Celebrating Our 2026 Pathfinders: Josh Elder, CPA

Josh Elder, CPA, has built his career around helping others find their footing in the profession. A graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, he recognized early that technical skills alone were not enough for young accountants trying to grow in public accounting. That perspective shaped the way he approached leadership, mentorship, and the opportunities he pursued, with a focus on making the path clearer and more accessible for others.

Over the years, Josh has stayed deeply involved with the OSCPA, serving in numerous leadership roles, including 2025-2026 OSCPA chair, while continuing to invest in the profession through mentorship and advocacy. A graduate of the AICPA Leadership Academy and a 2017 Trailblazer honoree, he values the relationships, growth, and shared purpose that have defined his career and continue to shape the profession’s future.

What He Has to Say

OSCPA: What has been the most rewarding part of your career? 

Elder: The connection to the generations past and the generations to come… this profession has introduced me to great minds, friends, my wife (and, ultimately, my children), and endless opportunities to grow. Growth professionally, emotionally, and—most importantly—finding comfort in failure have been some of the most rewarding moments. There truly is no rival to the “ah-ha” moments you share with your fellow accountants in the audit room. The profession is one big family, closer than you realize, until you look up and somehow know everyone!

OSCPA: What advice would you give accounting students/new CPAs?

Elder: The advice I’d give my younger self would be to latch on sooner to the mentor/mentee relationships available. Embrace the chance for senior partners, managers, or CFOs/controllers to get lunch and help you grow—both emotionally and technically. Real leaders want to lead and grow future leaders every chance they get, you just have to ask and then show up. In my experience, success usually follows those who give their all in every interaction and every opportunity. Talent and natural ability alone aren’t enough to carry you through this world; it’s a humbling process to realize that. A good mentor can see both your best and worst quickly—and a great mentor will make sure you know what you’re missing.

OSCPA: What are your hopes or expectations for the future of the accounting profession?

Elder: Hopes and expectations may be two different things!

Hopes: This wonderful profession is no longer a mystery to the average person and is glorified in popular culture for what it truly means to the economy. Accounting represents an honor code of sorts in the business world, which isn’t always so clear or honorable. We are the keepers of facts and truths when it comes to the numbers on which so many livelihoods depend.

Expectations: Over the past thirty years or so, the profession has seen immense growth in both specialization and niche areas as laws, regulations, and technology have expanded. During this time, we’ve seen a hundred-year-old model be slow to adapt when you talk about the public accounting model, which I expect will eventually come full circle. My generation has helped push the needle, balancing and expanding the role of accounting professionals, and I foresee the next generation of leaders coming in behind me to achieve a meaningful balance in the work to get done, the value added to clients, and the reputation of accountants among other professionals. Maybe it’s the same amount of hyperbole.

Accomplishments