Does the CPA Evolution Initiative Go Far Enough?

The Skills Needed to Bridge the Gap

Mark Martinelli, CPA, CGMA, and Frank Manzi, CPA, and Cynthia Scarinci, and Geraldo Vasquez, DBA

In 2017, the AICPA, in conjunction with NASBA, undertook a gap analysis of the Uniform CPA Examination to identify opportunities challenging the profession and develop a future state to address the demands of prospective employers and the public. They determined that many students are graduating without certain skills required by the profession, including knowledge of technology. They started with their most impactful tool, content of the CPA exam. The AICPA and NASBA should be lauded for their efforts and the anticipated changes to the CPA exam. The new model successfully recognizes the skills that students require and are broadly addressed from the perspective of accounting, audit and tax, with an infusion of technology. In addition, it more specifically addresses the areas graduates are actually engaged in, within the discipline areas of Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), Information Systems and Controls (ISC), and Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP).