President’s Memo: New Beginnings – Part 2

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In my President’s Memo in January, I ended the memo with, “More later about my ‘new beginnings’!” I decided to title this memo “New Beginnings – Part 2” because I am naturally inclined to embrace change and transitions as necessary and positive, and not as endings. That being said, this will be my final President’s Memo as the new president and CEO has been selected and will take over as my successor on August 1.

I was recently walking to a staff lunch function and one of our great NASBA employees asked me if I was excited about retirement. My response was, “no, not excited, but not regretful either.” I have always been dismayed by folks who hate Mondays and look forward to Fridays, and who count the days until they can retire. I have been blessed to have enjoyed every day of my tenure with NASBA and I know that I will miss it, but the time is right to move on… but not quite yet.

NASBA, Boards of Accountancy, and the profession are at a critical juncture. For decades, CPAs, firms and their clients have enjoyed the flexibility of mobility practice privileges. The longevity of those privileges has allowed many to forget, or to have never experienced, the limitations of practice prior to the adoption of substantial equivalency and the resultant mobility. Proposed and considered legislation in several states to address pipeline issues could eliminate those privileges for tens of thousands of CPAs, creating calamity for them and their clients. I do not want that to happen on my watch as NASBA’s CEO.

NASBA’s Professional Licensure Task Force (PLTF) and AICPA’s National Pipeline Advisory Group (NPAG) have undertaken an expedited effort to consider alternative yet equivalent educational concepts. While the two groups have been working independently and unilaterally, and have made good strides, they are now coming together to reach consensus so that legislative language can be developed, exposed and adopted in the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) that satisfies the interests of state boards and state societies considering legislative changes; importantly, language that preserves substantial equivalency and mobility.

We are very appreciative of the states considering legislation that have pushed back their proposed implementation dates to allow the UAA processes to occur. Virtually every state has indicated that they don’t want to lose mobility practice privileges for their CPAs and firms. On that, we all agree. We recognize that there is an expectation that we move expeditiously, and that is our intent. It takes some time to expose language, invite responses, change the UAA, and to ultimately get bills passed. Not every state can pass legislation at the same time. As we originally did when mobility was first enacted, we will explore ways to reduce disruptions.

It is my hope that, by the time of the NASBA Regional Meetings in June, NASBA and AICPA will be on the same page and that we can expose and discuss a new but equivalent path toward CPA licensure; one that can progress through the UAA adoption process to allow states to consider language that does not disrupt mobility. I will be devoted to this outcome until the last hour of my last day.

I have always believed that it was important for all state boards to be represented at our NASBA Regional Meetings. This year, I believe it is critical. While changes in legislation impact every CPA and CPA firm, most are unaware of potential interruptions and harm. As a member of a state board, you and the leadership of state societies have the unique advantage of being in the know as to challenges and opportunities being considered. More importantly, you can have an impact on how and when these changes occur, but only if you are fully aware and educated on these matters. The Regional Meetings provide that opportunity, so please make the effort to attend.

Keeping to the theme of “New Beginnings,” I want to congratulate my successor, Dan Dustin. Dan was one of my first hires when he joined NASBA as vice president of state board relations in 2012. I had very high expectations for that newly developed position, and he surpassed them all. I know that he will be just as dedicated to being successful in his new role of president and CEO. Dan and I first met 25 years ago when he was the new executive for the New York State Board for Public Accountancy, and I was the new executive for the Missouri State Board of Accountancy. We have been close friends for all of those years. He’s a good man and he is well known by many of you. I hope that he is shown the same level of support and respect I have enjoyed as he enters into what is a challenging but extremely rewarding position.

I hope that I have the opportunity to see many of you at the Regional Meetings in June. If I don’t, this may be my last opportunity to thank you for the privilege of serving as your president and CEO of NASBA for the past 13 years. I have so much respect for the work that is done by state boards and your professional staff. I could not be prouder of my association with you. Ms. Sheilah and I have developed relationships and friendships across the United States and around the world, and we have memories that we will enjoy for the rest of our lives as we start our new beginnings.

Semper ad meliora (Always toward better things).

— Ken L. Bishop
President & CEO