March 2002

NYSSCPA Teams With the Academy of Finance to “Teach the Teachers”

Thirty business teachers from the New York Academy of Finance recently attended a New York State Society of CPAs–sponsored seminar designed to give them a fresh perspective and more accurate understanding of the accounting profession.

Through the event, “Issues and Considerations for Business and Finance Educators,” the Recruitment for CPA Careers Committee hopes that the educators will be able to present a more complete and compelling picture of the CPA profession to their students. To accomplish this goal, the committee, chaired by Alex B. Ampadu, invited experienced CPAs to discuss various topics pertinent to the field.

“This was a wonderfully successful program and we intend to continue holding at least two sessions a year. We would also like the Society chapters to plan and conduct similar programs at the chapter level,” Ampadu said of the late January event at the Society offices.

As noted by the chair, raising student awareness of the profession has long been a primary focus of the committee, which has held career days and CPA visits to high schools in the past. But in addition to those efforts, “teaching the teachers” is an effective approach that really helps to spread the word about the profession, Ampadu said.

“We are all aware of the various research studies and the findings that high schoolers have limited knowledge about our profession…Today, for a modest investment of time and energy, our committee members and invited practitioners provided the teachers with information regarding accounting careers,” Ampadu said. “I’m confident that the teachers will carry the information to their current and future students. As the old adage goes, ‘Awareness brings interest.’”

Committee member Nancy A. Platoni-Poli helped kick off the event by facilitating a panel discussion in which committee members Michael L. Doery and Don A. Kiamie, as well as guests Elizabeth Ryan and Greg Meyer, spoke about the different roles accountants play in 2002.

Committee member Thomas Boyd led the next session and focused on the current requirements for entering the profession, which was followed by a question-and-answer exchange.

Committee members Terence L. McGuire, Platoni-Poli, Doery and guest Kim Washington Barr spoke about diversity issues in the profession and the importance of preparing students for a workplace that is regularly evolving.

NYSSCPA Executive Director Louis Grumet, who advocates strong ties between the profession and academia, discussed the significance of such a relationship and, like Ampadu, encouraged the committee to hold more seminars in the future.

“The staff training day sponsored by the NYSSCPA was a great success. Teachers from the Academy of Finance high schools enjoyed interacting with the accountants who presented. They were struck by several themes,” said Ken Deaner, assistant director of the New York Academy of Finance. “The profession is seeking a diverse, multicultural group of young people (and)…is moving in the direction of a five-year degree…an accounting degree places you at the forefront of the business leadership curve and gives you access to many careers, including audit, taxes and consulting.”

Charlotte Balsam, an Academy of Finance coordinator from John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, added, “I learned a great deal about the current state of accounting as a career path that I will pass on to my students. I was not aware that there was such a demand for accounting majors and CPAs.”