CPA firms provide oversight of individual firm members, but more formal regulatory bodies also exist. Although CPAs are licensed by the state in which they practice, the most important influence on CPAs is exerted by their national professional organization, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Membership in the AICPA is restricted to CPAs and currently exceeds 330,000, but not all members are practicing as independent auditors. Many members formerly worked for CPA firms but are currently working in government, industry, and education. AICPA membership is not required of CPAs. Because it is a voluntary organization, not all CPAs are members of the AICPA.
The AICPA sets professional requirements for CPAs, conducts research, and publishes materials on many different subjects related to accounting, auditing, attestation and assurance services, management consulting services, and taxes. The AICPA is also an advocate for the accounting profession. Initiatives undertaken by the AICPA to promote CPA services include national advertising campaigns, development of specialist certifications, and the efforts of the Special Committee on Assurance Services to develop and promote new assurance services. We will now examine the main functions of the AICPA.
The AICPA has established the CPA Vision Project to provide a core purpose and vision for the CPA profession in the year 2011 and beyond. The core purpose of the CPA Vision Project is “CPAs…making sense of a changing and complex world.”
The CPA Vision Project has identified five core values, core competencies, core services, and issues for the future. The top five highest rated issued for the future are as follows:
•The future success of the CPA profession relies a great deal on public perceptions of CPA’s abilities and roles.
•CPAs must become market driven and not dependent on regulations to keep them in business.
•The market demands less audit and accounting and more value-adding consulting services.
•Specialization is critical for the future of the CPA profession.
•The market demands that CPAs be conversant in global business practices and strategies.