of the bill is to help clean up HB444, which passed last session regarding SALT tax reporting via our Pass-Through Entities (PTEs). We didn’t quite get everything we wanted in the bill, but we made some much needed-progress in being more specific as to how K-1s need to report income tax that will pass through to the individual level, what the fiveyear carryforward looks like, as well as how to track it. We received some great feedback and ideas from members that have made the outcome of the bill better than we could have hoped for.

• House Bill 407 Third Substitute – Incentive Amendments. This bill amends provisions relating to state tax credits. If passed, the bill would require state agencies that issue credits to link with the State Tax Commission, providing claimants and amounts of credits claimed and the Tax Commission to do the same. It would update the historic tax credit process to require the credit recipient to

report how many jobs were created by historical rehabilitation and require a CPA to verify a taxpayer’s eligibility and calculate the amount of R&D credit for which they would qualify. This would, in essence, require an AUP to be submitted with the tax return. We worked very closely with the bill sponsor (Rep. Christofferson) and suggested several changes that would help him achieve the desired change without putting an unnecessary burden or requirement on the CPA community. We were able to get the bill changed to something that would have worked just fine, but the bill ultimately did not make it through the process. We will be watching for a similar bill to be drafted for next year’s legislative session and continue to work with the bill sponsor to ensure that the interests of CPAs are protected.

The UACPA is a strong, respected organization on Utah’s Capitol Hill. It is vital that the organization stay involved and that their voice is heard on many issues facing CPAs and the state as a whole. We will remain engaged throughout the interim and make sure that we are heard as topics are being negotiated moving towards the 2024 legislative session. n

Craig Peterson, senior partner of Peterson Consulting Group, has been involved in legislative processes for almost 40 years as a State Representative, State Senator, and Republican Senate Majority Leader. During the past 20 years, he has been a lobbyist, successfully representing a broad spectrum of clients.

Ryan Peterson is the managing partner of Peterson Consulting Group. He has been a contract lobbyist in the state of Utah for 12 years. He received a degree in economics from the University of Utah with a focus on statistics and econometrics. He is an avid golfer and resides in Salt Lake City.

THE VALUE OF ETHICS

BRINGING INTENTION INTO IDENTIFY THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM ETHICS TRAINING

BY DEBBIE DAVIS, CPA

One of the benefits of having a CPA license is that we get to participate in professional development. Plus, we get to be intentional about what we learn! One option for professional development each year is the State and Local Government Conference, which is designed to provide opportunities to increase your knowledge in a variety of technical areas (e.g., GASBs and standards), as well as with required topics (e.g., Utah Rules and Ethics). We hope you’ll join us on May 12 for the conference. We would also love to have you join the planning committee — yes, you can help determine the topics of the conference, suggest speakers, and even write this article next year!

As mentioned, one of the topics that will be covered in the conference this year is ethics. Since it is a requirement in the CPA Licensing Act (R156-26a-303b), continuing education on ethics is not going anywhere; but what may be a question is, what benefit are you deriving from the required ethics training? Can you more readily identify and resolve ethical dilemmas or situations? How do you define ethics? Is it something that hovers outside of, but is applied to, critical tasks and functions or is it embedded in how you complete critical tasks and functions?

A few years ago, I did a deep-dive training to learn more about strategic planning. One of the outcomes from the training was an intentional effort by my team to determine our core values. Core values are who you are, what is

important to you, and things you will stick to no matter what. So, core values exist, whether you intentionally identify them or not. If they exist anyway, what is the benefit to intentionally identifying your core values?

For an individual, the answer may be that you will identify more readily where you fit — and where you do not; you will also be more confident in making decisions.

For a team, the answer is shared — and transparent — vision, purpose, and expectations. To answer one of the questions above, intentional identification can embed the core values (i.e., the ethics) in your critical tasks and functions because they are within each team member.

My team determined that our core values are efficiency, excellence, professionalism, life balance, and integrity; each value is defined so there is no question about what they mean. These core values are the foundation of our strategic plan and are incorporated into our department and individual performance plans. Our core values have impacted everything we do including our recruiting, auditing, policies and procedures, data collection, even how we answer the phone and respond to emails. We reinforce our core values by doing core value recognitions at our monthly staff meetings.

Recently, I was asked about how to assess and benchmark

State & Local Government Conference

Date: Friday, May 12

Time: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location: Sheraton Hotel, 150 W. 500 South

CPE: 8 hours

Cost: $370; $270 for members

State & Local Government Conference Agenda

General Session

8:05 – 9:05

9:05 – 9:20

9:20 – 10:20

customer service. With words like assess and benchmark, my mind immediately went to performance measures and from there to strategic planning. I could not think of a specific performance measure we use for customer service; but I realized that customer service is a natural outcome of our core values. As we strive to be professional, excellent and efficient, our customer service is as well; and having life balance and integrity helps us to rebound and improve if we fall short.

It was a great exercise for me to connect the dots between ethics, core values, and customer service. As you participate in ethics education this year, consider the question: What benefit am I deriving from the ethics training that is required? Don’t leave it to chance; intentionally identify your core values and confidently move forward. n

Debbie Davis, CPA, is the chief audit executive for the Utah State Board of Education and has worked in government auditing at the state level for 22 years. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting (audit emphasis). Debbie has participated with the UACPA State and Local Government Conference Committee since 2014, and in 2021 was recognized as the UACPA Outstanding CPA in Non-Profit and Government.

10:20 – 10:35

10:35 – 11:35

Lunch

12:00 – 12:30

Breakout Sessions

12:35 – 1:35

Utah Laws & Rules

Susan Speirs, CPA - UACPA

Networking Break

GASB 87 – Lessons Learned

Paul Skeen, CPA – Eide Bailly and Shaun Anderson, CPA –Salt Lake City Department of Airports

Networking Break

Ethics

Gregory Kyte, CPA

UACPA Update

Overview of Yellow, Red & Green Books

Debbie Davis, CPA – Utah State

Office of Education

Audit Deficiencies

Michele Levine – Government

Finance Officers Association

New SAS’s

Andrew Driggs, CPA –Utah Office of the State Auditor

1:35 – 1:45

General Session

1:45 – 3:00

Networking Break

GASB Update

Michele Levine – Government

Finance Officers Association

3:00 – 3:10

3:10 – 4:10

Networking break

Economic Update

Robert Spendlove – Zions Bank

STUDENT AWARDS

Each year, the UACPA honors a fifth-year accounting student from each of Utah’s universities for his or her accomplishments in the accounting field. Criteria to be honored include GPA, extracurricular and professional activities and experience, professional image and perceived commitment and dedication. The following individuals are receiving the UACPA’s recognition at their ceremonies this spring. Their nominating professors have provided commentary for each award winner.

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Julya Turner

Julya Turner graduated high school with an associate degree and little time to decide what she wanted to study for her advanced education. Based on recommendations of family members who enjoy their careers in accounting, Turner decided to explore the possibility. She began her degree in accounting at Utah State University and later accepted a job at Anderson Bradshaw PLLC in Salt Lake City, then transferred to Utah Valley University. With dreams of earning a master’s degree at BYU Marriott’s SOA, she has been able to stretch her time with the program. This helps her balance a two-hour commute, a part-time job, full-time school and her family life.

SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY

Emily Pearson Powell

Emily is from Cedar City, Utah, and has enjoyed her time at Southern Utah University. She has served as the UACPA campus ambassador, the Becker campus ambassador, vice president for Beta Gamma Sigma, pPresident of the Professional Accountancy Club (PAC), an accounting teacher’s assistant (TA), and a representative of all accounting students on the business council. She graduates with her master’s degree in accountancy in April and will work on the CPA Exam this summer. Following graduation, she will work at Tanner, a public accounting firm, as an auditor. She is married to Joey Powell, and they enjoy playing pickleball in their spare time. Other hobbies of Emily’s include playing the piano, reading, running, playing games with family, jamming to T. Swift, and spending lots of time outside.

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH

Elizabeth Ramsay

Elizabeth is the University of Utah’s UACPA campus ambassador. She is also one of our top students in the program. In addition to high academic performance, Elizabeth has worked as our graduate assistant and has helped in improving the quality of our student engagement efforts. Elizabeth has worked as a tutor for all of our core classes and has helped many of our other MAcc students in improving their performance in classes.

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Kendall Mortensen

We are pleased to announce that Kendall Mortensen is our selection for the 2023 UACPA Outstanding Accounting Student. Kendall is a student worthy of recognition. Not only is he a terrific student who is engaged in his classes, but he looks for opportunities to add value to the department as well. He has been involved in many areas within the School of Accountancy. He has served as both an officer and the president of the IMA student club, a Quigley Ambassador, as an undergraduate teaching fellow for Accounting 3310, as a tutor in the accounting tutor lab, as a volunteer in the VITA program, and as the UACPA campus ambassador. Kendall is a great leader who goes above and beyond, and he is a great example and mentor to the students at Utah State University. He is very deserving of this award.

UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY

Lauren Buxton

My colleagues and I have had the privilege of instructing Lauren in the accounting program at both the graduate and undergraduate level. She is a highly motivated student who excels in her studies through attending class, completing assignments, asking and answering questions, and is self-motivated. Lauren is a student that I could count on each week to interact with other students to understand and apply the new material being presented. When the information didn’t make sense, she made the effort to meet with her instructor to gain clarification. While doing all of this she has been actively engaged in UT’s NCAA Division women’s soccer team while in school and was elected by her teammates as the captain of the team her senior year. She has been able to maintain a 3.62 GPA during her MAcc program and graduates this spring.

// Continued on next page

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY

Cooper Barnson

Cooper stands out among his fellow students in leadership, commitment, scholarship, interpersonal relationships, and many other ways. Cooper is the current president of the UVU Beta Alpha Psi chapter and has served in that capacity with distinction. He’s always on top of what needs to be done, delegates well, and follows up with other officers to make sure things are accomplished very well. He has also been indispensable in the UVU VITA program, first, as a volunteer last year, and this year, as an assistant site coordinator. Cooper has gone above and beyond in this role by running multiple training sessions, creating additional templates and processes, and encouraging BAP members to volunteer with the VITA program. These efforts have helped increase the number of student volunteers and improved the experience of both volunteers and taxpayers within the VITA lab. Along with those two major responsibilities, Cooper is performing very well academically in the UVU Master of Accountancy program and is exceptionally well liked and admired by fellow students and faculty.

WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY

Emily Fowles

Emily has a 3.92 GPA and is interested in accounting and leadership within the profession. She attended several summer leadership conferences produced by various firms in the summer of 2020 and was offered a job position starting after she graduates. Though not yet employed, she has attended the employer’s Women in Leadership Conference and worked as an ambassador for the company. Emily is currently preparing to take the CPA Exam. She is also involved in her community, volunteering at an elementary school four to six times per year to help test children’s reading comprehension and English skills.

WESTMINSTER COLLEGE

Hannah Flanagan

Hannah graduated with a bachelor’s in accounting from College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota. She worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte before moving to Salt Lake City where she currently works as a senior revenue accountant for O.C. Tanner.

MEMBERSHIP NEW MEMBERS

Congratulations to the following individuals who were approved for membership in the UACPA as of March 31, 2023.

Kyle Billman

Nathan Christensen

Morgan Clark

Taylor Stringham

John Salmond

Alexander Mortezazadeh

Tyler Edman

Tanner LLC

Ariane Van Der Watt

Rachel Rossiter

Jared Vawdrey

Dalin Martin

Caroline Nuffer

Mikayla Elmer

Eide Bailly, LLP

Rachael Myer

Jessica Evans

Ryan Odom

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Jared Moon

Keegan Morby

Tanner Robertson

Sam Dean

Zachary Dodds

Keilan Smith

Squire & Company, PC

Benjamin Meacham

Brennan Ray

Margit Herring

Haynie & Company

Kim Fisher

William Hansen

Austin Miles

Jones Simkins LLC

Billie Gardner

Sophie Miller

Larson & Company, PC

Cameron Crockett

Kasey Curtis

Ernst & Young LLP

Andrea Dover Trevor Bell

Nate Erickson

Jesse Malmrose

HBME LLC

Richard Ferguson

David Hughes

Rio Tinto

Lindey Matheson

Southern Utah University

Cindy Murray

Bountiful Peak Advisors

Bart Peterson

SILAC Insurance Company

Colby Smith

Zachary Strickland

David Waite

Utah Valley University

Parker Wallace

Wallace Tax Services, LLC

Student Affiliates

BYU

Thomas Hall

Caroline Cochran

Brooklyn Angle

Lauren Mackin

Abigail Braithwaite

Henri Hammari

Sophie Carter

Rachel Hall

Brian Ray

Joseph Richards

Caleb Judd

Jared Robins

Michael Stubbs

Bryce Burley

Elizabeth Bowers

Taina Carvalho

Abigail Lisonbee

Victor Escudero

Jacob Hendershot

Elise Snow

Nicole Humpherys

Alvin Torrico

Kadin Bullock

Joseph Hsu

Darren Li

Mason Lindstrom

Kirstyn Dewsnup

Viviana Canales Smart

Brian Naillon

Dylan King

Brett Lowe

LDS Business College

Kevin Castillo

Utah Tech

Sage Dutson

Rachel Johansen

Treyson Jones

Sierra Demers

Alexis Saldivar

Dylan Bourgoin

Nicholas Hardy

AudriLyn Morley

Thomas McFarlane

Dane Stewart

Erin Callahan

Solomon Labrum

Chi Long Chan

William Farris

Ben Blake

Brandon Reynolds

Whitney Brown

Alex Searle

Margaret West

Connor Smith

Joshua Wallentine

Derek Johnson

Salt Lake Community College

Jonathan Lishenko

Jessica Hicks

Emily Ayres

Southern Utah University

Andrew Blanco

Celeste Taylor

Katelyn Church

Allison Smith

Katherine Niederehe

Richard Hrabchak

Kennedy Nielsen

Kameron Mortezazadeh

Jay Gordon

Kaitlin Ellis

University of Utah

Eduardo Flores

Zaid Saffarini

Ailama Fesola’i

Andrew Monette

River Watkins

Asher Bess

Utah State University

Michael Moore

Mark Godfrey

Lane Dudley

Julie Andrews

Rebecca Adhikari

Allison Hansen

Jaxson Ray

Kaitlyn M. Hogge

Utah Valley University

Andrew Castaneda

John Bateman

Matias Vazquez

Zoram Quintana

Ashley Olsen

Nicholas Levy Capeto

Citlali Cardenas Ibarra

McKay Margetts

Oakley Olson

Sage Stoker

Irene Pole

Matthew Cormier

Natalie Edwards

Morgan Marcom

Josh Peterson

Jared Lotz

Eden Day

Carson Ambrose

Kaelyn Arndt-Smith

Adam Jones

John Dredge

Whitlee Caldwell

Remington Larsen

Terra Leonardson

Jacob Johnson

Tanan Allred

Cody Tesch

Weber State University

Alysa Smith

Susanah Kunzler

Jaren Smith

Jaxon Wortley

Westminster

Colton Raines

Western Governors University

Courtney Friedman

Laura Cochran

Evan Tan

Charles Loscalzo

Rachelle Gross

Angela Ainsley

Amanda Dickerson-Smith

Rainier Fabro

Jose Dias

Naomi Fothergill

Adam Juda

Joshua Santos

Starlyn Laa-Palacat

Brady Davison

Carol Moragn

Gregory Ellis

Gina Graham

Alexander Jacques

Alina Karpich

Timothy Smuck

Elvana Kljajo

Quentisha Cornelius

Alexander Jacques

Ryan Craig

Bri Melo

Victoria Wentworth

Michaela Krawczuk

Joseph Young

Nathan Terry

Kelse Bartlett

Sarah Watson

Abigail wiler

Alex Wilson

Leo Felda

Abigail Thorndike

Danielle Wadsworth

Jamie Cisneros

Roger Reyes

Raquel Gordon

Lina Guenther

Brinley Sisson

Sidney Cooley

Logan Spackman

Karen Jacobsen

Rachel Paulman

Christopher Hossli

Jason Weigand

Wendy Bell

Lindsey Jenkins

Kaidan Mickelsen

Diana Giraldo

Charley Mitchell

Aimee Blackburn

Heather Reese

Sharon La Rosa

Julia Huitt

Bobbi Laflamme

Thanh-Diep Nguyen

Heather Newman

Lorraine Kirtland

Melanie Fitzgibbon

Tiffanie Price

Michelle Swanson

Virginia Forsyth

Courtney Smith

Valarie Byrom

Dalitza Lopez

Courtney Collins

Lana Greer

Sydney Starks

Casey Hall

Deanna Crews

Sara Wilkerson

Alondra Torres-Castro

Allison Jaggers

Meghan King

Sakia Traylor

Jailissa Denham

Kasey Parara

McKenzie Igo

Pamela Gerth

Russel Gardner

Leah Moon

Lauren Bell

Carleatha Dalton

Samantha Alexander

Nicole Doyle

Misty Ellis

Christa Thorne

Sarah Bridgewater

Aaron Robinson

Samantha Curtis

Brinley Sisson

Ezra Singleton

Ashley Gray

Tiffany Lawrence

Regina Melsness

Kathryn Grimsley

Ashley Anderson

Caleb Ronning

School Not Listed

Myrna DeWitt

Brodie Martin

Zachary Beazer

Kelsey Royce

Taylor Yates

Elden Campbell

Jaxson White

John Bateman

Andres Bustos

Matias Vazquez

Geraldine Longoria

Citlali Cardenas Ibarra

Olivia A. Burnham

Rachel Rowley

Chase Jensen

Charlotte Weintz

Logan Kearl

Angel F. Chavez

Andrew Castaneda

Juliann Barr

McKay Margetts

Hayden Banz

Jack T. VanDerHeyden

Yuhao Xu

Sinama Meli

Tiffany N. Passey

Christopher A. Scott

Baily Prince

Jaqueline Carrillo-Valle

Gabriel O. Perez

Larry L. Dudley

Noor Dhaliwal

Kevin D. Hogge

Raj Valluri

Mariah F. Reyes

Marina Ravoaraharison

Mark S. Ward

Preston Denison

Rachel Challman

Emilee Voran

Kyler D. Jackson

Margaret V. West

Amoni Faonelua

Solomon Labrum

Chi Long Chan

MEMBERSHIP LIFETIME MEMBERS

MEMBERSHIP MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Do you or your firm have news to share? Send the details to Amy Spencer, as@uacpa.org.

IN MEMORIAM D

July 21, 1953 - Aug. 6, 2022

Member since 1982

Lynn Eldon Janes

May 5, 1938 - April 12, 2023

Member since 1963

Jensen & Associates have joined Larson & Company as part of their growing tax and accounting services practices. This addition brings Carl Jensen, CPA (above), and Jeff Jensen, CPA, as two new tax partners joining the firm. Carl has been in the accounting profession for 18 years, beginning with his career at Jensen & Keddington, PC. Jeff brings extensive experience in accounting, auditing and taxation and management services in auto dealership and related companies. Over the past 47 years, he has worked on audits of companies and has given lectures for the New Car Dealers of Utah office managers and at the University of Utah and Southern Utah University on various tax and accounting matters.

Hollie Andrus, CPA, has been named as the University of Utah’s chief audit executive and will begin her role in June 2023, replacing Randy Van Dyke. Hollie has served as UACPA president and recently worked 24 years in the Utah Office of the State Auditor.

Haynie & Company was recognized by Accounting Today as a Top 100 Firm for the second consecutive year. They ranked 84 in the nation as the second-largest CPA firm in the mountain region. With a significant increase in revenue growth of nearly 23%, Haynie & Company credit their expanded services through introducing R&D, fund accounting and wealth management. Other Utah firms recognized as a Top 100 Firm in Accounting Today include Tanner, Squire & Co. and WSRP.

Robert (Bob) Maughan

David M. Traveller

David P. Cook

Ramon B. Morgan

Douglas D. Hawkes

Kent W. Goates

Charles C. Karpakis

Gene R. Oakes

Robert D. Knapton

Jon S. Peterson

Congratulations to the following 40-year members who joined the UACPA in 1983.

AIRPORT TOUR

UACPA members got a tour of the Salt Lake City International Airport on Friday, Feb. 17. Attendees heard from Peter Higgins, COO of the Salt Lake City International Airport and enjoyed a lunch and tour.

BOARD QUESTION IF YOU COULD ONLY EAT ONE DESSERT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Dustin Wood, CPA

“It’s a broad response, but I have to go with ice cream. My preferred flavor changes from time to time. Through a recommendation from my sister, I discovered Aggie ROTC (raspberry, Oreo, toffee, chocolate) from the USU Aggie Creamery, and that has become my current flavor of choice.”

Stacy Weight, CPA

“I can never pass up a good, authentic vanilla crème brûlée. I could eat that every day! I’m still trying to work up the courage to learn to make it myself.”

Annette Anderson, CPA

“Desserts are seasonal to me. Fall: homemade, orange-frosted cinnamon rolls with chocolate chips. Winter: homemade melt-in-your-mouth fudge. Spring: peach cobbler. Summer: homemade Brickle Frickle ice cream. But the anytime-ofthe-year-dessert is homemade brownies, topped with rich, vanilla ice cream and warm hot fudge sauce.”

Ray Langhaim, CPA

“Having one dessert for the rest of my life is easy. Ice cream. My favorite is Phish Food and Chunky Monkey from Ben and Jerry’s and Cookies and Cream, overall. I love it anytime, even on cold days!”

Jason Tomlinson, CPA

“Cheesecake, because you can add different toppings for variety.”

Ariane Gibson, CPA

“If I could only have one dessert for the rest of my life it would definitely be ice cream. It doesn’t matter if it’s freezing outside or I’m stuffed from a big meal, it’s always a good time for ice cream.”

Marci Butterfield, CPA

“If I can only choose one, it would be my homemade strawberry shortcake! I use a velvet crumb cake with fresh sweetened strawberries and real whipped cream. It reminds me of spring, which is being very elusive right now! It also reminds me of my childhood as it was a favorite even then.”

Shalaun Howell, CPA

“Eclairs. By far the most heavenly treat we’ve borrowed from France! In French, the word éclair means “flash of lightning.” Probably because the pastries are so good, you have to resist eating them that quickly.”

Not pictured: Mark Anderson, CPA, and Dan Frei, CPA

IF YOU COULD ONLY EAT ONE DESSERT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Amy Spencer

“Sugar is my love language, so the limit of one dessert feels like a punishment. I can get the best of several desserts with the Toll House Pie from The Dodo. Flaky pie crust, cookie dough and whipped cream or ice cream on top.”

April Deneault

“For me this would be a tough call. I love dessert, it’s my favorite meal. But if I had to choose, it would be mint chocolate brownies — delicious chewy brownies with a layer of mint frosting and then topped off with chocolate frosting! You can’t go wrong with mint and chocolate together.”

Tom Horn, CPA

“Iced angel food cake with strawberries.”

CONNECT WITH UACPA MEMBERS

Susan Speirs, CPA

“You can never go wrong with the Toll House pie at The Dodo, heated enough for the chocolate chips to melt with a healthy dose of whipped cream. A close second is warm, fresh rhubarb pie with a hint of almond extract. Third place is warm apple pie with a slice of sharp cheese slipped under the top crust.”

• Send messages to other UACPA members

• Ask questions and learn from other CPAs

• Collaborate and share ideas with like-minded professionals

• Find discussions or create a new one

Get Started! Select CONNECT at UACPA.org or directly at connect.uacpa.org.

Marci Butterfield grew up in Holladay as the third of seven children. After graduating from Skyline High School, Marci went to the University of Utah for two semesters before getting married. Marci became a real estate agent which, she says, was extremely difficult as mortgage rates were as high as 15 percent. She went back to college as a mom with five children and had her sixth child during while a college student and graduated with a degree in accounting as well as an MBA. For 20 years, Marci has taught at the University of Utah and advised Beta Alpha Psi. Marci and her husband (who is also a CPA) have six children and 16 grandchildren.

What led you to become an accountant? Getting my CPA was the ultimate achievement that made my education and experience relevant. The process was extremely difficult, as I had six young children and was working at Arthur Andersen. I could not have done it without the support of my family. Having my CPA has opened so many doors of opportunity. I could not have been successful in my career without this credential. It was worth all of the pain and sacrifice, and I am so glad that I survived the process.

MEET A MEMBER MARCI BUTTERFIELD, CPA

What do you like about working with students? Working at the University of Utah has an energy that I feel as I walk on campus every day! Being in the classroom and getting to know my students each semester is my passion. I want them to know that I care about them. I love it when my students have “lightbulb moments” and figure out some of the concepts that I am teaching. My students are the reason that I teach at the U, and I tell them that frequently.

What would surprise people to know about you? I was an elite gymnastics judge for about 20 years and was able to judge two NCAA Championships as well as tons of Regional NCAA competitions. I got to travel just about every week, which sounds glamorous, but basically included a plane ride, judging inside an event center, and sleeping in a hotel room.

What is your favorite book? My constant read is the Book of Mormon, and I am always amazed at the daily insight it gives me.

What do you like to do outside of work? I love being with my husband, kids, and grandkids. We have Sunday dinner almost every week and celebrate holidays with parties, food, and activities. I hold a cousins camp for grandkids ages five and older each summer. I love to cook and bake, especially cookies by hand with my wooden spoon. Travel has been a huge part of my life as I have taken students to Paris, Amsterdam, Austria, and Germany. I got to teach in London last fall, which was an amazing experience! My husband recently bought a Missouri Fox Trotter, and I am learning about horses and enjoying the beautiful scenery as we take rides, typically up Middle Fork above Eden.

What are your goals both personally and professionally? My most pressing goal and highest priority is bringing Beta Alpha Psi back to the University of Utah. This is a daunting task, and I will need a lot of downtown support. I look forward to establishing new relationships with students, colleagues and professionals and strengthening ties with those of you who have always been there. Beta Alpha Psi will help students learn more about the profession, career opportunities and motivate them to give back to their communities.

What advice do you live by? “You can do this” and “nothing is impossible” are two of my taglines that help motivate me when things get tough. I wear a ring that says, “nothing is impossible” as a constant reminder that I can do hard things. n

UACPA Virtual Courses CPECourseSchedule

*Early-bird pricing available for classes when registering at least two weeks in advance. (Excludes 4-hour courses and core training courses).

AICPA members receive an additional $30 off the price of each 8-hour course (excluding 4-hour courses and core training courses) where the AICPA is listed as the vendor. Use promo code AICPA8 for 8-hour courses.

*Early-bird pricing available for classes when registering at least two weeks in advance. (Excludes 4-hour courses and core training courses). AICPA members receive an additional $30 off the price of each 8-hour course (excluding 4-hour courses and core training courses) where the AICPA is listed as the vendor. Use promo code AICPA8 for 8-hour courses.

UACPA MISSION MISSION

The UACPA leadership supports and challenges members through advocacy, professional education, leadership development, networking, and community service to help them succeed in a competitive and changing world.

VISION

At the UACPA, our vision is to be a world-class professional association essential to our members.

We unite a vibrant community of CPAs to enhance the success of our members and champion the values of the profession; integrity, competency, and objectivity.

VALUES Advocacy

The UACPA represents the profession at the Legislature and other regulatory bodies and promotes the value of the CPA to employers, the business community, and the public at large.

Leadership & Service

The UACPA provides leadership and service within the profession, within the UACPA, and within the community.

Professional Development

The UACPA supports and encourages continuing education and leadership development.

Professional Community

The UACPA reinforces peer accountability to encourage members to maintain integrity and high ethical standards. It provides member-tomember networking opportunities and networking opportunities with other professions. It values belonging to a distinguished organization and believes that we serve as the primary resource and point of contact for Utah CPAs.

Diverse Population Outreach

The UACPA believes in reaching out to under-represented populations, those returning to the profession or choosing it as a second career, and other professions.

CONGRATULATIONS

100% FIRMS

Congratulations to the firms and businesses currently participating in the UACPA’s 100% membership program. This demonstrates their commitment to the profession, to the association’s high ethical standards and lifelong learning.

• Adams & Petersen, CPAs

• FORVIS

• CBIZ MHM, LLC

• Cook Martin Poulson, P.C.

• Davis & Bott, Certified Public Accountants, L.C.

• Eide Bailly

• Haynie & Company

• HBME

• HintonBurdick

• Jones Simkins LLC

• Savage Esplin & Radmall, PC

• Squire & Company, PC

• Tanner LLC

• WSRP

Firms with 10 or more full-time CPAs are eligible to be a part of the 100% membership program. Call our membership team to sign up, 801.466.8022.

FREE CPE

BUSINESS STRATEGY SERIES COURSE SCHEDULE

This exclusive five-part series, led by Mackey Smith, will help you develop a framework to build and define your organizational strategy. Earn one hour of CPE during each session.

Most professionals enjoy the idea of discussing and setting strategy. When asked to describe or define strategy, we tend to deviate into a discussion of adjacent topics such as goals, tactical decisions, or guiding principles. In this series, we will discuss the subtle differences between strategy and tactics. Learn to develop the right kind of success metrics and incentives to tie back to strategic implementation. Lastly, learn how to apply the principles of business strategy to your personal life and how to identify and shape your own personal strategy.

Each session will be held virtually at noon on the scheduled date

MAY 18

What is strategy?

JUNE 15

How do I set strategy for my organization?

AUG. 17

Facilitated breakout discussions to refine strategic ideas

SEPT. 21

How do I identify the correct success metrics that can track the implementation of my strategy?

OCT. 19

How do I set a strategy for my own personal life?

REGISTER FOR EACH SESSION AT UACPA.ORG/STRATEGY