Mason Receives Exemplar Award

Eli Mason received the Accounting Exemplar Award for notable contributions to professionalism and ethics in accounting practice at an induction ceremony at the American Accounting Association annual meeting in Atlanta, Ga., held Aug. 12-15 of this year. The Public Interest Section of the American Accounting Association has granted the award on a sporadic basis since its inception 15 years ago. Eight notable accounting professionals and educators have received the award for their activities as role models or for significant accounting contributions that serve the public interest.

Mason, now in his late seventies, continues to serve his clients as senior partner of Mason & Company, LLP, a firm of certified public accountants that he founded and has led through the many changes that have occurred in the practice of public accountancy. His writings on CPA professionalism and ethics began to receive widespread attention in the late 1960s with the publication of journal articles and with his ascent in the leadership of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Mason was president of the NYSSCPA in 1972-1973, president of the Foundation for Accounting Education the following year, and vice president and member of council for the AICPA. In addition, he was a founder and president of the National Conference of CPA Practitioners and the Foundation for Accounting Practitioners, Inc. He also served as chairman of the New York State Board for Public Accountancy. The City University of New York has awarded Mason an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree in recognition of his numerous contributions to higher education and to the institutions of New York City.

From his earliest writings, Mason has shown a keen interest in the core issues and services of the CPA profession as well as their importance to the public interest. Readers of Accounting Today continue to be engaged by his frank and forthright discussions of issues connected to the integrity of public accounting in columns that appear on a regular basis. Never one to back down from a controversy, Mason successfully engaged the AICPA in a lawsuit that culminated in a settlement which led to significant changes in the Institute’s voting procedures for its members. The AICPA also contributed $150,000 to support research directed to understanding and promoting ethics in business.

Former Securities and Exchange Chairman Arthur Levitt was also awarded the Accounting Exemplar Award at the same ceremony. Chief Accountant Lynn Turner accepted the award on Levitt’s behalf. The past six recipients of the award are Arthur Wyatt, Abraham Briloff, Anthony Puxty, Harold Langenderfer, Ralph Estes and Carl Devine.

University of Rhode Island Professor Richard Vangermeersch presented the award to Mason, citing his many accomplishments and leadership positions on issues of professional ethics and integrity. He also quoted Mason’s “Credo for a CPA,” which includes the following objectives:

• To serve the public from whom my authority is derived.
• To serve my profession and contribute to its institutions.
• To practice at the highest professional level.
• To maintain an ethical posture characteristic of a learned profession.
• To maintain my technical skills so that the public is served with competence.
• To maintain a state of independence at all times so that decisions are reached with objectivity.
• To work with my colleagues—for the practice of a profession is an experience in human behavior and mutual respect. w