Adapt + Thrive

By OSCPA Chair Janese Shepard, CPA, CGMA

I would like to start by thanking you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your Chair this year. This is your Society. I am honored to be a part of your leadership and excited to see what this year has in store.

You might say I fell into this profession backwards. After completing two years of college, I still wasn’t sure what to do with myself. I got married, had two children and was happy as a stay-at-home mom. When my daughter began kindergarten, I started taking care of my friend’s baby. Linda happened to be a CPA, and I was one of those “do it yourself” tax preparers. I asked her to take a look at my return since I now had a home daycare. She said, “You did a pretty good job on this. You should think about being an accountant.” The seed was planted for me.

I later began working during tax season at a local firm. It was there I discovered I truly enjoyed accounting. In May of 1996, at age 34, I earned my accounting degree. That November, I sat for the CPA Exam and was beyond thrilled when I got the letter announcing I had passed all four parts. It took about 15 years, but I was now a CPA. I had finally figured out my calling.

Much has changed in our profession since the first CPA certificate was issued in 1896. During my 25 plus years as a CPA, I’ve witnessed a small part of this remarkable evolution. Tax returns and audit workpapers prepared by hand are virtually gone, as are office libraries and rows of file cabinets. Technology has enabled us to advise our clients and serve the public more efficiently and effectively.

Over the past several years, we have heard the term “disruption” and how it relates to accounting and finance in particular. Two years ago, a virus reared its ugly head, and we were introduced to disruption on a whole new level.

The AICPA’s 2020 Integrated Report was titled “Adapt + Thrive.” That concept has stuck with me. The ability to adapt and thrive embodies us as a profession. Disruption happens, but it doesn’t hold us back because resilience is one of our key strengths. We adapt, and we thrive.

The CPA Exam also continues to evolve. When I sat for the Exam it was offered twice a year. We had paper, pencil and a pocket calculator, and it took three months to get your results. We are now witnessing the latest evolution of the Exam, which continues to assess core competencies while incorporating three key disciplines.

This evolution also recognizes the flexibility inherent in our profession. We may choose to practice in public accounting, in industry or in education. We have the option of specializing in tax, audit, information systems or other areas. We may begin in one discipline and later discover our strength lies in another.

We are continually adapting, and I have no doubt we will continue to thrive.

We actively recognize diversity, equity and inclusion as vital to our profession. This is a broad concept with exponential value. As our membership becomes more diverse, our ideas, perspectives and values will expand, our competitive advantage will grow. Nurturing such a culture provides us an opportunity to evolve and adapt beyond our imagination. Thriving will be an understatement.

So, let us continue working together to adapt and thrive so that we can ensure longevity and strength for our profession.

Janese Shepard, CPA, CGMA, is a partner with Gray, Blodgett & Company, PLLC—an OSCPA 100% VIP Firm—in Norman, Okla. She works extensively on tax planning and consulting with small businesses, individuals and nonprofit organizations. She has served many OSCPA Committees and currently serves the Society's Executive and CPA/PAC Committees. Shepard is the 2018 recipient of the OSCPA's Rick Kells Outstanding Tax Professional Award and 2014 recipient of the Norman Chapter Distinguished CPA Award.

Read this letter and stay up to date on other news in your Society by checking out the July/August edition of the CPAFOCUS.