There Has Never Been a Better Time to Become a CPA

A recent Journal Record article, “Searching for a good CPA,” struck a chord with me. The difficulty of finding a CPA is a story we're hearing more often, not just in Oklahoma, but across the country.

The accounting profession is experiencing a generational shift.

Experienced CPAs are retiring while demand for trusted financial advisors continues to grow. Businesses and individuals are navigating increasingly complex tax laws, evolving technology, cybersecurity risks, and economic uncertainty. The need for qualified CPAs has never been greater.

Some see that as a crisis. I see it as one of the greatest opportunities the profession has had in decades.

Technology, including artificial intelligence, is changing how CPAs work, but it cannot replace the qualities that define the profession. It can't build trust, exercise professional judgment, or understand a client's unique circumstances. When families are planning for the future or business owners are making critical financial decisions, people still need people.

For students exploring career options, or professionals considering a career change, there has never been a better time to become a CPA. It offers opportunities in public accounting, private industry, government, education, nonprofit organizations, and entrepreneurship. Whether you're helping a Fortune 500 company navigate complex regulations or advising a local small business, no two CPA careers look exactly alike.

Recognizing what the workforce needs, states across the country, including Oklahoma, are expanding the path to become a licensed CPA. New licensure pathways provide greater flexibility for qualified candidates to earn their CPA license and make becoming a CPA more accessible to talented people whose journeys may look different than it did a generation ago.

This progress is good for students. It's good for employers. And ultimately, it's good for the communities we serve.

Too often, people think about accounting with a preconceived notion, but don’t always hear about the people behind the profession. They don't always see the small firm entrepreneur helping another business grow, the advisor guiding a nonprofit through difficult decisions, or the CPA working alongside community leaders to strengthen Oklahoma's economy.

The previous article concluded with the words, "The world needs you." I couldn't agree more.

The world needs more CPAs. Fortunately, there has never been a better time to become one.

Article written by OSCPA Chair Mark Neumeister, CPA.