FILLING THE PIPELINE
GOAL
Provide financial assistance to students from historically marginalized populations at all levels of post high school education
INITIATIVE
We awarded 1/3 of the Foundation’s scholarship dollars to oppressed and marginalized students in 2021 and created a plan to make the selection process even more equitable and diverse
“Every voice has the power to help a student and expand the accounting profession for the future.”
– Dr. Lisa Owens-Jackson, CPA
Accounting & Finance Chair at North Carolina A&T State University
NCACPA is in a unique position to reach aspiring professionals to join the accounting pipeline and better reflect the world.
Doing things differently than they’ve been done before
Change doesn’t happen by doing everything the same as it’s always been done. The NCACPA community and staff is committed to filling the pipeline with people who represent a different, more diverse, accounting future.
NCACPA’s Pipeline Fingerprints
Creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive space for present and future accounting professionals
We make better decisions when we embrace, involve, and seek to understand those with different backgrounds than ourselves.
That’s why NCACPA is committed to…
Educators
- NCACPA created a unique accounting educator membership that makes involvement with NCACPA more affordable and provides a special community where they can share resources.
- Consulting academic programmers for relevancy
- The Association is working to connect Business Leaders and Educators through various events
- NCACPA created an Education Resource Group whose primary objective is to support the accounting pipeline.
- Hosting CPA Evolution roundtables with open discussion about hot topics, knowledge sharing, collaboration, learning and more
Financial Assistance
- The NC CPA Foundation is committed to supporting a diverse, equitable and inclusive pipeline to the profession.
- In 2021, NCACPA awarded $130,000 in scholarships to 62 students from 21 colleges and universities in North Carolina.
- For the fourth consecutive year, the Foundation awarded over 1/3 of its scholarship dollars to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
- Continued partnership with the NC State Board of CPA Examiners now totaling 22 students from 14 different schools receiving vouchers covering CPA exam fees. One of our original voucher recipients has passed all four parts and three additional students have passed at least half the sections.
- Received a generous contribution of $100,000 in the Fall of 2021 from NCACPA Board of Directors in recognition of the Foundation’s efforts to address the pipeline and its focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Data Trends
- On a monthly basis, NCACPA makes efforts to continuously collect demographic data at the association and NC State Board of CPA Examiners level. Understanding the demographic composition of the profession will allow for continuous evolution that will broaden the talent pipeline and aid in identifying progressions, challenges, and trends.
- NCACPA has expanded our demographic options related to race/ethnicity and gender, in hopes of gaining a better understanding about those in our community.
Advocacy
- NCACPA advocates for the designation and promotion of accounting as part of the STEM curriculum in North Carolina secondary schools under the field of Technology. We have asked legislators to build on the state’s existing financial literacy initiatives by expanding accounting course offerings through grade 12 and target resources toward students who are underrepresented in the profession.
- NCACPA supported and secured cosponsors for H.R. 3855, the Accounting STEM Pursuit Act. This federal legislation would designate accounting as STEM and allow Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants to be used for increasing access to high-quality accounting courses for students who are members of groups underrepresented in accounting careers.
Stay up-to-date with Board of Directors initiatives!
Students
One of NCACPA’s goals is to attract and support high-quality students with diversified backgrounds to the accounting profession. We implemented initiatives to help overcome the current talent shortage and provide resources and opportunities to support students in their accounting journey!
High School
Initiatives
Summer Leadership Conference
Education Resource
Group
More information coming soon!
Free conference focused on pursuing an accounting career!
This volunteer-based group identifies and supports the needs of educators and students.
Accounting Opportunities Week
NCACPA is part of a collaborative effort of 37 other state CPA societies and the AICPA’s National Commission on Diversity & Inclusion and Student Recruitment Committee. These organizations are partnering to make a meaningful impact on high school students, while also encouraging them to explore a future career in accounting.
From November 7-11, 2022, seven NC high schools participated in Accounting Opportunities Week. Presentations, outreach, and support materials provided by NCACPA members who volunteered raised awareness of the accounting profession and explained the exciting and challenging roles that CPAs play in their business and local communities.
If you are interested in participating in the Spring 2023 Accounting Opportunities Week, please reach out to Lorrie Gold at [email protected]!